Career Center

Kent Denver School seeks an experienced Assistant / Associate Director of College Counseling for the 2023-2024 school year. The expectation is that the Assistant / Associate Director of College Counseling will be an engaged member of the community and endeavor to understand, participate in, and translate to outside groups the vibrant life of the school. The Assistant / Associate Director of College Counseling will work on a team of other College Counselors and in collaboration with other members of the KDS community including students, parents, school faculty, deans, administration, staff,  and coaches.

In providing organized and energetic support of students, the college counselor will plan and implement college-related programming for the Upper School, with a focus on guiding a portion of the junior and senior classes in their college searches, monitoring the progress and completion of each advisee's applications, helping to develop additional ninth and tenth-grade programming, and participating in all activities (including travel to colleges and conferences) required to sustain and advance a productive and dynamic college counseling program. 

In addition to counseling responsibilities, the Assistant / Associate Director of College Counseling will work collaboratively to design and build a new multi-year college counseling program.

Kent Denver School is a college preparatory day school of 700+ students in grades 6-12 located on 220 acres in suburban Denver. Kent Denver has been recognized for our leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to fostering a culturally diverse faculty and student body and we are eager to consider applications from candidates who believe in the critical importance of diversity in the life of a school. 

 Essential College Counseling job responsibilities include:

• Working thoughtfully with students and families—informing, guiding, supporting, and counseling them through an appropriate college search and application process
• Applying broad knowledge of the college admission process at a variety of institution types with a strong understanding of different academic programs, admission policies, and financial aid
• Writing detailed, personal, and comprehensive letters of support for each counselee
• Advocating on behalf of students with colleges, scholarship foundations, and others 
• Maintaining a deep knowledge of market trends in higher education and an understanding of the current college admission landscape
• Employing innovative practices in college counseling with the desire to establish a creative, forward-thinking vision for the college counseling experience
• Presenting to the community about various college admission topics throughout the year
• Nurturing and developing strong professional relationships with college admission representatives by visiting campuses, hosting representatives on campus, and attending conferences
• Serving as a resource for students, parents, and teaching faculty regarding admission criteria and college data  
• Helping to design and teach college counseling seminars
• Demonstrating initiative and the ability to support the entire college counseling program in addition to managing individually assigned caseload
• Assisting in the design of an innovative multi-year program that supports student growth and engagement in their KDS experience, promotes student wellness, balance, and agency in the college search, and encourages personal reflection and emphasis on college fit

Salary range: 

$70,000-$95,000 (based on experience)

This is a full-time 12-month, benefitted position.

Start Date:

August 1, 2023. 

Kent Denver School Employment Policy:

Kent Denver School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, religion, transgender status (including gender identity or gender expression), sex (including pregnancy), gender, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, marriage to a coworker, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, veteran status (including Vietnam era veteran status), genetic information, military service, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Our school makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. An applicant who does not meet the minimum qualifications of the position(s) for which the applicant applies will not be considered for employment.

Successful candidates will possess the following:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred
• Full-time experience in high school college counseling is essential. Full-time college admission experience is also desirable.
• Involvement in professional organizations (both regional and national) and meetings is expected
• Strong interpersonal, writing, public speaking, and organizational skills. 
• A warm personality, positive energy, and a sincere desire to work closely with students
• The ability to work deftly with diverse populations and personalities
• An ability to see and celebrate the potential in every student
• Ability to function well in a dynamic, fast-paced, school environment while maintaining a sense of humor
• Strong computer and technological competence, including deep familiarity with database systems like MaiaLearning, SCOIR or Naviance, and various social media tools, as well as Common Application, the NCAA Eligibility Center, and FAFSA/CSS Profile, etc.
• An ability to manage one’s own stress and practice self-care
• Desire to work toward greater student and family wellness in the college search and application process.

About Kent Denver School

About Kent Denver School Our campus recently completed an exciting transformation. In March 2018, our students moved into a new, state-of-the-art Middle School building. A new Visual Arts Center welcomed Upper- and Middle-School students in the winter of 2019, and, in the spring of 2019, we completed construction on an Upper School classroom building and welcome center. A second Upper School classroom wing was completed in 2020, and in total, we have created more than 100,000 square feet of cutting-edge instructional spaces that are designed to foster the best possible learning environment and to encourage innovation by teachers and students alike. Our academic curriculum offers more than 140 exceptional courses taught by some of the best faculty in the country: 70% of our teachers have advanced degrees and several have been awarded Ph.D.s.—the highest level of academic achievement—in their chosen discipline. They are dedicated to providing an education exemplified by “excellence in scholarship and character.” We provide a wide array of Middle and Upper School electives; signature programs such as robotics, speech and debate, Model UN, commercial music and entrepreneurship; ...and more than 50 student-created, student-led extracurricular clubs and robust independent learning opportunities through Kent Denver Institutes and the Global Online Academy. Additionally, we are one of the few schools in the country to host an on-campus bank operated primarily by students. We are also home to a student-managed café, a state-of-the-art recording studio, high-tech maker spaces and the nation's first LEED Platinum-certified Dining Hall. Over the years, our athletics teams have earned more than 80 State Championships, 58 State Runners-Up, 25 State Final Fours, 93 Regional Championships, 18 District Championships and more than 140 League Championships. Equally important, students of all levels and abilities have had opportunities to challenge themselves and grow in our athletics program. Kent Denver awards approximately $4 million in financial aid to nearly 25% of our students each year. Applied directly to tuition, these awards immediately reduce the cost of attendance and help ensure Kent Denver is an affordable option for all income levels. Learn more about Kent Denver School on our website, www.kentdenver.org

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