EF Academy is an international day and boarding high school serving students from over 50 countries. EF Academy Pasadena opened in September of 2022, joining sister schools in New York and Oxford. EF Academy Pasadena currently enrolls 125 students but is on a growth pathway toward 1000 students (700 boarding and 300 local day students) over the next many years. EF Academy offers an unrivalled level of personal support and guidance to students at our boarding schools and offices around the world. We prepare students for success by working with them to discover and develop their strengths and by providing them with an academic environment that will see them thrive. The University & Academic Advisor (UAA) is a critical player in this support. Each UAA is responsible for a cohort of students and acts as a liaison between the student, family, home office, and school in support of their academic success in our school. This role reports to the Director of University and Academic Advising.
Professional Qualifications and Qualities:
Demonstrated ability to work and plan collaboratively.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
Ability to understand, adapt, and empathize with social and cultural diversity.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and to work with tact and discretion.
Maturity and commitment to exercise sound judgment.
Able to demonstrate flexibility, reliability, and initiative in support of all school related activities.
Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) and prior experience in college counseling, college admission, or other student academic support roles (required).
Desire to work as a college counselor in a fast-paced and innovative school setting.
Experience with and an understanding of US and international colleges and universities: their academic programs, admissions policies, and procedures.
Outstanding interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills; strong decision-making aptitude.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school.
Computer skills (including proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office) and experience with college counseling software, preferably PowerSchool and Maia Learning.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Manage a caseload of approximately 50 international students in grades 9-12 and support all aspects of the academic and university advising program. This includes, but is not limited to:
Provide individual student academic program planning for proper course placement and graduation eligibility including scheduling and credit checks.
Act as a liaison to faculty and staff to form an up-to-date picture of student development, and advocate for students as appropriate and when requested.
Continuously monitor the academic progress of students, meet with students on a regular basis, and update parents and EF Academy admissions offices on the progress of students, communicating any concerns and helping to celebrate successes.
Collect, interpret and maintain student records (i.e. transcripts) to ensure each student successfully meets all school and local graduation requirements.
Advise and encourage students to make the most of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Provide personalized support for students throughout the college/university research and application process.
Host small-group and individual meetings with students.
Educate students and parents about college/university admission trends, both domestic and international.
Advocate for students through the counselor recommendation/referee letter; engage in direct communications with colleges and universities when necessary; reviewing student applications.
Assist in the submission of application support documents as needed.
Assist in planning and chaperoning annual college visit trips.
Schedule and oversee college representative visits to EF Academy.
Conduct workshops, group presentations, and college admissions seminars for students in grades 11-12.
Assist with college/university counseling programs (day and evening) throughout the school year.
Develop and maintain relationships with colleges/universities through attendance at professional conferences, counselor information meetings, and college visits.
Assist with PSAT and SAT test administration.
Represent the University & Academic Advising office at school events.
Play a key role in creating a school-wide culture which places the safety and wellbeing of its students at the forefront.
Maintain a proactive approach in the retention of students by ensuring they feel supported and best advised through collaboration with parents and EF Academy staff.
Interview newly enrolled students to welcome, evaluate and support their transition to our school.
Job Status
This is a 10-month, exempt position. Most of the work is performed during the academic week and often during the academic day, however the nature of this role in a boarding school environment allows flexibility to meet with students outside of academic hours during after school clubs or evening study halls. In addition, all non-residential members of the UAA team support student residential life through some weekend and evening duties spread across the school year. The base salary for this position will be paid on the faculty pay scale and range from $64,480 to $80,000 based on years of relevant experience and highest degree earned. An annual residential duty stipend of $5,000 is added to the compensation package for non-residential roles to compensate for the weekend and evening duties.
