Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Posted: 14-May-26
Location: Flourtown, Pennsylvania
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Associate Director of College Counseling
Mount Saint Joseph Academy | Flourtown, Pennsylvania
Full-Time | 10-Month | August 2026
About Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Founded in 1858, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12, empowers young women to realize their fullest potential. Imbued with a spirit of unity and reconciliation, the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mount Saint Joseph Academy fosters excellence tempered by gentleness and compassion.
Enriched by the values of the Catholic Church, Mount Saint Joseph Academy (MSJA) offers academically rigorous programs, which challenge students to shape the future. In a student-centered, collaborative environment, Mount Saint Joseph Academy (The Mount) provides a holistic education with an emphasis on global responsibility.
Trusting in the wisdom echoed by the Constitution of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the mission asserts, “On the education of women largely depends the future of society.”
About the Role
The Associate Director of College Counseling is a full-time, student-facing member of the college counseling team at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Reporting to and partnering closely with the Dean of College Counseling and Experiential Learning, this person carries a full college counseling caseload while also contributing to the design and delivery of college counseling curriculum for juniors and seniors.
The Associate Director is both a skilled practitioner and an innovative thinker: someone who meets students and families with clarity and care, and who brings vision and initiative to the development of programming and professional practice.
Primary Responsibilities
The Associate Director will:
- Guide students and families through conversations about fit, selectivity, aspiration, and discernment with both honesty and care
- Partner with the Dean of College Counseling and Experiential Learning to sustain and evolve a program that responds thoughtfully to a changing admissions landscape
- Carry a full college counseling caseload, guiding students and families through the college search, application, and decision-making process beginning in the junior year
- Write individualized, narrative-driven counselor recommendations that represent each student with authenticity and depth
- Utilize college counseling platforms effectively to manage caseload, track student progress, and facilitate the application process
- Teach college counseling curriculum to juniors and seniors, developing content that prepares students for each stage of the post-secondary process
- Spearhead programming initiatives within the college counseling office, including student education workshops and family information events
- Collaborate with colleagues across the school, including deans, faculty, and advisors, to support students holistically
- Cultivate professional relationships with college admission representatives; participate in regional and national college counseling conferences
- Contribute to the school community beyond the counseling office through professional development initiatives and broader school commitments
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a practitioner who is as strong in the room with a family as they are in designing a program. Strong candidates will demonstrate:
- A deeply student- and family-centered philosophy; a commitment to fit, self-knowledge, and honest advocacy throughout the college counseling process
- A commitment to equity and access in college counseling, with demonstrated experience supporting students and families from diverse backgrounds
- The ability to partner with a dean-level leader while taking genuine ownership of their own programming and responsibilities
- An innovative disposition: a genuine interest in designing, delivering, and iterating on curriculum and programming
- A vision for growing students and colleagues; someone who thinks beyond the individual caseload to the health of the program as a whole
- Strong written communication skills, particularly in crafting nuanced and compelling counselor recommendations
- The capacity to hold high-stakes conversations with students and families with honesty and steadiness
- Comfort working within a mission-driven school community; an openness to and appreciation for the Catholic educational tradition
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum of three to five years of experience in secondary school college counseling or selective college admissions
- Strong knowledge of the national college admissions landscape, including financial aid, standardized testing, and trends in selective admissions
- Demonstrated experience in program development and design
- Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a school environment that moves quickly and expects initiative
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit the following to Melissa Sullivan jobopportunities@msjacad.org.
- A cover letter expressing interest in Mount Saint Joseph Academy and this position
- A current résumé
- Contact information for three professional references
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Mount Saint Joseph Academy is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates whose experience, perspective, and values align with our mission and our commitment to the communities we serve.
