Associate Director of Guidance Programs

Democracy Prep Public Schools•New York, NY

4d•$115,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Guidance Counseling oversees our Postsecondary Readiness /Student Success Counselor team, providing direction, support and professional development. This role is central to our mission, coordinating student support across multiple campuses to ensure every scholar thrives. Democracy Prep Public Schools is a college prep institution and it is our mission to ensure all scholars are successful in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. We also acknowledge and celebrate multiple post-secondary pathways. We prioritize civic engagement, global citizenship/student travel, arts, and athletics, in addition to excellent academics.

Requirements

Master's degree in social work, counseling, or related field
5+ years of experience in school counseling or equivalent role
Proven leadership of educational counseling teams
Strong understanding of college admissions processes
Excellent organizational and people-management skills
Exceptional strategic thinking and operational expertise
An educator with an unwavering commitment to the Democracy Prep mission of college success and authentic civic engagement for our scholars.
A dedicated high school counselor with experience in college counseling for low-income, first-generation students.
A committed professional who possesses extensive knowledge of the college admissions and financial aid processes with a track record of high-quality college advising.
A clear communicator and skilled writer with the ability to provide strong feedback on student work and craft exceptional student recommendations and other written communications.
An enthusiastic networker with established, long-term associations with a variety of key admissions personnel at various higher ed organizations across the country, especially in New York, and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and connect students to unique programs on college campuses.
An organized professional who can build data-driven recommendations around the college process, and alumni support, with the goal of college persistence for all scholars.

Nice To Haves

Relevant licensure (LPC, LPC-S, LMSW, LCSW) preferred

Responsibilities

Supervise and mentor Postsecondary Readiness Counselors and Scholar Success Counselors
Oversee the 4-year advising program (grades 9–12) combining whole group instruction with individual advising
Develop and implement college/career readiness initiatives across all schools
Build partnerships with college admissions officers, employers, and community organizations
Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between counselors, families, faculty, college advisors, and student support teams
Streamline administrative processes including credit audits, transcript reviews, and graduation tracking
Build capacity across our counseling team through professional development
Create standardized tools and documentation for consistent student support
Partner with leadership on strategic decisions about student services
Monitor and ensure the timely completion of college applications, financial aid packages, and post-secondary planning
Track and report on key metrics related to college access and success
Monitor student progress and graduation outcomes
Track long-term impact on college access, civic participation, and life outcomes
Supervise crisis intervention protocols across the counseling team
Review and triage complex cases involving abuse, neglect, or significant academic challenges
Develop systems for tracking student well-being and academic outcomes
Ensure all counselors are equipped to handle behavioral health concerns
Supervise a team of counselors supporting seniors through the full admissions cycle, ensuring each student receives comprehensive guidance
Establish streamlined procedures for college list development, personal statement coaching, financial aid advising, and matriculation decisions
Create and maintain effective parent/guardian partnership and engagement strategies including workshop calendars, meeting protocols, and communication channels
Track utilization of critical resources like fee waivers, fly-in visits, partner programs, scholarships and (H)EOP
Track metrics on how effectively we help students leverage these supports
Establish clear timelines and accountability structures for all partnership-related tasks
Monitor campus outcomes to ensure we're meeting our college access and completion goals
Maintain strategic partnerships across higher education institutions
Regularly review counseling procedures to ensure they align with our mission and student needs
Provide ongoing training on admissions practices and student success strategies