Higher Education Counsellor

South Island School Website: Click Here

South Island School is a secondary school with approximately 1,400 students.
 

Higher Education Counsellor (re-advertisement) 

Responsibilities

(This is a re-advertisement. Those applicants who have applied before need not apply again.)
 

 We are seeking an experienced Higher Education counsellor or Assistant  Higher Education Counsellor to join an experienced and high-performing  team providing advice and guidance to our international body of students  (and their parents) as they apply to universities around the world.

This  is a replacement position as one of our Team returns to the UK. It is  not a teaching position although applications from suitably qualified  teachers are welcome and there will be many opportunities to interact  with young people, both one-to-one and in groups. Applicants should have  significant experience of Higher Education counselling, preferably  dealing with applicants to more than one geographical destination and  have an established network of admissions contacts. For the Higher  Education Counsellor position, a bachelor degree plus a Certificate or  Diploma in College Counselling/Counselling is required. School  experience would be an advantage but we welcome applicants from other  backgrounds who are able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the  school context. Experience of the North American Higher Education system  would also be an advantage (but is not essential).

South Island  runs three Diploma programmes: the IB Diploma Programme: the IB Careers  Related Programme and a South Island Diploma for students with  individual needs. There are around 350 students in Years 12 and 13. Our  counselling team needs to be aware of the needs of students on all three  pathways and be able to offer the very best advice about destinations  and appropriate institutions as ‘stretch’, ‘secure’ and ‘safety’  targets.

Our Counsellors are very ‘hands-on’ with students and  build good relationships to foster a spirit of trust and open  communication. The successful candidate will be open minded and willing  to learn, fluent in English with a high level of literacy (dealing with  references, recommendations, essays and personal statements is a key  area). The ability and confidence to address large audiences of  students, parents and fellow professionals is also essential. Above all,  we expect our Counsellors to like young people and to engage them with  patience, care and good humour.

General responsibilities will include* to:
(*Subject to change depending on appointment as Higher Education Counsellor or Assistant Higher Education Counsellor)

• conduct individual interviews with a caseload of students (and, where  appropriate, their parents) in Year 11, 12 and in Year 13 focusing on  their Higher Education plans and applications.  
• develop close working links with designated Heads of House and the Director of Post 16 Learning
• work with the Careers Team in preparing school supporting materials for  students’ HE applications.  This includes the preparation and/or  proofreading of references and recommendations.
• assist the Head of  Careers in liaising with and organising meetings of HE representatives,  students and parents and take responsibility for presentations on  specific destinations as specified by the Head of Careers.

• work  with the Careers Team in the production of materials for the Higher  Education guidance programme, the selection of resources for the Careers  Centre and in the development of materials on the Careers Department  website.
• work with the Learning Support department to offer appropriate guidance on pathways after school to Learning Support students.
• undertake tasks as reasonably directed by the Head of Careers 

Contract Terms
 

The Higher Education Counsellor post is offered on a two-year  contract basis which is renewable and includes a terminal gratuity. The  counsellors follow school term times but are required to be available  for specified periods during the school holidays (for example at  examination results time). There will be occasions when attendance at  evening events is required and there is an expectation that the  candidate will be able to join overseas Higher Education tours that  occur largely during school vacation times.  

Closing Date: 20 Jun 2017

For enquiries, please contact Ms Min Mon at recruit@sis.edu.hk

More information about the job description and application form, can be found at the below link:

 https://recruit.esf.edu.hk