Career Counselor

Job Purpose:

The core purpose of the Careers Counsellor is to provide high quality careers guidance through a wide range of experiences that help young people to progress, empower them to plan and manage their own futures and ensure a smooth progression for all students to Higher Education and/or employment.

Key Relationships (Internal and External):

Senior Leadership Team, School Staff, Parents and Students, External Agencies and Service Providers.

Key Responsibilities:

To provide expert advice on careers, options pathways and support organisations to meet the needs of our students

To prioritise support and guidance for students and parents at key transition points in the school year; specifically, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 options process, Parents evenings (Yr. 9-13), Examination results days and Higher Education evenings.

To support students with the University application process, including coordination of personal statements, transcripts, references and online application systems

To work with the Examination Officer to ensure the smooth delivery of required external assessments for access to higher education and support students in the external assessment process

To coordinate and maintain detailed records on student applications, acceptances and destinations, feeding this information back to Senior Leaders to improve on the success of the programme

To establish meaningful contacts and build relationships with universities within the UAE and overseas

To lead the organisation, coordination and management of all education and career pathway events to include for example, university fairs, guest speakers

To interview students on a 1:1 basis or in small groups as appropriate to student/school needs and ensure students have a transition and action plan accordingly

To run small group sessions or larger presentations on all aspects of careers guidance

To encompass the Gatsby Benchmarks as the foundation for careers resources and programmes

To plan and contribute, where appropriate, to the delivery of careers education activities within the curriculum

To support the school’s work experience placement programme, and coordinate and manage extended work experience placements

To liaise and support on appropriate careers policy, priorities, contribute to careers schemes of work and resources for developing careers education and guidance

To organise and update the school careers library and appropriate career

To keep up to date with labour market information, legislation and professional and academic developments by visiting employers, training providers and attending training events run by educational and professional bodies

To support all internal and external inspections as required

Skills

Education: Certification in Counselling or Psychology, Teaching certification

Experience:

At least two year’s school-based experience or previous experience working with schools and students in a career counseling capacity.

A degree in education/psychology/counseling.

A committed and creative individual with excellent organisational skills.

Strong interpersonal skills and able to work effectively with students and staff

Competencies:

Excellent communication skills including high standards of professionalism in written and spoken English

Organised and works to deadlines

Strong IT skills

Attributes:

Knowledgeable, Reflective, Inquirer, Thinker

Empathises with values of the school

Student of learning and leading

Solutions-focused

Believes in the potential of all students

Committed to personal development

Caring and Open-minded

Sees leadership as a service to others

Internationally-minded and inter-culturally sensitive

Sense of humour and humility

Conscientious

Motivated by challenge

Resourceful

Communicator and Risk Taker

Communicates effectively to large and small audiences

Innovative and creative mindset

Principled and Balanced

Composed under pressure

Retains responsibility under pressure

Resilient when faced with setbacks

Flexible when conditions change

Always prioritise the needs of the school

Salary & Benefits:

Competitive tax-free salary

Employment visa