Dean of College Counseling

Job Title:                          Dean of College Counseling

Division/Department:      College Counseling          

Reports to:                       Executive Director of College Counseling         

Direct Reports:                N/A

Location:                          Palos Verdes, CA

Level/Grade:                    NA    

Type of position/FLSA:   Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The Dean of College Counseling oversees and implements the college counseling process for the Upper School, providing leadership, information, and individualized support for Chadwick students and families to prepare them for the college application process. The Dean works in close collaboration with the Executive Director of College Counseling and other Deans in navigating the dynamic landscape of college admission. Deans are visible members of the greater Chadwick school community, and contribute to the life of the school. The Chadwick College Counseling program embodies the school’s mission, and core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness, and compassion.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Guide a specific group of students and families as they undertake all aspects of the college selection, application, financing, and enrollment process.
• Write compelling letters of recommendation to support the candidacy of assigned caseload.
• Possess an understanding of evolving trends in the college admission industry and an ability to communicate the state of college admission to Chadwick constituents including students, parents, campus counterparts, the Board, and more.
• In collaboration with other Deans, manage the day-to-day office functions for the Office of College Counseling.
• Represent Chadwick at professional development conferences locally and nationwide and visit colleges and universities regularly to understand the changing landscape of selective college admission. Serve in rotation with other Deans as a chaperone on the Spring Break College Tour.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues in college and university admission offices.
• Serve as a champion for social justice; engage in cross-cultural dialogue and allyship to honor and celebrate the diversity within our community. Apply a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the college counseling process, including keeping current with knowledge of opportunities for students of color.
• Review and develop the college counseling curriculum and schedule and oversee college colloquium sessions.
• Implement and maintain college counseling technology tools, including SCOIR, College Kickstart, and Veracross. Possess a strong awareness of the tools needed to maximize efficiency and streamline communication, including mass email communication, high level calendar management, and presentation platforms.
• Demonstrate superior communication and public speaking skills, including the ability to give large group presentations and manage high-touch, sensitive conversations with students and families. Engage in conversations, whether in person or via email, in a clear, confident, and professional manner.
• Be able to share the optimism necessary for the college search process and application process, while delicately balancing the hard realities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Flexibility with time and travel related to the demands of the job that occur outside of regular school hours.
• Collaborate and lead with energy and stamina, a superior work ethic, and top notch organizational, executive functioning, and management skills.
• Exhibit wisdom and sound professional judgment. Show both patience and decisiveness, understanding when it is important to be reflective and when it is necessary to be strong in one’s convictions.
• Exceptional presentation, writing, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with and capability with utilizing a variety of technology, software, and data systems.
• Work in an environment with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of constituents.

Compensation:  $115,000 - $130,000 based on prior experience and qualifications.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

• Required to lift and carry up to a maximum of 25 lbs., in a correct manner consistent with the appropriate training provided by the School.
• Occasionally required to use hand to handle or feel objects, touch and use tools, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, bend, stoop, twist, lift, reach, push, pull, grasp, balance, kneel, crouch, crawl, grasp, talk, hear, and walk during the course of employment.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and an ability to adjust focus.
• May use telephone, computer, copier, and other office equipment in the course of a day.
• Required to sit while operating word processing equipment for a few hours daily, repetitive motion for typing and other keystroke needs.

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.  This may include warm, hot, or cold temperatures.  The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

CLEARANCES

Screenings:  TB Assessment and Livescan Background check

Note: The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties and responsibilities that are required of the position.