Careers & University Guidance Counsellor

Reports to: Principal and IB Diploma Coordinator

The Careers & University Guidance Counsellor will have the main function of assisting the IGCSE and IB Diploma Coordinators in all matters relating to university and careers guidance. 

S/he will have a breadth of knowledge of the school and will be able to effectively ensure all students have access to the curriculum and school provisions. They will have excellent interpersonal skills and will be able to relate to the students, staff and parents in an informative, empathetic and effective manner.

The position holder will:

- Be responsible for all Careers & University Counsellor communications and liaison with relevant stakeholders

- Record all relevant communication, forms, documents and reports  

- Record and distributing where necessary, all relevant publications

- Be responsible for ensuring that appropriate student records are maintained

- Attend and lead workshops and regional meetings

- Develop and review handbooks and brochures and other promotion material

EIS Orchard Policies:

- Review, develop and enforce policies regarding Higher Education provision, such as the Early Application Support Programme, Reference Policy and Map of IB Diploma students’ Higher Education provision

- Processing, tracking and monitoring of students' applications

- Supporting students in completing application forms and checking of applications thoroughly

- Coordinating and overseeing the use of outside agencies to augment the application process.

- Supporting students in the drafting and completion of personal statements and/or personal essays

- Providing training where necessary to aid tutors and subject teachers in their supporting of students in writing their personal statements or personal essays

- Coordinating and overseeing the process of launching and collating subject references 

- Collating predicted grades from subject staff for application purposes

- Coordinating and supporting mentors in writing university references, including distribution of subject references and providing training where appropriate

- Coordinating and supporting subject teachers in the writing of letters of recommendation and providing training where appropriate

- Coordinating and preparing student transcripts for higher education purposes.

- Coordinating and writing higher education references, monitoring and quality assuring university references and letters of recommendation including updating, editing, proofing and redrafting where necessary.

Wider Student Higher Education Support:

- Supporting and guiding students in their university application process, including workshops, assemblies and one to one meetings, providing counselling and advice as necessary

- Leading, planning and structuring the programme of activities for the Higher Education elements of the post-examination programme

- Assist the Senior Leadership Team in providing advice and guidance regarding option choices for IGCSE and IB Diploma

- Coordinating and monitoring mentors’ tasks in relation to the HE process

- Coordinating and liaising with mentors’ regarding one-to-one meetings (re. choices, personal statements and references)

- Liaising with subject staff with regards to HE applications where necessary

- Offering staff training on Higher Education related areas when needed (e.g. reference writing and supporting personal statements)

Parent Communications:

- Offering up to date and relevant information to the parent body regarding the application processes through workshops and written communication home

- Offering guidance and information to parents where appropriate to further support individual students

- Provide regular articles to the ‘Prepazine’ (weekly newsletter)

- Coordinating university and HE related visits

- Fostering and developing positive relationships with university admissions tutors

- Planning and delivering the Year 12 Higher Education programme

- Advising and informing students, parents and staff with regards to EIS Orchard policy on university applications

- Developing, coordinating and delivering activities in support of the Higher Education, University Application and transition programme

Resources:

- Maintaining relevant and up to date information on relevant forums for Higher Education

- Monitoring the use of the Careers Library, in conjunction with the Librarian

- Maintaining a Higher Education notice board and Resource Room

- Maintaining relevant and up to date information on the school web page and parent portal

- Promoting and assisting with student attendance to University Fairs and visits in Singapore

Budget:

- Prepare, present and negotiate an annual budget for the department

Early Application Support Programme (EASP):

- Supporting the SLT with a policy regarding the EASP

- Identifying students who meet the broad criteria for an Elite University Programme

- Advising students, and updating where necessary, on the entry processes and requirements for Early Applications (EAs)

- Supporting students in completing specific application forms to non-UK based EAs (for example, Ivy League universities in the US)

- Supporting students in completing applications for Oxbridge and UK Medicine

- Collating data and reporting to the SLT on EA placements

Careers Education:

- Develop a careers education curriculum alongside PSHE from Y7-11 to develop an appreciation of the types of career available

- Teach within the PSHE/Careers programme

- Develop tools to help students assess their skills and interests in relation to future careers

- Develop students’ appreciation and abilities in producing CVs, letters of application and portfolios

- Meet with individuals, groups or classes to counsel students towards their career goals

- Develop the use of BridgeU to streamline applications

- Develop a continuous curriculum in careers education from Y7 to Y11 and into IB Diploma

Teaching:

- Ensure that all teachers are suitably qualified and trained in accordance with IBO requirements for the CAS programme

- Conduct meetings and workshops with IB Diploma teachers as needed

- Ensure quality assurance of the delivery of the IBDP

- Ensure that teachers have updated publications

- Prepare time‐lines for submission of work to the IBO

Relevant Qualifications and Desired Experience: 

- Degree in appropriate specialised subject 

- Current certificate in teaching or counselling

- Minimum of three years of relevant experience 

- Familiarisation with IGCSE and IB programmes 

- Exhibit strong philosophical alignment with all IB programmes 

Professional/Personal Attributes: 

- Good communication and interpersonal skills 

- Ability to work as part of a team and with a wide network of teachers and families

- Strong IT skills 

- Good organizational skills and the ability to maintain key dates and monitor progress within fixed time frames

- Be able to work accurately and calmly, and show resilience, when under pressure