Director, School Counseling and University Admissions
18 hours ago
Manchester
Want to revolutionize the future of education and do meaningful work that transforms future generations’ lives? Our team is looking to bring on passionate educators to support our growing student base through part-time teaching roles. This position offers the opportunity to teach bright, motivated students from around the world while maintaining flexibility in your schedule. You'll play a key role in delivering high-quality, personalized learning experiences as we continue to expand our reach globally Position Overview We are seeking a Director of School Counseling and University Admissions to serve as a critical bridge between our A-level and US curriculum pathways. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on student counseling to ensure every CGA student receives world-class university guidance while building scalable systems that maintain excellence as we grow. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in both US and UK education systems, demonstrated success in placing students in top universities globally, and the vision to create comprehensive programs that develop future-ready students. This role requires someone who can work directly with students requiring personalized counseling while simultaneously building the infrastructure, playbooks, and training materials that enable consistent counseling quality across our global team. Purpose Support students across both curriculum pathways (A-level and US) to help ensure a unified approach to setting students up for success and consistency of practice for academic excellence. This role acts as a bridge between the two curriculum pathways, ensuring that students have the support they need to choose the path that best aligns with their future goals. You'll provide hands-on student counseling support for top universities, support clubs, create enrichment programs, and build scalable systems to ensure students arrive at the application stage well-prepared with strong academic foundations, examination results, rich extracurricular profiles, global competencies in real-world experiences, and clear university pathways aligned to personal goals and CGA's institutional strengths. Key Responsibilities Cross-Pathway Leadership & Coordination • Facilitate knowledge sharing and best practice exchange between campuses and across curriculum types (A-level and US pathways), • Collaborate with academic staff, admissions teams, and deans to align curricular offerings with student outcomes and market demand, • Monitor and benchmark academic performance across campuses and curricula to drive continuous improvement, • Ensure consistency of practice for academic excellence across both curriculum pathways, • Work as part of an extended team across time zones to support our global nature Examination Management & Academic Performance • Support examination management across A-levels, AP, and SAT programs, • Develop and oversee comprehensive exam preparation programs across all curricula, • Implement data-driven strategies to improve student outcomes, • Support accreditation and compliance for institutional relationships Academic Enrichment & Future-Ready Student Development • Create programs that develop globally competitive students prepared for the future of work, • Support and coordinate academic competitions to build student competitiveness, • Develop real-world experiences and vibrant community connections for students, • Support student clubs and enrichment programs, • Ensure students develop strong academic foundations, rich extracurricular profiles, and global competencies, • Build connections between students and opportunities that develop future-ready skills Clubs & Extracurricular Programs • Design and implement a comprehensive club structure and system across CGA that ensures consistency and quality, • Support student clubs and organizations to foster community connection in a virtual environment, • Create frameworks and guidelines for club formation, leadership, and sustainability, • Develop and maintain a diverse portfolio of extracurricular opportunities aligned with university admissions expectations, • Ensure student leadership development through club participation and officer roles, • Monitor club engagement and participation to identify opportunities for student connection, • Build partnerships with external organizations to provide authentic extracurricular experiences, • Track and document student extracurricular involvement for university applications, • Create virtual and asynchronous club opportunities that accommodate students across time zones Direct University Admissions Counseling • Deliver world-class university admissions counseling through direct student support, • Work directly with a select cohort of high-intensity students requiring comprehensive personalized counseling, • Provide strategic planning for university applications, including subject selection and pathway decisions, • Manage predicted grades and letters of recommendation for students, • Guide students through UCAS, Common App, and country-specific application systems, • Ensure students meet all deadlines across multiple application systems globally, • Review and provide feedback on personal statements, essays, and supplemental materials, • Provide comprehensive guidance on university selection across US, UK, Canadian, European, Australian, Asian, and other international systems, • Coordinate financial aid and scholarship applications with families, • Maintain current knowledge of admissions requirements, deadlines, and trends across global universities Building Scalable Systems & Infrastructure • Build scalable systems that ensure all CGA students receive expert guidance through their application process, • Create comprehensive counseling playbooks and frameworks for counselors and deans to follow, • Develop standardized processes for predicted grades, recommendation letters, and application quality assurance, • Build training materials and resources to establish consistent counseling quality across the team, • Establish quality standards and benchmarks for university counseling, • Design asynchronous resources supporting part-time students through their application journeys, • Develop and maintain an extensive database of university programs, scholarships, and requirements globally, • Build systems that can evolve as our school grows Data & Performance Tracking • Support data dashboards tracking application progress and outcomes for areas of improvement, • Ensure data is transparent and reportable across all school leadership, • Track and analyze university admissions outcomes to inform program improvements, • Generate reports on student outcomes and program metrics, • Use data to identify trends and optimize counseling strategies Strategic Partnerships & Market Intelligence • Monitor global education and admissions trends to adjust CGA's approach and maintain competitive advantage, • Cultivate relationships with university admissions offices to enhance CGA's institutional reputation, • Build partnerships with universities to create opportunities for CGA students, • Represent CGA at virtual university fairs and recruitment events, • Stay informed about test-optional policies, holistic admissions trends, and evolving university requirements Student Support & Academic Advising • Advise students on course rigor, AP subject selection, A-level subject combinations, prerequisites, and graduation requirements, • Provide counseling to address academic stress, time management, and study skills, • Support students navigating the unique challenges of online learning, • Serve as an advocate for student needs within the school community, • Coordinate with families through virtual information sessions and regular communication, • Create learning environments where every student discovers and develops their unique strengths Administrative & Compliance • Maintain accurate student records and university application tracking systems, • Prepare school reports, transcripts, and counselor recommendation letters, • Collaborate with school leadership on policy development and strategic planning LEADERSHIP VALUES & APPROACH As a leader across pathways at CGA, this role will need to be an exemplar of our values: • Unlock Potential Together: We work collaboratively. No team is an island. Adapt quickly and find solutions that are in the best interests of our families and CGA as a whole. Every student is a VIP. Make decisive actions to propel us forward through a lens of optimism., • Rethink, Rebuild: Avoid defaulting to, "We've always done this."Be curious, look outside your sphere of inspiration, and dive into the data for actionable insights. Online is our advantage. Let's make the most of the innovation at our fingertips. Take immediate action to improve always, take accountability, follow through, and get ready to optimize again., • Raise the bar, compound impact: Continually strive to be better tomorrow. Have high standards for yourself and those around you. Tackle hard things with grit, take your work seriously, but not yourself. Take the time to document work, proactively share learnings, and multiply others’ efforts. Give credit to those making a positive impact. Qualifications Education & Credentials • Master's degree in School Counseling, Guidance Counseling, Higher Education, or related field, • Valid school counseling credential/license (or equivalent from home country), • Demonstrable expertise in both US and UK education systems Experience • Minimum 5-7 years of experience in high school college counseling or university admissions, • Proven track record of successfully placing students in competitive universities globally, • Experience building scalable systems, frameworks, or programs in an educational setting, • Experience working with international students or in an international school setting, • Demonstrated knowledge of university admissions processes in multiple countries (US, UK, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia), • Deep experience with both AP and A-level curriculum pathways, • Familiarity with online/virtual education delivery, • Experience with data analysis and using metrics to drive program improvement Knowledge & Skills • Expert knowledge of US university admissions (Common App, Coalition App, UC system, liberal arts colleges, Ivy League), • Expert knowledge of UK university admissions (UCAS, Russell Group, requirements for Oxbridge), • Working knowledge of university systems in Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia, • Understanding of international baccalaureate equivalencies and credit transfers, • Proficiency with student information systems and college planning software (Naviance, Scoir, Cialfo, or similar), • Strong knowledge of scholarship and financial aid resources globally, • Familiarity with FERPA, GDPR, and educational privacy laws, • Ability to develop training materials, playbooks, and scalable processes Technical & Communication Skills • Excellent virtual communication and presentation skills, • Proficiency with video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams), • Strong written communication skills for emails, reports, recommendation letters, and counseling materials, • Ability to use learning management systems and collaboration tools, • Digital literacy and comfort with educational technology, • Experience with data visualization and dashboard creation for tracking outcomes
