What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director of College Counseling position at Bullis School?
Bullis School seeks a full-time Associate/Senior Associate Director of College Counseling for the 2026-27 academic year to play an essential role in guiding students and families through a comprehensive college search process aligned with the school’s college preparatory mission. Candidates should be empathetic professionals, strong communicators, and knowledgeable about current trends in secondary and higher education. This is a 12-month position reporting to the Director of College Counseling and starts on July 1, 2026.
The Bullis College Counseling department is highly collaborative and fosters a culture of creativity and continuous growth in a supportive and upbeat environment. College Counselors guide students through every stage of the college search and application process and are assigned to a caseload of approximately 30-40 students each year, serving as the primary resource for both students and families.
This position is dedicated exclusively to college counseling and does not include teaching responsibilities, allowing counselors to focus fully on supporting students through the college admissions process. At the same time, counselors remain actively engaged in broader curricular and programmatic discussions across the school and serve as course selection coaches for rising juniors. Throughout the year, college counselors coordinate and facilitate a range of programs, including parent education events, a spring sophomore college counseling program, mock admissions programs, essay-writing workshops, an August application workshop, and a comprehensive four-year college counseling curriculum for students. Counselors also serve as ambassadors for Bullis, building strong relationships and collaborating regularly with college admission representatives and fellow counselors in the Washington Area Independent Schools network and beyond.
The department prioritizes student fit above all else in the college search and application process, and Bullis’s matriculation list reflects the diverse talents, aspirations, and interests of its student body. We seek candidates who embrace this philosophy and bring authentic positivity, sound judgement, and a student-centered mindset to their work.
Working at Bullis means being a part of a collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages professional growth and development. We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits that make it an ideal place to build a thriving career.
If you are passionate about education and want to make a difference in the lives of young individuals, we want to hear from you!
Qualifications:Essential Functions
- Guide students and parents through the college search and college application process
- Serve as a direct resource and compose comprehensive counselor letters of recommendation for 30-40 seniors each year
- Cultivate strong relationships with college admission representatives through high school visits, college fairs, advocacy phone calls, and conferences
- Assist with the coordination of parent programming, sophomore class spring program, mock admission program, essay writing workshops, August application workshop, and a comprehensive four-year college counseling curriculum for students
- Serve as a course selection coach for rising seniors
- Work collaboratively with all members of the college counseling team and plan and participate in special events hosted by the Office of College Counseling
- Assist and provide feedback on college essays and supplemental writings
- Maintain professional competence through participation in conferences, Bullis faculty programs, and self-selected professional growth activities
- Attend Upper School divisional meetings and college counseling team meetings
- Flexibility to arrange and attend college visits and counselor program events during the academic year
- Provide summer coverage for the College Counseling Office, meeting with students and families, guiding rising seniors through essay development and application planning, and responding to time-sensitive inquiries to ensure continuity of support throughout the summer months
Other Duties
- Other tasks as assigned by the Director of College Counseling
- Continued professional development endeavors
Qualities of a Bullis College Counselor
- An appreciation and respect for high school-aged students as learners and people, through challenging and joyful moments alike
- Empathetic and able to cultivate positive relationships with young people, their families, the greater Bullis community, and college admission professionals
- Detail- and deadline-oriented, with the capacity and flexibility to efficiently manage numerous small and large tasks
- Exceptional verbal, written communication, and listening skills
- A proven collaborator who can work with all internal and external members of the community
- Use of reflection and feedback aimed at continued growth
- Enjoys the process of guiding students through self-reflection and purpose-finding to ultimately find their best-fit institution
Education and Experience
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Minimum of three years in college counseling and/or selective college admissions
Preferred:
- Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, or related field
- Five or more combined years in private high school, college counseling, and selective college admissions
- Community-minded collaborators who want to play an active role in the life of our school
Compensation and benefits are competitive, with an anticipated salary range of $88,000 to $107,000.
Benefits include:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employer-provided basic life insurance
- Employer-provided short-term and long-term disability
- 401(k) employer match and safe harbor contribution, up to 7% of annual compensation
- Paid leave
Salary : $88,000 - $107,000