Associate Director of College Counseling

The Spence School, a K-12 all-girls school in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is consistently recognized as one of the preeminent independent day schools in the nation. Known for its student-centered approach and exceptional faculty, Spence enrolls over 770 students with approximately 200 faculty and staff. Guided by the vision of our founder, Clara Spence, and our motto, “not for school but for life we learn,” our academic program meets each student’s evolving needs, interests, and abilities and fosters diversity of experience and thought as an integral part of one’s scholarly journey.

The Spence School seeks a knowledgeable and enthusiastic educator for the full-time position of Associate Director of College Counseling. Reporting to the Director of College Counseling, the Associate Director will be an integral member of the college counseling team. Each year, the college counseling office works with approximately 60-70 seniors through every aspect of the college search and application process. The Associate Director will also work collaboratively with other administrators, staff, and faculty. The start date is July 1, 2025.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Guiding students and parents throughout the entire college search process in both individual and family meetings

Meeting individually with 11th and 12th grade students and their parents.

Serve as an ambassador of the school with college admissions representatives and beyond

Presenting to parents and students on a variety of college admission topics, including financial aid

Writing recommendations for approximately half of the senior class

Providing support to students in writing college essays and completing applications

Maintaining strong ties with college admissions officers and staying informed of the issues and changes pertaining to college admissions and higher education

Participating in the life of the School, including after-school meetings and evening programs

Co-teaching college counseling classes for juniors and seniors

Work closely with faculty and administrators

Attend various professional development conferences and tour colleges for ongoing skill-building

Guiding sophomores in selecting college entrance tests and preparing for them

Establishing competence with web and computer-based software systems such as Naviance, Blackbaud, College Kickstart, Google Suite, and Zoom

Qualifications

Qualities we seek in a candidate: Strong candidates will have substantial experience in a highly selective college admissions environment (minimum five years) and/or college counseling in an independent school (3-5 years). A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

In addition, they will:

Find joy in working with adolescents and in secondary school life

Show a commitment to engaging with and learning from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences

Exceptional interpersonal skills

Value being a team player in a collaborative office environment

Work with discretion and highest ethical standards in dealing with students, parents, colleagues, and colleges

Respond with energy and empathy to the needs of students and families

Demonstrate excellent organizational, analytical writing, and public speaking skills.

Serve as a leader in the Upper School Community

Engage with a healthy sense of humor, warmth, patience, confidence, and professionalism

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $135,000-$160,000.

Spence is committed to an equitable program and a diverse faculty and student body. We, therefore, actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds.

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