Associate Director of College Counseling

About the Company

Founded in 1929, Metairie Park Country Day School is a coeducational, non-denominational, independent school serving students from Pre-K through Grade 12. The School’s mission emphasizes academic excellence, individual growth, and a vibrant, inclusive community. Information about Country Day is available on our website: www.mpcds.com.

About the Role

The Associate Director of College Counseling is part of a two-person college counseling team that works closely with the Director of College Counseling. This role has two distinct areas of focus: building and leading a college awareness program for students in grades 9 and 10, and managing an equal caseload of juniors and seniors through the college search and application process. The Associate Director is not a support role; it is a peer role, defined by shared responsibility and a deep commitment to students and the MPCD community. This position is ideal for a counselor who is energized by collaboration and finds as much meaning in a 9th-grade self-discovery workshop as in helping a senior make a final college decision.

Responsibilities

• Community & Relationship Building
• Be a genuine, consistent presence in Upper School life so that students know and trust you long before the college process formally begins.
• Build warm, communicative relationships with families rooted in transparency, responsiveness, and genuine care for each student’s individual path.
• Collaborate daily with the Director of College Counseling, sharing insights, resources, strategies, and student support.
• Partner with Upper School faculty, advisors, coaches, learning specialists, and administrators to understand each student holistically and coordinate support across the school community.
• Develop and maintain active relationships with college admission representatives through campus visits and outreach, and professional engagement with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Association for College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).
• Grades 9–10 Programming (Primary Ownership)
• Take the lead in designing and implementing a developmentally appropriate, college awareness curriculum for freshmen and sophomores.
• Facilitate workshops, classroom presentations, and family programming on topics including self-reflection, course selection, extracurricular engagement, and early college exploration.
• Work with the Director to ensure 9th- and 10th-grade programming connects seamlessly into the junior and senior counseling experience.
• Grades 11–12 Individual Counseling (Shared Caseload)
• Carry an equal share of the junior and senior caseload alongside the Director, with full responsibility for assigned students.
• Guide students and families through all stages of the college search, from initial exploration and list development through application, decision, and enrollment.
• Write thoughtful, detailed, and individualized letters of recommendation that bring each student to life for admission readers.
• Support students through testing strategy, essay development, interview preparation, and the emotional dimensions of the process.
• Maintain records in the school’s college counseling platform.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in college admission or college counseling.
• Demonstrated strength in building authentic relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
• Strong written communication skills, particularly in narrative and persuasive writing.
• Knowledge of the current college admission landscape across a broad range of institution types.
• A collaborative work style and genuine enthusiasm for being part of a close-knit team.

Preferred

• Experience developing programming or curriculum for high school students.
• Familiarity with the full spectrum of institutional types, reflective of the diverse destinations our students pursue, is welcomed.
• Prior independent school experience is appreciated but is not a barrier to consideration for strong candidates.

Pay range and compensation package

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. MPCD offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, professional development funding, and tuition remission where applicable.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Metairie Park Country Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Application Process

Interested parties may send a resume and cover letter to careers@mpcds.com. Applicants should title all of their documents with their first and last names. Applicants should also include “Associate Director of College Counseling” in the subject line of the email.