Associate Director of College Counseling
Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, Phila, PA, United States
Abington Friends School (AFS), a Quaker, coeducational, college-preparatory day school serving students in prekindergarten through grade 12, seeks an experienced, relational, and ethically grounded professional to serve as Associate Director of College Counseling.
Founded in 1697 and located just outside Philadelphia, AFS is rooted in the Quaker testimonies of integrity, equality, peace, simplicity, community, and stewardship. These values are not ornamental; they shape the way we teach, lead, advise, and make decisions. In the Upper School, we aim to cultivate intellectual courage, moral clarity, and deep belonging. Our College Counseling program reflects that same orientation.
The Role
At AFS, college counseling is about more than admission to the most selective colleges, though we support students who are interested in and prepared for that path. It is about discernment and cultivating self awareness. It is about helping young people understand their strengths, their questions, their ambitions,and guiding them toward postsecondary pathways that align with who they are becoming. The Associate Director of College Counseling is a central, student-facing leader within the Upper School. This role carries a significant counseling caseload and partners closely with the Director of College Counseling to sustain and thoughtfully evolve a program built on trust, clarity, and relational depth. Historically at AFS, this position has been a steady presence in the lives of students and families — someone who knows students well, communicates candidly and compassionately, and serves as both advocate and truth-teller in a complex college admissions landscape. We seek a professional who understands that credibility with families is earned over time, through steadiness, integrity, and care. This is not a transactional admissions role. It is relational, reflective, and ethically serious work. Primary Responsibilities
The Associate Director will: Manage a caseload to counsel students and families through every stage of the college admissions process, typically beginning in 10th grade and continuing through application and decision. Write individualized, narrative-rich counselor recommendations that authentically represent students to colleges. Guide students and families through conversations about fit, selectivity, aspiration, and discernment with both encouragement and clarity. Partner with the Director of College Counseling to maintain program coherence while responding thoughtfully to changes in the admissions landscape. Serve as Testing Coordinator , overseeing all standardized testing logistics, including
PSAT administration in the fall ,
AP exam coordination in the spring , and acting as the school’s primary
liaison with the College Board . Collaborate closely with advisors, deans, learning specialists, and faculty to support students holistically. Cultivate professional relationships with college admission representatives and represent AFS within regional and national counseling networks. Teach sections of the College Guidance Seminar to 11th graders in the spring semester. Contribute to broader family education programming and schoolwide conversations about college readiness. The Ideal Candidate
We seek a professional who brings both experience and temperament suited to the relational intensity of this work. Strong candidates will demonstrate: Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in college counseling, selective college admissions, or secondary school counseling. A deeply student-centered philosophy rooted in fit, self-knowledge, and ethical advocacy. Exceptional writing ability, particularly in crafting nuanced and compelling recommendation letters. The capacity to navigate high-stakes conversations with steadiness and moral clarity. A commitment to equity and access in college counseling practice with continued practice in developing a cultural competency lens that supports work with all constituencies. Comfort working within a values-driven school culture and openness to Quaker educational philosophy. Demonstrated success working with adolescents and families from diverse backgrounds. A collaborative spirit and desire to contribute meaningfully to a school community over time. We are especially interested in candidates who can build upon a strong foundation while helping the program adapt with discernment to the evolving realities of college admissions. Why Abington Friends School?
AFS is a school that believes in the power of trusted adults. Students here are known well. They are challenged intellectually and cared for deeply. College Counseling is not siloed from that mission; it is an extension of it. The Associate Director will join a community that values thoughtful conversation, professional partnership, and the long arc of student growth. This role offers the opportunity to do college counseling in a way that feels purposeful, ethical, and deeply human. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred. Demonstrated success and enthusiasm for working with adolescents and families from diverse backgrounds. Strong knowledge of the national college admissions landscape. Outstanding communication and organizational skills. Application Process
Interested candidates should submit: A cover letter expressing their interest in Abington Friends School and this role A current résumé Contact information for three professional references The hiring committee will reconvene in the first weeks of April to review candidates for semi-finalist interviews. Abington Friends School is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who will contribute to and support the diversity and inclusivity of our school community.
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At AFS, college counseling is about more than admission to the most selective colleges, though we support students who are interested in and prepared for that path. It is about discernment and cultivating self awareness. It is about helping young people understand their strengths, their questions, their ambitions,and guiding them toward postsecondary pathways that align with who they are becoming. The Associate Director of College Counseling is a central, student-facing leader within the Upper School. This role carries a significant counseling caseload and partners closely with the Director of College Counseling to sustain and thoughtfully evolve a program built on trust, clarity, and relational depth. Historically at AFS, this position has been a steady presence in the lives of students and families — someone who knows students well, communicates candidly and compassionately, and serves as both advocate and truth-teller in a complex college admissions landscape. We seek a professional who understands that credibility with families is earned over time, through steadiness, integrity, and care. This is not a transactional admissions role. It is relational, reflective, and ethically serious work. Primary Responsibilities
The Associate Director will: Manage a caseload to counsel students and families through every stage of the college admissions process, typically beginning in 10th grade and continuing through application and decision. Write individualized, narrative-rich counselor recommendations that authentically represent students to colleges. Guide students and families through conversations about fit, selectivity, aspiration, and discernment with both encouragement and clarity. Partner with the Director of College Counseling to maintain program coherence while responding thoughtfully to changes in the admissions landscape. Serve as Testing Coordinator , overseeing all standardized testing logistics, including
PSAT administration in the fall ,
AP exam coordination in the spring , and acting as the school’s primary
liaison with the College Board . Collaborate closely with advisors, deans, learning specialists, and faculty to support students holistically. Cultivate professional relationships with college admission representatives and represent AFS within regional and national counseling networks. Teach sections of the College Guidance Seminar to 11th graders in the spring semester. Contribute to broader family education programming and schoolwide conversations about college readiness. The Ideal Candidate
We seek a professional who brings both experience and temperament suited to the relational intensity of this work. Strong candidates will demonstrate: Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in college counseling, selective college admissions, or secondary school counseling. A deeply student-centered philosophy rooted in fit, self-knowledge, and ethical advocacy. Exceptional writing ability, particularly in crafting nuanced and compelling recommendation letters. The capacity to navigate high-stakes conversations with steadiness and moral clarity. A commitment to equity and access in college counseling practice with continued practice in developing a cultural competency lens that supports work with all constituencies. Comfort working within a values-driven school culture and openness to Quaker educational philosophy. Demonstrated success working with adolescents and families from diverse backgrounds. A collaborative spirit and desire to contribute meaningfully to a school community over time. We are especially interested in candidates who can build upon a strong foundation while helping the program adapt with discernment to the evolving realities of college admissions. Why Abington Friends School?
AFS is a school that believes in the power of trusted adults. Students here are known well. They are challenged intellectually and cared for deeply. College Counseling is not siloed from that mission; it is an extension of it. The Associate Director will join a community that values thoughtful conversation, professional partnership, and the long arc of student growth. This role offers the opportunity to do college counseling in a way that feels purposeful, ethical, and deeply human. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred. Demonstrated success and enthusiasm for working with adolescents and families from diverse backgrounds. Strong knowledge of the national college admissions landscape. Outstanding communication and organizational skills. Application Process
Interested candidates should submit: A cover letter expressing their interest in Abington Friends School and this role A current résumé Contact information for three professional references The hiring committee will reconvene in the first weeks of April to review candidates for semi-finalist interviews. Abington Friends School is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who will contribute to and support the diversity and inclusivity of our school community.
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