DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

Pacific Ridge School is a college preparatory, co-educational independent school located in beautiful Carlsbad, California, approximately 25 miles north of San Diego. We offer a rich and challenging program to 430 students in grades 7-12.

The school seeks an experienced, dynamic Director of College Counseling to work with students throughout their junior and senior years and to advisee freshman and sophomore students in all aspects of the college search and application process. Working closely with and supervising an Assistant Director of College Counseling and a College Counseling Assistant, this key position will help students prepare for the transition from Middle School to Upper School and to college. The Director will be responsible for educating Pacific Ridge constituencies (including students and families) about college admissions issues, helping students and families navigate the actual  application process, promoting Pacific Ridge's program to colleges, and providing insightful  guidance to direct PRS students toward appropriate colleges and universities that fit their academic and personal needs.

Qualifications/ Personal Qualities:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field; Master's degree preferred
• Experience working in college counseling and/or college admissions; three to five years preferred
• Experience working in or with independent schools
• Ability to assess, understand, motivate, and counsel young adults
• Experience networking with college admissions offices
• Excellent communication skills, both speaking and writing
• Office management and supervision skills. Demonstrated skill in interpersonal communication
• High level of responsiveness to communication from students and parents
• Committed to research and acquisition of knowledge about specific colleges, financial aid issues, testing, and trends in higher education
• Strong desire to support students' aspirations and goals beyond high school
• Computer skills, familiarity with Naviance
• Ability to work independently and as a productive team member
• Possess a love of working with high school students and mentoring them through the admission search and application process
• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, parents and students through a process that focuses on identifying the best college match for each student

Responsibilities:

• Guide seniors and juniors and their families through the college selection and application process. Write, organize, and submit support materials for students' college applications,
• including letters of recommendation and transcripts
• Gather, maintain and provide current resource materials about colleges
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with college admissions offices through
• individual meetings, conferences, and campus visits
• Supervise Assistant Director of College Counseling and College Counseling Assistant
• Along with college counseling staff, foster a welcoming, nurturing, and productive college counseling office for students and faculty
• Direct special events related to college advisement: Junior College Night, Freshman
• College Night, Sophomore College Night, Financial Aid Night, Playing Sports in College
• Night, Case Studies, Transition to College Night, etc.
• Salary will be competitive, based on experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is provided.

Those individuals interested in joining our close-knit community should email a cover letter, resume, and two samples of letters of recommendation as Word attachments to:

Dr. Bob Ogle, Co-Head of School, at bogle@pacificridge.org

Pacific Ridge School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit.  We want to have the best available persons in every job. School policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition including genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Pacific Ridge School also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.