Director of College Counseling - The Westminster Schools

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POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of College Counseling provides strategic leadership for Westminster’s Upper School college counseling program, guiding its vision, philosophy, and execution in support of the School’s mission to develop the whole person for college and for life. The Director oversees a comprehensive, student-centered program serving approximately 200 graduating students annually and leads a collaborative team of college counseling professionals.

This role requires deep expertise in selective college admissions, exceptional leadership and communication skills, and a commitment to ethical, inclusive, and individualized counseling practices. The Director serves as the School’s senior authority on college counseling matters and represents Westminster to colleges, universities, professional organizations, and external partners. 

Additionally, the Director of College Counseling plays a critical role in fulfilling Westminster’s mission to develop the whole person for college and for life, ensuring that each student is supported through a thoughtful, ethical, and highly individualized college search and application process.

Supervisor: Head of the Upper School

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Direct supervision of four Associate Directors of College Counseling and the College Counseling Administrative Assistant

Position Status:  Salaried, exempt, full-time, 12-month

Hours of Work: Standard work week with exact hours to be determined by Division Head; evening and weekend work required.
 

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in 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
• Demonstrated success leading teams, managing complex programs, and setting strategic direction
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to anticipate and manage the academic calendar
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and ethical practice in college counseling
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Preferred

• Experience directing a high school college counseling office or college admissions office
• Master’s degree in a writing-intensive, data-intensive, education, or counseling field
• Proficiency with web-based counseling platforms (e.g., Scoir) and Google Workspace

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Provides vision and strategic leadership for the Upper School College Counseling program, ensuring alignment with Westminster’s mission, values, and academic philosophy
• 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
• Serves on the Upper School Leadership Team.

Student & Family Counseling

• 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

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Ensures alignment of systems and procedures and consistency of the college counseling experience
• Leads, supervises, mentors, and evaluates Associate Directors and support staff
• 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

Programing & Community Engagement

• 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, 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

College & Institutional Partnerships

• Cultivates strategic relationships and represents Westminster 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 Head of Upper School, faculty, advisors, and senior administrators to align college counseling with broader student development goals
• Represents Westminster at regional and national conferences and through service on professional associations and advisory boards
• Serves as a visible ambassador and spokesperson for Westminster’s college counseling philosophy and outcomes

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Upper School and broader Westminster community

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, and feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl; and talk and hear. The employee may occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to become CPR and First Aid Certified is required.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee may occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions and frequently walk on slippery or uneven surfaces.  The work environment is often noisy.

Westminster is a drug-free, smoke/vape-free campus.

TRAVEL

Travel is primarily local during regular business days.  Overnight and out-of-area travel may also be required, primarily for planned events, conferences, and professional development opportunities. Travel to conferences and colleges is expected. Driving a Westminster vehicle may be required for this position.