Associate Director of College Counseling

Associate Director Of College Counseling

Milton Academy is seeking an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Associate Director of College Counseling to join its experienced college counseling team, beginning at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a dedication to the social, emotional, and ethical well-being of our students. This is a chance to guide a class of approximately 180 students through every stage of the college search and application process.

The College Counseling Team's guiding principle is to help each student find the right academic, personal, and financial fit where they are admissible. We are looking for someone who can build trust with students and families across a wide range of racial, socioeconomic, neurodivergent, and family backgrounds, and who wants to be part of the broader life of the school, from advising to athletics to residential programming.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Guide students and their families through the college search, financial aid and college application process with enthusiasm and compassion.
• Collaborate with students and their families to develop a realistic college plan that identifies a range of colleges that provide the best intellectual, personal, and financial fit and meets every individual student's specific needs.
• Continue to build partnerships between families and the College Counseling Office which centers around supporting each student's journey through the process.
• Write compelling letters of recommendation to support the candidacy of assigned caseload.
• Ensure effective and timely communication to all stakeholders (students, parents/guardians, faculty and administration).
• Keep current on the changing admissions landscape through research, association memberships, participating in campus visits and tours, and networking with college admissions and college counseling professionals.
• Assist with college counseling sponsored programs, events, and workshops.
• Keep underclass students (Classes IV and III) abreast of testing opportunities and counsel them, when needed, about course selection.
• Participate fully in the life of the school – including serving as a student advisor, and attending school events and programs.
• Serve as a resource for faculty members, advisors, and administrators as they advise students on academic matters.
• Visit colleges regularly, invite admissions professionals to our campus, engage in professional development opportunities, and maintain frequent communication with admissions offices throughout the country.
• Collaborate closely with the college counseling team, as well as other school leaders and departments, to collect, analyze, and contribute to the development of departmental, and when necessary, school-wide programs and policies based on the interpreted data.
• Other duties as assigned

Advising

• Serve as an advisor to a group of up to nine students, engaging in advisor meetings each week.
• Connect, support, communicate, encourage, and celebrate each advisee
• Facilitate students' social-emotional learning and growth in alignment with all school programming through small group meetings.
• Build deep relationships with each advisee and assist them in navigating challenges they may encounter.
• Form relationships with and act as a liaison between the school and advisee families; serve as the first point of contact between the school and families.
• Read and be familiar with all relevant materials, most importantly the Student Handbook and the sections of the US Faculty Handbook on academic regulations and diploma requirements.
• Be informed about course offerings for the following year and help each advisee select programs that are challenging and appropriate, as well as areas of special interest.
• Review each advisee's grades and comments.
• Craft formal advisor reports for each advisee two times per year, offering overarching perspectives on their progress, and acknowledging a broader view of their academic and community achievements at Milton.
• Should an advisee need additional support in a particular area, be in steady contact with the advisee's teachers, administrators, and/or other committees as needed.
• Attend all upper school student required weekly assemblies, programming, and special events (e.g., community service day, pep rallies).
• Attend class trips, retreats, and social events arranged by the director of student activities or the class dean.

Community

• Be a visible, accessible presence around campus.
• Contribute to creating a positive community culture that ensures students are heard, seen, valued, and cared for.
• Share in the enforcement of our expectations for students.
• Actively participate in greater community enrichment activities, such as advising a student activity, acting as a faculty sponsor to a student club, coaching an athletic team, leading an intramural sport or acting as an affinity group advisor.
• Complete all chaperone and/or supervisory duty, as assigned; lead and facilitate weekend programming / activities and supervise recreational activities both on and off campus.

Residential Life (if residing in on-campus housing)

• Act as a mentor and role model in all areas of the residential program, demonstrating a commitment to the success of each student, especially in the areas of social and emotional development.
• Contribute to creating a positive community culture within the dorms that ensures students are heard, seen, valued, and cared for.
• Be on call (on duty) as a dorm parent in a residential dorm once a week and on rotational weekends and ensure that all responsibilities and rules outlined in the faculty handbook around dorm supervision are adhered to.
• Facilitate and oversee programming when on duty and supervise recreational activities as assigned.
• Communicate regularly with other house staff as an opportunity to check in about the students in the dorm.
• Attend at least two dinners per week with the dorm community.

Other Professional Expectations and Responsibilities

• Work cooperatively with students, parents, peers, administration, and community members.
• Act in a manner that is respectful, generous toward others, supportive of colleagues, and based in a belief in the competence and good intentions of all members of the community.
• Communicate openly and promptly, supporting colleagues, students, and the integrity of the institution in conversations with students and parents.
• Create and maintain classroom and campus environments that are open and flexible, reflecting the school's values related to diversity, equity, and belonging.
• Strive to grow and improve professionally, demonstrating a commitment to continuing professional development in alignment with the upper school's growth statements.
• Exhibit skills in collaborative problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.
• Meet deadlines.
• Attend all school-wide, divisional, and faculty meetings and events and serve on committees as required.
• Prepare for and participate in opening of school programming, family visit days, graduation, and all other key student/family moments that are part of the school calendar.
• Complete school-required training.
• Abide by the school's policies and procedures as outlined in the provided handbooks.
• Communicate with the appropriate supervisor when unable to meet any professional obligation.

Supervision to be received: Supervised by the Dean of College Counseling

Supervision to be exercised: None

Education/Certification/Licensure

Required: Bachelor's degree.

Preferred: Advanced degree in education or related field.

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of three years of proven experience working with students and their families in the college admissions process in either a secondary school college counseling office or a college admissions office.
• An in-depth knowledge of colleges and universities as well as a contextual grasp of the current college admissions landscape and financial aid processes.
• Active participation in local and national associations relevant to our profession, such as NACAC, College Board, and ACCIS, as well as interest in attending college tours and networking with colleagues in college counseling and college admissions.

Preferred:

• Experience working in an independent boarding / day school
• Experience and/or proficiency with Veracross, SCOIR, Slate, and College Kickstart

Competencies

Required:

• A team-oriented approach to all aspects of the college counseling process and a collaborative spirit of engagement in all professional endeavors.