Position at EF Academy-International Boarding Schools EF Academy University & Academic Counselor. Non-Residential EF Academy is an international day and boarding high school serving students from over 50 countries. EF Academy Pasadena opened in September of 2022, joining sister schools in New York and Oxford. EF Academy Pasadena currently enrolls 220 students and is on a growth trajectory toward 1000 students (700 boarding and 300 local day students) over the next many years. EF Academy offers a... more details
Description
Position at EF Academy-International Boarding Schools
EF Academy
University & Academic Counselor
Non-Residential
EF Academy is an international day and boarding high school serving students from over 50 countries. EF Academy Pasadena opened in September of 2022, joining sister schools in New York and Oxford. EF Academy Pasadena currently enrolls 220 students and is on a growth trajectory toward 1000 students (700 boarding and 300 local day students) over the next many years.
EF Academy offers an unrivaled level of personal support and guidance to students, preparing them for success by working together to discover and develop their strengths and providing them with an academic environment that will see them thrive. The University & Academic Counselor (UAC) is a critical player in this support. Each UAC is responsible for a cohort of students and acts as a liaison between the student, family, home office, and campus in support of their academic success in our school. This role reports to the Director of University and Academic Counseling.
As a start-up and a boarding school, faculty and staff at EF Academy Pasadena are guided in their practice by specific professional competency architectures with four domains that define how to be and become inspiring educators, committed caretakers, courageous innovators, and relationship builders. Serving as a University & Academic Counselor requires a commitment to the school’s vision, a yearning to implement best practices in university counseling, and a fervor for individualizing students’ educational journeys.
Professional Qualifications and Qualities
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) and prior experience in college counseling, college admission, or other student academic support roles (required).
- Experience with and understanding of U.S. and international colleges and universities: their academic programs, student experiences, and admission practices.
- Outstanding interpersonal communication skills; strong decision-making aptitude.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
- Computer skills (including proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office) and experience with college counseling software, preferably PowerSchool and MaiaLearning.
- Able to demonstrate flexibility, reliability, and initiative in support of all school related activities.
- Ability to understand, adapt, and empathize with social and cultural diversity.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and to work with tact and discretion.
- Maturity and commitment to exercising sound judgment.
- Desire to work as a college counselor in a fast-paced and innovative school setting.
- Demonstrated ability to work and plan collaboratively.
- Ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school community.
Key Responsibilities in each domain, aligned to the EF Academy Pasadena University & Academic Counselor competencies:
Inspiring Educator
- Meet monthly with a caseload of 50 students in grades 9-12 and support all aspects of the academic and university counseling program.
- Provide individual student academic program planning for optimal course placement and graduation eligibility including scheduling and credit checks.
- Advise and encourage students to make the most of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
- Assist with PSAT, SAT, and AP test administration.
- Represent the University & Academic Counseling office at school events.
- Conduct workshops, group presentations, and college admission seminars for students in grades 11-12.
- Assist with college/university counseling programs (day and evening) throughout the school year.
- Host small-group and individual meetings with students.
- Educate students and parents about college/university admission trends, both domestic and international.
- Advocate for students through the counselor recommendation/referee letter, provide feedback on student applications, and assist in the submission of application support documents as needed.
- Collect, interpret, and maintain student records (i.e. transcripts) to ensure each student successfully meets all school and local graduation requirements.
Committed Caretaker
- Play a key role in creating a school-wide culture which places the safety and wellbeing of its students at the forefront.
- Maintain a proactive approach in the retention of students by ensuring they feel supported and best advised through collaboration with parents and EF Academy staff.
- Interview newly enrolled students to welcome, evaluate and support their transition to our school.
- Assist in planning and chaperoning college visit trips.
Courageous Innovator
- Commit to learning, embracing, and implementing best practices in student-centered, global education through the university counseling process.
- Advocate for the success of students whose learning journeys take them from all over the world to a progressive, competency- and project-based learning environment.
- Stay at the forefront of the college admission profession, anticipating changes and guiding students and families as they navigate a rapidly changing admission landscape.
Relationship Builder
- Continuously monitor the academic progress of students, meet with students on a regular basis, and update parents and EF Academy admission offices on the progress of students, communicating any concerns and helping to celebrate successes.
- Develop and maintain relationships with colleges/universities through attendance at professional conferences, counselor information meetings, and college visits.
- Schedule and oversee college representative visits to EF Academy.
Job Status
This is a 10-month, exempt position. Most of the work is performed during the academic week and often during the academic day, however the nature of this role in a boarding school environment allows flexibility to meet with students outside of academic hours during after school clubs or evening study halls. In addition, all non-residential members of the UAC team support student residential life through some weekend and evening duties spread across the school year. The base salary for this position will be paid on the faculty pay scale and range from $66,560 to $89,000 based on years of relevant experience and highest degree earned. An optional annual supplement of $5,000 is added to the compensation package for non-residential roles to compensate for the election to complete recurring weekend and evening duties.
About EF Education First:
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs - focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics - turn dreams into international opportunities.
When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about - we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, parental status, identity, experience and everything else that makes you unique.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. About Education First: https://www.ef.com/wwen/about-us/
