About Charleston Collegiate:

Charleston Collegiate School is an independent day school that strives to recognize, nurture, and challenge each of its students. Organized as a Lower School (PK-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12), CCS prides itself on being an independent, co-educational, non-sectarian, prekindergarten through 12th grade school.  Nestled under grand, moss-laden live oaks, Charleston Collegiate School offers a sixty-acre campus of playing fields, wooded trails, and an outdoor education center. Located on beautiful Johns Island, CCS is twenty minutes from Charleston's historic district and the beach resorts of Kiawah and Seabrook Islands. Founded in 1970, Charleston Collegiate School's mission is to empower students in a student-centered approach that values collaboration, innovation, and individuality to become resilient leaders for 21st century careers.  A CCS education focuses on the pillars of project-based learning, entrepreneurship, outdoor education, and arts and creativity.  CCS is a growing independent day school with approximately 380 students in grades PK3-12.  As the only co-educational, non-sectarian, PK3-12th grade, independent school in Charleston’s metropolitan area, CCS creates a challenging, supportive, learning community that inspires a diverse student body to become lifelong learners and leaders. 

Job Summary:

The Director of College Counseling is a key member of the Upper School leadership team, reporting directly to the Head of Upper School, and liaising heavily with other division heads, the Head of Academics, and the Head of School. The Director has overall responsibility for leading the college counseling program. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• College Counselling
• 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 individual college options.
• Assist students to identify resources for scholarships and financial aid for colleges and universities.
• Conduct events and educational outreach for both the student and parent communities as appropriate in each division.
• Create and submit materials to colleges in support of college applicants, such as school profile and counselor recommendations.
• Coordinate the faculty writing of requested recommendations for students applying to college.
• Facilitate visits between students and college representatives at the school.
• Arrange and direct visits to relevant colleges and college fairs, for example the fall break college tour.
• Standardized Testing and Record Keeping
• Coordinate the calendar of all standardized testing for Upper School students, including scheduling test dates, registering students, arranging for special “prep” classes, administering the tests, and providing pre- and post-test counseling.
• Develop and interpret extensive summary reports on students’ progress on standardized testing for the school community.
• Ensure the registrar has accurate permanent records of students’ testing and academic work.
• Collaborate with admissions and marketing departments to convey information (within ethical and privacy limits) to interest prospective parents.
• Prepare transcripts for students.

• Professional growth
• Cultivate mutually beneficial working relationships with college admissions professionals and local area college counseling colleagues.
• Visit college campuses to stay abreast of university offerings and maintain familiarity with signature programs.
• Track trends in the admissions and college counseling fields.
• Pursue professional development opportunities.
• Other Responsibilities
• Direct the Junior and Senior Internship program: collaborate with junior and senior humanities teachers, cultivate community partnerships and community mentors, guide students to best-fit internship opportunities.
• Participate in committee, department, and staff meetings as well as school-sponsored events that would benefit from your area of expertise.
• Be involved in the school community at large.
• Assume responsibility for other projects as assigned by the Head of School and Division Head.
• If needed, teach a class in an area of expertise.  

 Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field; master’s degree preferred
• At least 3 to 5 years’ prior experience in college counseling or college admissions
• Successful track record working with students and parents from first contact to college admission
• Proven experience with domestic students
• An appreciation for the value of diversity in all forms
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a dedication to a high level of confidentiality
• Exceptional written and oral communication
• Excellent organizational skills
• Detail-oriented and able to work collaboratively
• Strong work ethic and high level of integrity
• Technologically savvy
• High-energy and enthusiastic about working in an academic atmosphere

For more information contact Head of Upper School,Gareth Griffith, at ggriffith@charlestoncollegiate.org.

About Charleston Collegiate School

Nestled under grand, moss-laden live oaks, Charleston Collegiate School offers a fifty-acre campus of playing fields, wooded trails, and an outdoor education center. Located on beautiful Johns Island, CCS is twenty minutes from Charleston's historic district and the beach resorts of Kiawah and Seabrook Islands. The school was founded in 1970 to serve local families who valued quality education. Mission Statement - Charleston Collegiate School’s mission is to empower students in a student-centered approach that values collaboration, innovation, and individuality to become resilient leaders for 21st century careers.

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