Career Center

Tandem Friends School, a co-ed, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks an experienced college counselor to serve as our next Director of College Counseling. In keeping with our ethos as a school, we are looking for a professional who takes great joy in working with adolescents and helping to guide them and their families through the steps that take them into higher education and fulfilling lives of integrity, creative expression and service.

The Director of College Counseling will:

• Meet individually with juniors and seniors and their families throughout the college process, helping students and families select appropriate colleges and universities.
• Develop and lead programming for students across all grades to educate them and their families about the nuances of the college admissions process.
• Support students in their submission of applications and manage the school’s submission of, i.e., official transcripts, recommendations, report forms, and school profile, as needed.
• Write counselor letters of recommendation for each senior - graduating classes are generally about 34 students.
• Schedule and host college admissions representatives for visits to Tandem Friends.
• Counsel and assist students and families as they identify resources for scholarships and financial aid for colleges and universities. 
• Facilitate PSAT, SAT and AP testing for students, including scheduling test dates, registering students, and administering exams.
• Develop and maintain relationships with colleges through attendance at conferences, counselor information sessions, and college visits.
• Participate in professional development to promote self-growth, build relationships and remain current with programs, policies, and practices that meet the needs of our students.
• Lead and implement a week-long “Senior Week” to support seniors in all aspects of the college application process.
• Serve on the school’s Academic Committee and advise students, families and teachers regarding curricular and programmatic issues.

Ideal candidates for this position will bring significant experience in college counseling or a related field, will have strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, a high level of cultural competency, the ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse student and parent/guardian population, and strong working knowledge of current college admissions processes, admissions trends, approaches to applying for financial aid and scholarships, and the nuanced differences between standardized testing options. 

Tandem Friends seeks faculty and staff who bring diverse skills and knowledge, a willingness to learn new things, and an appreciation for collaboration with students. At TFS, all teachers are active community members who share in the general support and care of the school community, serve as student advisors, and participate in community activities.

Tandem Friends School aspires to be an equitable and inclusive school community. The school welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute to an atmosphere in which all are valued and supported. People of color and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. A Bachelor’s degree is required for this position; a Master’s degree in a related field is strongly preferred. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and references to collegecounselingposition@tandemfs.org.