Career Center

Available Position: Assistant Director of College Counseling and Testing Coordinator
Reports to: Assistant Head of School for Academics/Dean of College Counseling
Status: Salaried, Exempt, 12 Month
Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Start Date:  July 1, 2022

About Saint Mary’s Hall

Founded in 1879, Saint Mary’s Hall is an independent co-ed day school serving students and families of all faiths. Since its founding, Saint Mary’s Hall has called four campuses home. Though the faces and structures change over time, the heart of Saint Mary’s Hall endures from generation to generation.

Situated on a picturesque, tree-covered 60-acre bluff above Salado Creek in Northeast San Antonio since 1968, the campus, located at 9401 Starcrest Dr., serves all students in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility. Saint Mary’s Hall is a special place built on strong community bonds, rich traditions, and a culture of belonging for all students. Graduates leave Saint Mary’s Hall confidently armed with the skills, knowledge, study habits, and self-awareness needed to thrive in college and find fulfillment in life.

Position Description

Saint Mary’s Hall seeks an Assistant Director of College Counseling and Testing Coordinator. The ideal candidate will build relationships with, and support students and parents Forms 9 through 12. The Assistant Director will work collaboratively with the College Counseling team and all school constituencies and be an active and visible member of the school community. The Assistant Director will be an industry leader with knowledge of current educational trends at both the secondary and the collegiate levels, and provide insightful and appropriate counseling to SMH students and families.

Responsibilities

• Meet frequently with assigned students, both one-on-one and in small groups, to give advice on academic and extracurricular choices and raise questions that encourage self-reflection and self-exploration;
• Write the official school recommendation for each assigned counselee;
• Develop and instruct a college counseling curriculum for all forms, particularly Forms 11 and 12;
• Meet with college admissions representatives on the SMH campus;
• Coordinate the AP, PSAT and SAT Day administrations;
• Actively participate in regional, state, and national professional organizations;
• Travel to conferences and college campuses to gain insight and develop relationships;
• Serve as liaison to The College Board and other standardized testing agencies as appropriate;
• Engage in professional development relative to the standardized testing as appropriate;
• Assist with all College Counseling programming as well as course counseling;
• In collaboration with the Director of Wellness, Upper School Counselor, and Head of Upper School, develop wellness strategies to assist students in having a successful four-year high school experience;
• Work closely with parents, providing a key point of contact between home and school, and serve as a designated point person for all college admission-related questions;
• Serve as academic adviser to a small number of students; provide individualized academic advising, and assist students in crafting or implementing a tentative Four-Year Academic Plan that will serve as the framework for that student’s academic schedule;
• Work with the other counselors to develop new and execute existing programming;
• Help facilitate and instruct two Camp College week-long summer programs;
• With other key school leaders, guide students through critical academic and social transitions that occur during high school;
• Other applicable duties may be assigned by the Assistant Head of School/Dean of College Counseling

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (required), Master’s degree in an applicable field (preferred);
• Two or more years of experience in counseling, college counseling, and/or college admission (preferred);
• Independent school experience as a teacher, coach, or advisor (preferred);
• Proficiency with technology, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (required);
• Familiarity with SCOIR (preferred);
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills (required);
• Student centered, collaborative, and transparent leader who is accessible to students, parents, colleagues, and other key stakeholders and is adept at building relationships;
• Ability and desire to engage with parents and a diverse, high-achieving student body;
• Knowledge of colleges, their academic programs, admission policies, and procedures (preferred);
• Willingness to attend state and national workshops and conferences (required);
• Work with sensitive and confidential information with integrity;
• Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team to achieve departmental goals;
• Well-developed interpersonal skills to deal effectively with a wide range of constituents;
• A genuine care for people and desire to serve through a high level of customer service;
• An entrepreneurial, bright, highly motivated, hard-working, and enthusiastic personality with a serious commitment to excellence;
• A highly motivated, results-oriented, enthusiastic leadership style characterized by the desire to innovate, tenacity, follow-through, the courage of conviction, and setting an example for others;
• An ability to think systematically and be detail-minded while remaining focused on the big picture and the mission of the School.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Work in an office environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts
• Occasionally bend, stoop, and squat
• May work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time
• Be able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs.
• Work primarily in a traditional climate-controlled environment
• Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold

Dynamic New Leadership

Len Miller joined Saint Mary’s Hall as the 25th Head of School in July of 2020. Len comes to San Antonio after a 25-year career in independent schools. He served previously at some of our nation’s top schools, including The Hill School, The Lawrenceville School, and The Shipley School. His tenure has been hallmarked by a deep commitment to the quality of the academic program, the student experience, and the long-term sustainability and growth of the institution. He has been at the forefront of developing innovative academic programs and recruiting and retaining dynamic teachers. Robust, intentional, student wellness programs are the result of his collaborative leadership.

Len’s forward-thinking efforts in strategic planning, enrollment, advancement, and fiscal matters have underpinned the overall strength and quality of the schools he has served. As a leader, he strives to empower his leadership team to build programs, effect change, and make significant and meaningful impacts on the students, faculty, staff, and School culture. Len is committed to educating the whole student with a deep focus on connection and belonging among the student body.

Other Information

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required by the employed. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

If you are interested in joining our dynamic professional and learning environment that encourages innovation, send us a cover letter, resume, and complete our SMH employment application. Please email your documents to jobs@smhall.org. You can download our employment application by visiting www.smhall.org/about/employment-opportunities. Applications will be processed as they are received.

Saint Mary’s Hall
9401 Starcrest Drive,
San Antonio, Texas 78217
www.smhall.org