Director of College Counseling

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond. 

Roxbury Prep consists of four schools serving students in grades 5 through 12. We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. Roxbury Prep students have an impressive 98% college acceptance rate and collectively earned 1.3 million dollars in scholarships last year.

Job Description

Managing other members of the Office of College Access & Success to guide students through the college admissions and financial aid process, the Director of College Completion manages all operations of the office, works closely with students and parents, and is responsible for guiding students in grades 10-12 through the course selection process as well as the college applications and financial aid processes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a staff of 2-5 college counselors and an office coordinator. Continue to develop and evaluate these team members.
• Build partnerships with colleges that are “best fits” for our students. Nurture current college relationships and foster additional ones.
• Coordinate with Uncommon’s alumni support team to ensure that we are optimizing our support for our HS graduates on their chosen post-secondary pathway. 
• Continue to develop relationships with college and university admissions offices by meeting with college representatives, visiting college campuses, and attending regional and national conferences.
• Map out a long-term strategy for supporting our increasing number of college-bound high school graduates.
• Counsel students and their parents from the spring of junior year through the end of senior year as they research and apply to colleges. 
• Assist in teaching College Seminar classes for juniors and seniors using Uncommon’s aligned curriculum.
• Write counselor recommendations for designated counselees and work with school leadership to drive the teacher letter of recommendation writing process. 
• Advocate for counselees to colleges and universities
• Fully utilize the resources of Overgrad to facilitate the college search and application processes.
• Compile and disseminate scholarship and summer program information to eligible students.
• Help organize and run student, parent, and faculty information events on campus
• Participate in and lead faculty meetings, school-based professional development and Uncommon-sponsored professional development
• Fulfill other school duties and responsibilities as deemed appropriate for the position.

Qualifications

• Admissions experience at a selective college/university;
• Bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred);
• Extensive knowledge of US colleges/universities and the college admissions process;
• Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Attention to detail, with strong organizational skills;
• Able to plan strategically to meet short-term and long-term goals;
• Use data effectively when making decisions;
• Comfort working with both high school-age students and their parents;
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team;
• Web and computer proficient

Additional Information

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: The starting compensation for this role based in Boston is between $69,500 and $92,000. The starting pay will depend on various factors that may include but are not limited to professional experience, education, training, certifications, tenure with Uncommon Schools, and work location.  Because one of the things that we value is staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.  Please note: ranges may differ for staff who work from a location other than Boston.

Benefits: We offer comprehensive, flexible, and competitive compensation,  benefits and perks that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance
• Financial Planning & Wellness
  • 403(b) retirement savings plan and/or region specific Pension plan 
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness  Program  & 529 Savings plan
• Generous Time-Off plan aligned with school calendars
• Leave of Absence
  • 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave +
• Mental Health and Counseling support
• Relocation Assistance
• Other Perks and Discounts

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions.