Dean of University Advising

The American School in London; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious international school in the City of Westminster is seeking a Dean of University Advising to lead the Office of University Advising. The role involves supervising University Advisors, guiding students through the university admissions process across multiple countries, and ensuring compliance with graduation requirements. The ideal candidate will have substantive experience in college counseling, excellent leadership skills, and a strong understanding of university admissions processes in the US and UK. This position also requires collaboration with various school leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Substantive experience in global college counseling or university advising.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience managing professional staff.
• Proven track record of developing comprehensive counseling programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Office of University Advising and supervise University Advisors.
• Guide students through the university application process.
• Publish the school's University Advising Profile and maintain advising statistics.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Counseling skills

Leadership

Understanding of adolescent development

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree in counseling, education, or related field

Tools

MAIA

Bridge U

Cialfo

Unifrog

Veracross

Job description

Overall Purpose: The Dean of University Advising serves as the leader of the Office of University Advising, providing strategic direction and oversight for all post-ASL planning initiatives. The Dean supervises three University Advisors (UAs) and is a member of the High School Leadership Team, collaborating closely with the High School Principal, Assistant Principal, and Director of Student Life to support the mission of the school by empowering students to know themselves, to navigate the university advising process and post-secondary opportunities, and to discover purpose at ASL and beyond. The Dean leads this work in collaboration with all constituencies to help each student craft a vision for their future and make informed post-secondary decisions. In addition to leadership responsibilities, the Dean maintains a caseload of students (and their parent/guardian(s)), in both the senior and junior classes, advising, monitoring, and guiding them through the post-ASL planning process from halfway through junior year until post-graduation. The Dean advises approximately 25-35 students in the senior class, and then begins to advise 25-35 juniors in the December of their junior year. The Dean is also the de facto University Advisor for the 9th and 10th grade classes. The Dean is responsible for managing systems, ensuring compliance with ASL graduation requirements, UK graduation requirements, and Middle States Association compliance.

Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Office of University Advising
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate three University Advisors, fostering professional growth and team cohesion
• Serve as a member of the High School Leadership Team, collaborating closely with the High School Principal, Assistant Principal, and Director of Student Life to align university advising with broader school goals and pastoral care initiatives
• Collaborate with the Dean of Admissions to ensure alignment between university advising and school admissions initiatives
• Manage and optimize systems for university advising, including databases, organizational platforms, and communication protocols
• With the registrar, ensure all students meet ASL graduation requirements, UK graduation requirements, and Middle States Association graduation requirements
• Oversee the distribution of student caseloads among the university advising team
• Lead UA team meetings, setting agendas and driving continuous improvement

University Advising and Student Support

• Counsel and guide students and their parents/guardians, in both group and individual meetings, on the many options post-ASL
• Guide and monitor students through the application process for university admission in the US, UK, and other countries, and/or other post-ASL opportunities
• Write detailed counselor recommendations and/or references for each student as needed
• Design and implement comprehensive parent education initiatives on university advising, admissions processes, and post-ASL planning
• Work with grade deans, advisors, and faculty as part of the annual academic and extracurricular course schedule planning sessions with students and parents/guardians
• In collaboration with the Director of Student Life and the Director of ASL's WorkX program, design lessons for the advisory program that frame future planning and potential career pathways
• Collaborate with the High School Leadership team as needed to support students who may need to consider different pathways to graduation

Professional Development and External Relations

• Publish and maintain the school's University Advising Profile, ensuring accurate and current information about ASL's academic programs, graduation requirements, and post-secondary outcomes. Maintain university advising statistics for the school and undertake internal and external reporting responsibilities to different constituencies.
• Meet with university representatives, visit universities, attend conferences, and generally keep abreast of changes and updates in all aspects of US, UK, and international university admissions
• Represent ASL at professional conferences and maintain active membership in organizations such as IACAC or NACAC
• Participate actively in the life of the School through attendance at events, committee membership, and leadership of extracurricular activities

Qualifications

• Any other duties as are within the scope, spirit, and purpose of the job, as requested
• Substantive professional experience in global college counseling, university advising, or college admissions
• Demonstrated supervisory experience managing professional staff
• Proven track record of leading and developing comprehensive college counseling or university advising programs
• Excellent interpersonal and counseling skills in working with students, parents, and faculty in settings or with diverse, multinational student populations
• Strong understanding of US university admissions, UK university admissions, and global university admissions practices
• Experience managing systems, statistics and databases in an educational setting. Familiarity with websites such as MAIA, Bridge U., Cialfo, or Unifrog
• A desire to work in a team-focused, community environment and demonstrated ability to lead collaborative teams
• Strong understanding of adolescent development
• Demonstrably strong oral and written communication skills
• Willingness to contribute to school life outside of the classroom
• A proven commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of children, Familiarity with technology including MAIA and the Veracross student information database
• Deep understanding of American curricula and pathways, and the Advanced Placement program
• Knowledge and understanding of international and/or independent school communities
• Active membership in IACAC or NACAC with demonstrated engagement in professional networks
• Experience serving on school leadership teams
• Advanced degree in counseling, education, or related field