Director of College Counseling

Job Description

Director of College Counseling
Mission: Since its founding in 1892 by the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, the mission of Mount St. Dominic
Academy has been to empower young women to pursue the truth and live in charity.
About the Position: Reporting into the Dean of Academics, the Director of College Counseling will lead the
creation of Mount St. Dominic's first College Counseling Office. This individual will lead a small team of
college counselors in guiding young women and their families through the entire university search,
application, and financial aid process.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership

o Provide strategic leadership in the creation of a new College Counseling Office with one-two part-
time college counselors.

o Work closely with the Director of Guidance to ensure a smooth transition of the college advising
function from guidance to an independent college counseling office.
o Oversees the college counseling advisory program, establishing a clear calendar of educational
programming for students and their parents.
Student & Family Advising
o Work closely with the college counselors to determine the most strategic assignment of student
caseloads, ensuring that ninth and tenth grade students receive support in developing their personal
narratives and extracurricular positioning, and that eleventh and twelfth grade students receive
support in all aspects of the college application process, including self-assessment, researching
colleges, essay writing, and interview preparation.
o Advise students and families on financial aid processes, including FAFSA, CSS Profile, merit aid
strategy, and interpreting financial aid award letters.
o Compose detailed and personalized letters of recommendation for seniors.
o Guide students and families in the college search, selection, application, and admission process
through group, individual, and family meetings.
o Together with the Director of Guidance and guidance counselors, provide wrap-around student
support in yearly course selection.
Testing & Application Guidance
o Develop a robust and thorough test preparation curriculum for students at all grade levels.
o Coordinates standardized testing practice, essay writing strategies, and application timelines
o Stay current with trends in college admissions and financial aid.
o Support students navigating the athletic recruitment process, including understanding NCAA
eligibility requirements, coordinating with coaches, and advising on how athletic interest intersects
with the college list-building process.
o Guide students in building balanced, well-researched college lists that reflect both academic fit and
personal goals, including school size, culture, geography, and intended area of study.
School Representation and Relationship Building
o Represents Mount St. Dominic Academy to college admissions representatives and advocates for
students to competitive universities.

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o Build and sustain meaningful relationships with college admissions officers and host visiting
university representatives.
o Represent Mount St. Dominic Academy at relevant local, state, and national conferences and
workshops and in NACAC, College Board, NAIS, NCGS, and NJAIS memberships.
o Build strong relationships with students and families as well as raise the Mount's profile with
colleges and universities.
o Schedule speakers and college visitors to the Mount to educate the school community about the
college process, financial and merit aid, and particular colleges and universities.
o Work with the Digital Media Coordinator to update the college guidance section of the school
website.
Qualifications & Personal Attributes
o Personal commitment to the mission of Mount St. Dominic Academy
o An understanding of and enthusiasm for Catholic liberal education and Catholic culture
o A love for the intellectual and spiritual tradition of the Dominican Order and an ability to
communicate the beauty of the Catholic faith
o Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred
o A minimum of three to five years of experience in an independent school and/or higher education
o Intimate knowledge of the independent school landscape and the academic expectations of
competitive higher education institutions
o Exceptional writing skills are essential, paired with deep empathy, a high degree of patience, and the
ability to act as a calm, logical guide for families
o Must demonstrate personal self-discipline, be adaptable and flexible in routine and unexpected
situations, and use excellent judgment in daily encounters
o Intellectual curiosity and commitment to continuous learning
o Confidence to advocate for new ideas, balanced with humility and openness to feedback
o Strong organizational skills, effective prioritization, and attention to detail
o A sense of humor, enthusiasm for school life, and genuine joy in serving the Mount community
o An ability to teach two-three sections of a humanities class
The salary range for this position is $70,000-$75,000 or commensurate with experience.
If interested, please send cover letter and resume to Juliette Picciano at jpicciano@msdacademy.org.

About the Employer

Mount St. Dominic Academy, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell in 1892, is a Catholic, college preparatory school for young women. We are dedicated to the education of young women from a variety of ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds.

The Mount community is committed to seeking the Truth in all aspects of life. The students are able to realize their individual gifts and talents in an atmosphere that fosters academic excellence, respect for diversity, appreciation for the gifts of creation, moral integrity and a heritage rich in Christ-centered values.