College Counselor

Main Purpose of Role This role is part of Léman Manhattan’s vibrant, collaborative learning community, which delivers an engaging and academically rigorous program for all students. Each employee demonstrates a commitment to anti‑bias and anti‑racism work and to fostering an inclusive learning community. As an international school with a global outlook, Léman Manhattan utilizes the International Baccalaureate Programme’s philosophy to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become thoughtful, engaged leaders. The school community is committed to promoting diversity, equity, belonging, and justice, and to holding itself accountable for addressing harm, repairing relationships, and continuing to learn together. Key Responsibilities Student & Family Counseling Serve as the primary college counselor for an assigned caseload of students, guiding students and families through all aspects of the college planning and application process while ensuring students remain organized, informed, and on track throughout each stage of the process. Support students in developing academic, extracurricular, and personal pathways that align with their strengths, interests, and post‑secondary goals. Advise students on course selection, college research, application strategy, standardized testing, financial aid, scholarships, essays, interviews, and final matriculation decisions. Write personalized and compelling letters of recommendation that authentically represent each student’s strengths, character, and potential. Partner closely with families, maintaining clear, proactive, and responsive communication throughout the college search and application process. Conduct individual and group counseling sessions that support students’ college readiness, self‑advocacy, and informed decision‑making. Facilitate college knowledge programming for younger grades, helping students develop an early understanding of college planning, academic preparation, extracurricular engagement, and summer opportunities. Programming & Student Engagement Support the implementation and ongoing refinement of Léman’s college counseling curriculum and annual programming calendar. Plan and facilitate grade‑level workshops, advisory lessons, family education sessions, college fairs, college visits, career exploration opportunities, and other community events. Create and facilitate resources, workshops, and programming that support students’ college, career, and life readiness while reflecting the needs of a diverse and globally minded student body. Collaborate with colleagues to ensure a cohesive developmental approach to college counseling across grade levels. Support the successful execution of major office initiatives and events through thoughtful planning, communication, and follow‑through. Collaboration & School Partnership Work closely with divisional leadership, advisors, teachers, learning support staff, boarding staff, and other student support professionals to advocate for students and ensure a holistic understanding of each learner. Actively contribute to a highly collaborative team culture, sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices while supporting the goals and priorities of the College Counseling Office. Partner with faculty and administrators to support school‑wide initiatives and strengthen alignment between academic programs and post‑secondary advising. Data, Communications & Operations Maintain accurate student records, counseling notes, application data, and advising documentation using platforms such as MaiaLearning, Slate, Common App, College Board, ACT, UCAS, and other college counseling systems. Manage and maintain college counseling resources, databases, shared drives, calendars, and digital filing systems to ensure information is current, organized, and accessible. Maintain and update the office’s summer enrichment database, including researching, organizing, and entering summer programs, internships, and other enrichment opportunities for students. Track and report college admissions and matriculation outcomes, helping to inform office reporting, institutional research, and program evaluation. Create and distribute newsletters, presentations, flyers, social media content, family communications, and other publications that highlight the work of the College Counseling Office. Help maintain the College Counseling Office’s social media presence by promoting student achievements, admissions outcomes, college visits, events, deadlines, and educational content. Support the planning and execution of college visits, college fairs, standardized testing administration, and other operational functions as needed. Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate records, organized systems, and timely communication. Professional Responsibilities Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with college admission representatives through meetings, conferences, campus visits, and ongoing engagement with the higher education community. Remain current on trends in higher education, admissions, financial aid, and college counseling through ongoing professional learning and participation in relevant organizations. Participate fully in faculty meetings, committees, professional development opportunities, school events, and other responsibilities as assigned. Demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, initiative, collaboration, and a commitment to the mission and values of Léman Manhattan Preparatory School. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree highly preferred in School Counseling, Higher Education, Social Work, Education, English, Writing, Communications, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, or a related field. Three or more years of successful experience in college counseling, college admissions, college access, student advising, or a closely related field, preferably in an independent school setting. Demonstrated success working with students and families from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Strong knowledge of the college admissions landscape, including selective college admissions, application processes, financial aid, and post‑secondary planning. Active professional relationships with college admission representatives and higher education institutions preferred. Experience with college counseling and student information platforms such as MaiaLearning, Naviance, SCOIR, Cialfo, PowerSchool, Salesforce, or comparable systems. Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, written communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with students, families, faculty, and college representatives. Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities with a high degree of independence while thriving in a highly collaborative, team‑oriented environment. Experience designing and facilitating workshops, presentations, educational programming, or family engagement initiatives preferred. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to collect, interpret, and communicate student and college outcomes data. Knowledge of the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy and experience supporting students through U.S. and/or international university admissions processes is preferred. Commitment to Léman’s mission, core values, and dedication to fostering an inclusive and globally minded community. #J-18808-Ljbffr