Pasco, Washington
Greenwich, Connecticut
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Posted: 20-Nov-24
Location: North Andover, Massachusetts
Type: Full Time
Salary: TBD
Categories:
Preferred Education:
School & Position Summary
The mission of Brooks School is to provide the most meaningful educational experience our students will have in their lives. Established in 1926 in the town of North Andover, Brooks provides an all-gender, college preparatory program for 350 students on a 270-acre campus overlooking Lake Cochichewick. We strive to be a place where a diverse group of faculty and staff want to learn, grow, and do their best work to support all aspects of a Brooks student’s life, both in and out of the classroom. At Brooks, we recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status and other protected statuses. Our school thrives because of our faculty and staff’s hard work, initiative, dedication and compassion.
The College Counseling Office is a collaborative department dedicated to supporting and guiding our students and their families as they consider a wide variety of colleges, universities and other post-secondary experiences. We help evaluate the programs and schools that will be best for them – academically, socially, and financially. In our supportive college counseling environment, students learn to establish goals based on interests, to manage the tasks involved in a complex process, and to make healthy and confident decisions about the next step in their education.
Our department partners with faculty and advisors, as well as the academic and residential life teams to support our students. We welcome diverse perspectives and encourage creativity and optimism as we counsel families throughout the college planning process.
The College Counselor is an integral member of our team and will work alongside two college counselors and an assistant college counselor to meet the educational and logistical responsibilities of the College Counseling Program.
Essential Functions & Key Objectives
The successful candidate will:
- manage a caseload of students, providing strategies, advice, support, and guidance to those students and their families throughout the college application process and in making the best individualized choice for college.
- meet with students individually and in groups to educate and empower them on how to navigate the college process, admissions trends, and application strategies.
- assist students in identifying resources for scholarships and financial aid for colleges and universities.
- support students with the calendar of all standardized testing, including scheduling test dates, registration, and providing pre- and post-test counseling.
- guide students through applications based on special interests (athletics, visual arts, performing arts) or academic interests (engineering, business, psychology).
- conduct events and educational outreach for both the student and parent communities.
- write recommendations for students applying to college.
- work with international students to navigate the US college admissions process.
- cultivate mutually beneficial working relationships with college admissions professionals and local area college counseling colleagues and stay abreast of university offerings and maintain familiarity with signature programs.
- attend conferences and professional meetings in order to remain current with industry trends.
- participate in committee, department, and staff meetings as well as school-sponsored events that would benefit college counseling and collaborate with a team of professional counselors on behalf of our students.
- maintain a membership in the National Association of College Admission Counseling and subsequently follow all principles of best practices as outlined by the organization.
- assume responsibility for other projects as assigned by the Dean of College Counseling.
- ensure the implementation of anti-racist practices and standards in alignment with the Brooks School mission statement and DEI mission statement.
- engage in DEI professional development and assist in forwarding the school’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist institution. Serves as a role model to promote a positive, productive, and inclusive work environment.
- understand and set appropriate boundaries in working with adolescent students.
- commit to school-wide initiatives, campus involvement, and the lives of our students outside of the college counseling.
- practice patience, empathy, and a sense of humor with adolescents.
Responsibilities
- In addition to a caseload of college advisees, advise an average of six students beginning year two as a faculty advisor.
- Participate in the residential life of the school as a dorm parent with related duties.
- Coach one season in the afternoon program (or the equivalent).
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are normally performed in an indoor environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical demands include:
- Occasional lifting, bending and climbing stairs
- Frequent talking, listening, walking, sitting and standing
- Ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks and functions in a fast-paced working environment
Travel
This role does not require travel but travel for professional development is encouraged.
Application & Candidate Information
Brooks School believes that realizing our mission requires intentional work to build and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion for all members of our predominantly residential school. As such, we seek a diverse candidate pool that includes those who are traditionally underrepresented and less familiar with boarding school life.
All interested candidates should submit the following materials by email by January 6, 2025 with attachments to Assistant College Counselor, Marianne Consoli (mconsoli@brooksschool.org):
- Cover letter expressing why you are interested in Brooks and this opportunity
- A current resume
- Three professional references (including a current supervisor) and contact information; references will not be contacted without your permission.
EEO Statement
The school will make any offer of employment contingent upon a candidate being authorized to work in the United States, and successfully completing criminal offender record (CORI) and sexual offender record (SORI) background checks.
Brooks School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, disability or religion in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, employment policies, financial aid and loan programs, athletic programs and other school-administered programs and activities.
Education & Experience
- Two-three years of experience in a college admissions office and/or experience in a secondary school college counseling program (preferably in an independent school);
- Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s degree in education or related field preferred);
- A broad understanding of current trends and issues in college admissions;
- Ability to work well with students, parents, faculty, and college admissions officers;
- Superior organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, as well as creativity, good humor, and willingness to counsel a diversely talented group of students through an emotionally charged time in their lives;
- Willingness to work closely with colleagues in a collaborative, dynamic setting;
- A demonstrated commitment to a supportive inclusive working environment.