About the OpportunityThe Assistant Director of Guidance Counseling oversees our Postsecondary Readiness /Student Success Counselor team, providing direction, support and professional development. This role is central to our mission, coordinating student support across multiple campuses to ensure every scholar thrives.
Who You Are:- An educator with an unwavering commitment to the Democracy Prep mission of college success and authentic civic engagement for our scholars.
- A dedicated high school counselor with experience in college counseling for low-income, first-generation students.
- A committed professional who possesses extensive knowledge of the college admissions and financial aid processes with a track record of high-quality college advising.
- A clear communicator and skilled writer with the ability to provide strong feedback on student work and craft exceptional student recommendations and other written communications.
- An enthusiastic networker with established, long-term associations with a variety of key admissions personnel at various higher ed organizations across the country, especially in New York, and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and connect students to unique programs on college campuses.
- An organized professional who can build data-driven recommendations around the college process, and alumni support, with the goal of college persistence for all scholars.
What You Will DoProgram Oversight and Support- Supervise and mentor Postsecondary Readiness Counselors and Scholar Success Counselors
- Oversee the 4-year advising program (grades 9-12) combining whole group instruction with individual advising
- Develop and implement college/career readiness initiatives across all schools
- Build partnerships with college admissions officers, employers, and community organizations
- Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between counselors, families, faculty, college advisors, and student support teams
Operations & Strategy- Streamline administrative processes including credit audits, transcript reviews, and graduation tracking
- Build capacity across our counseling team through professional development
- Create standardized tools and documentation for consistent student support
- Partner with leadership on strategic decisions about student services
Data Collection, Reporting and Analysis- Monitor and ensure the timely completion of college applications, financial aid packages, and post-secondary planning
- Track and report on key metrics related to college access and success
- Monitor student progress and graduation outcomes
- Track long-term impact on college access, civic participation, and life outcomes
Counseling & Intervention- Supervise crisis intervention protocols across the counseling team
- Review and triage complex cases involving abuse, neglect, or significant academic challenges
- Develop systems for tracking student well-being and academic outcomes
- Ensure all counselors are equipped to handle behavioral health concerns
College Counseling and Post-Secondary Planning Strategy and Operations- Supervise a team of counselors supporting seniors through the full admissions cycle, ensuring each student receives comprehensive guidance
- Establish streamlined procedures for college list development, personal statement coaching, financial aid advising, and matriculation decisions
- Create and maintain effective parent/guardian partnership and engagement strategies including workshop calendars, meeting protocols, and communication channels
- Track utilization of critical resources like fee waivers, fly-in visits, partner programs, scholarships and (H)EOP
- Track metrics on how effectively we help students leverage these supports
- Establish clear timelines and accountability structures for all partnership-related tasks
- Monitor campus outcomes to ensure we're meeting our college access and completion goals
- Maintain strategic partnerships across higher education institutions Quality Assurance & Improvement
- Regularly review counseling procedures to ensure they align with our mission and student needs
- Provide ongoing training on admissions practices and student success strategies
Qualifications- Master's degree in social work, counseling, or related field
- Relevant licensure (LPC, LPC-S, LMSW, LCSW) preferred
- 5+ years of experience in school counseling or equivalent role
- Proven leadership of educational counseling teams
- Strong understanding of college admissions processes
- Excellent organizational and people-management skills
- Exceptional strategic thinking and operational expertise
CompensationSalary range is $115,000 - $130,000 commensurate with your experience. Democracy Prep employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, 403B matching, parental leave, a smartphone, and a laptop.
