Associate Director - College Counseling

University School of Nashville

Associate Director of College Counseling

October 2025

University School of Nashville (USN) seeks a dynamic, student-centered professional to serve as an Assistant/Associate Director of College Counseling. This full-time, 12-month position works in close collaboration with the Director of College Counseling to advise and support students and families through all aspects of the college admissions process.

Grounded in the office’s core values of Self-Awareness, Agency, Empathy, Resilience, and Joy, the Associate Director will help students approach the college process as a journey of personal growth and discovery. The role requires a combination of counseling expertise, strong communication skills, organizational acumen, and a deep appreciation for the individuality of each student’s experience.

The Associate Director serves as a member of the high school faculty and contributes to the broader life of the school by collaborating with colleagues across academic and student support areas, serving as an advisor, and engaging in ongoing professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a personalized approach to counseling and working with students and families to reinforce the office values (Self-Awareness, Agency, Empathy, Resilience, and Joy), emphasizing process over results, and holding a strong belief that the college process is different for every student
• Educate students and families about the landscape of colleges, the admissions process, trends, procedures, affordability, and standardized testing
• Write official counselor letters of recommendation for approximately 30-37 seniors 
• Meet with students in collaboration with advisors and the Assistant Head of High School for Academics to discuss course selection and sequence to meet graduation requirements and be well-prepared for their college admissions and career goals
• Collaborate closely with the Student Success Team, including the emotional support counselor, college counselors, class deans, Director of Counseling, and High School administration as a representative for their grade level to track student successes and challenges, help coordinate grade level meetings, and work with faculty to identify relevant supports
• Lead college counseling communication efforts 
• Support students to navigate their interests and passions through the pursuit of summer programs, internships, and extra-curricular opportunities
• Guide students and parents through the financial aid process and familiarity with a variety of affordable university options 
• Act as an ambassador of the school to external constituents, including meeting with college representatives who visit USN and serve as a liaison with college admissions offices throughout the academic year
• Engagement and involvement in professional organizations (NACAC, SACAC, ACCIS, etc.) for professional development
• Complete administrative tasks, including sending application documents, scheduling college representative visits, reserving testing rooms, and preparing transcripts for students applying to college and transferring
• Demonstrate expertise in Google Suite, Gmail/Google Drive applications, Blackbaud; experience with Scoir is also valued; willingness and ability to learn necessary programs
• Serve as an advisor to a group of students in the high school
• Perform other duties as determined by the Director of College Counseling and, in some cases, the Head of High School

What You Will Bring