Westtown School

Director of College Counseling

Westtown School

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Office

Location: West Chester • Pennsylvania • United States

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Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Provides vision and strategic leadership for the Upper School College Counseling program
  • Remains current on college admission practices and trends, including but not limited to the nuances of the financial aid process, athletic recruiting, and standardized testing
  • Participates in professional conferences and visits college campuses as necessary
  • In collaboration with the Associate Directors, creates and implements an engaging college counseling curriculum for students in grades 9-12
  • Develops, evaluates, and refines counseling policies, timelines, and programming in response to an evolving college admissions landscape
  • Serves as the School’s senior advisor on college admissions trends, policies, and best practices
  • Plans and facilitates programming for varied constituencies of the school community, including parents and faculty
  • Collects, analyses, and presents college admission statistics and data
  • Develops the school profile and other materials to educate outside audiences about Westtown’s program
  • Creates a welcoming climate in the College Counseling Office by modeling and encouraging Associates to build authentic relationships with students and families and communicate with warmth and clarity
  • Ensures consistent, equitable, and high-quality college counseling support for all students and families
  • Maintains a student caseload, including conducting family conferences and writing advocacy-centered recommendation letters
  • Establishes and upholds professional standards for counseling practice across the department
  • Ensures alignment of systems and procedures and consistency of the college counseling experience
  • Leads, supervises, mentors, and evaluates two Associate Directors and the Registrar/College Counseling Coordinator
  • Fosters a collaborative team culture grounded in shared responsibility, professional growth, and continuous improvement
  • Coordinates departmental workflows, caseload distribution, professional development, and annual goal setting
  • Leads the design, planning, and execution of college counseling programs that educate and support students and families throughout the college process, including evening and weekend programming, e.g., college fairs (including the Equity and Access College Fair hosted by Westtown School), financial aid workshops, mock interviews, case studies, and on-campus programs
  • Ensures programs are well-organized, accessible, and aligned with the school’s college counseling philosophy
  • Develops and coordinates a comprehensive calendar of student and parent education opportunities
  • Understands and appreciates the culture of Westtown School by participating in school-wide activities, residential life, and events outside of school hours
  • Cultivates strategic relationships and represents Westtown to colleges, universities, and professional organizations to strengthen opportunities and visibility for students
  • Hosts and manages visits from college representatives and maintains strong, ongoing partnerships with colleges and universities worldwide
  • Collaborates closely with the Upper School Principal, faculty, advisors, and senior administrators to align college counseling with broader student development goals
  • Represents Westtown at regional and national conferences and through service on professional associations and advisory boards
  • Serves as a visible ambassador and spokesperson for Westtown’s college counseling philosophy and outcomes
  • Pursues continuous professional growth and development, and stays current with programs and issues in admissions and college counseling
  • Other duties as assigned in support of the Upper School and community.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a writing-intensive, data-intensive, education, or counseling field
  • A minimum of 8 years of experience in selective, recommendation-reliant university admissions and/or independent school college counseling
  • Deep understanding of national and international college admissions trends, practices, and ethics
  • Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to anticipate and manage the academic calendar
  • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
  • Proficiency with web-based counseling platforms and Google Workspace
  • Demonstrated commitment to enhancing an inclusive school community based on cultural competence, commitment to social justice, and respect for all voices
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to build meaningful relationships with students throughout our diverse community
  • Alignment with Westtown School’s mission and an educational philosophy consistent with the school’s Quaker values.
Benefits
  • potential for on-campus housing
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
college admissionscollege counselingdata analysiscurriculum developmentrecommendation writingprogram planningfinancial aid processathletic recruitingstandardized testingconfidentiality
Soft Skills
strategic leadershipcommunicationorganizational skillscollaborationrelationship buildingmentoringprofessional growthcultural competencesocial justice commitmentinterpersonal skills