Statement of Purpose Advisor

Salary Range: $30.00 - $30.00

Overview

The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a critical element of graduate school applications. IRT Scholars applying to 7-12 programs must draft and refine multiple school-specific SOPs. To support this work, the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) hires External SOP Advisors, often alumni to assist scholars in drafting, revising, and finalizing SOPs, as well as other application materials including writing samples, resumes/CVs, and personal history statements. External SOP Advisors are temporary, part-time employees of Phillips Academy Andover.

Advisors work with IRT Scholars during the Fall SOP Advising period, an eight-week engagement running from September to November. Advisors are expected to introduce themselves to assigned scholars, hold initial meetings, and complete onboarding and training during July.

IRT seeks advisors from a wide range of graduate disciplines and professional fields, with particular interest in expertise in:

• Anthropology
• Communications
• Economics
• Education Policy & Leadership
• Interdisciplinary Humanities
• K–12 Teaching
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
  
  

Scope of the Role

• Complete onboarding and training in July (approximately 10–15 hours total)
• Advise 1–5 IRT Scholars (estimated workload: approximately 3 hours per week per advisee)
• Hold weekly meetings during the eight-week advising period (September 21–November 16)
• Conduct an initial meeting of approximately 60 minutes, followed by weekly meetings of 30–40 minutes
• Provide feedback on at least one SOP draft per week through IRT’s Canvas course
• Review writing samples, resumes/CVs, and supplemental essays at least once during the advising period
• Adhere to IRT’s grading and accountability system
  
  

Qualifications

• Reliable access to a computer, cell phone, and internet (fully remote position)
• Must have completed or be currently pursuing a graduate degree
• Experience working with diverse, non-traditional, and first-generation student populations
• Experience editing, grading, and reviewing graduate-level writing
• Multilingual abilities are a plus
• IRT alumni are preferred
  
  

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following materials through the Phillips Academy Andover ADP Job Application Portal:

• In place of cover letter, please submit a Statement of Intent (maximum 300 words), addressing the following:
• Your current research interests and how you would integrate them into advising scholars, helping them connect their intellectual curiosities with critical and philosophical frameworks for their SOPs
• Your understanding of what it means to be a professional intellectual and how that orientation shapes your approach to liberatory advising
• Topics or areas of study you are prepared to advise scholars in
• The number of advisees you are able to support (maximum of five)
• Résumé
• Contact information for three professional references
  
  

Application Deadline: Monday, June 22, 2026

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Selected candidates will be invited to interview. Offers for IRT SOP Advisor positions will be extended following interviews. Applicants who do not return required hiring paperwork by the stated deadline will forfeit their offer.

Position Timeline

• Start Date: Monday, July 6, 2026
• End Date: Monday, November 30, 2026
• Advisors are invited to meet once with their advisees during the summer for an introductory meeting (may be conducted as a group)
• The eight-week SOP advising period begins on September 212026
  
  

Phillips Academy is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, military service, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by law. Any offers of employment will be contingent upon successful CORI/SORI, and fingerprinting background checks as well as unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.