Annie Wright is seeking an Assistant Director of College Counseling to begin on August 15. This is a full-time faculty position that reports directly to the Director of College Counseling.

Mission Statement

Annie Wright’s strong community cultivates individual learners to become well-educated, creative and responsible citizens for a global society.

Position description

The Assistant Director of College Counseling is an energetic and dedicated professional who is capable of balancing student-centered education values with the traditional college-going expectations prevalent in selective college admissions. The Assistant Director of College Counseling knows each student and their family, their personal interests, and their hopes and dreams, and is able to help students identify and apply to colleges that are the best fit for them. Through individualized and specific college counseling services, the Assistant Director of College Counseling supports a diverse cohort of students in Grades 9-12. Keeping diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the center, the Assistant Director of College Counseling ensures that families and students are provided the resources, knowledge, and support necessary to make the best post-high school decisions for them and their student. 

The Assistant Director of College Counseling will work collaboratively with the Director of College Counseling, the College Counseling team, the Assistant Directors and Director of the Upper Schools, and student advisors to provide comprehensive college counseling, academic planning, and social/emotional development and learning to students in both the Upper School for Boys and the Upper School for Girls. 

Position Overview: Core Duties and Responsibilities

The Assistant Director of College Counseling:

• Counsels approximately one-third of the class (average class size 80-90 students), beginning in the junior year. This includes advising students individually on all aspects of the college process, such as course selection, building an appropriately balanced college list, helping students prepare application materials, recommending campus visit programs and scholarships, and informing them about financial aid.
• Supports and informs parents through individual meetings and communication. 
• Authors highly personalized letters of recommendation for high school seniors.
• Participates in all office-sponsored programming (including occasional nights and weekends) and shows enthusiasm for enhancing or reimagining programming.
• Keeps current on trends in college admissions, in part by participating in local and national associations relevant to our profession, including organizations such as NACAC and College Board. 
• Utilizes college counseling technology (i.e., Scoir, Blackbaud, Google Docs) to both guide students through the college selection process and manage enrollment data.
• Speaks with care and expertise about the college process, particularly to Grade 10 students and families who may be just embarking on their college application journeys. 
• Shows willingness to learn technological skills and/or systems in order to manage and assess current practices.
• Handles highly sensitive material with discretion.
• Works collaboratively with the Director of College Counseling to foster and maintain relationships with college admissions representatives by hosting visits to the AWS campus, traveling to college campuses, and attending professional meetings and conferences.
• Assists with the coordination of PSAT and SAT testing on campus.
• Helps to organize college-related programs on and off campus, including those for parents, and others relevant to special populations like athletes, artists, and international students.

Salary and Benefits

This position offers a salary range between $70,000 and $85,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits available to the hired candidate include the following, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Paid sick leave (known as Wellness Days): Each regular full-time employee earns 80 hours of Wellness leave per accrual year
• Eighteen (18) paid Holidays in 2025
• Fifty percent (50%) Tuition remission in accordance with school policy. All fees and incidental expenses are the sole responsibility of the employee-parent
• All children of benefited employees of AWS, who are currently enrolled at AWS, are eligible for extended day services at no charge when school is in session. Charges apply for faculty in-service days or similar days  
• A 403(b) retirement plan with a 6% company match with a 3 % employee contribution

Application Process

Annie Wright Schools remain firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. Annie Wright shall hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment related decisions without regard to an employee’s race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Annie Wright Schools are actively seeking to create a more culturally diverse school community and accordingly, applicants of color and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, email and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references, and this completed and signed application, all in PDF format, to Mrs. Erin Gann, Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools, at erin_gann@aw.org. In accordance with Annie Wright Schools’ strategic focus on issues related to social justice, candidates should anticipate being asked to address how their past work, as well as future contributions, might serve to advance Annie Wright’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive community. Applications for this position received before June 15 will be prioritized. Applications will then be considered on a rolling basis.

Qualifications

The Assistant Director of College Counseling will demonstrate key elements of the listed expertise and experiences. This is an aspirational list, and Annie Wright Schools will consider candidates who may not currently possess, but are working on building, all of these qualities. The Assistant Director of College Counseling:

• holds a Bachelor’s degree in education, education leadership or a related field;
• has worked in admissions and/or college counseling in an independent school environment;
• is an empathetic listener and a strong communicator with excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills; 
• displays strong organizational and time management skills; 
• practices sound judgment and discretion; 
• has a sincere desire to advocate for, and a passion for working with, high school students; 
• demonstrates a commitment to professional growth;
• possesses a playful, easy-going personality and seeks joy in the little things;
• practices cultural humility in personal interactions;
• And, is eligible to work in the United States. Note: Under our current employment policies, we are unable to sponsor work visas and do not offer positions to candidates who are not yet eligible to work in the United States.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able and willing to travel to conferences, fly-ins, and other professional events
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times 

About Annie Wright Schools

Tradition meets innovation at Annie Wright Schools, where we honor our rich history and traditions, embrace the present, and continue always to move forward. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool through Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options in Grades 9 through 12, welcoming students from Tacoma and around the world. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering IB programs in every division.

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