Director of College Counseling

Marin Academy (MA), a leader in progressive and experiential education, seeks a visionary, bold, and collaborative Director of College Counseling. This Director will join MA at a critical moment and will confidently lead a newer, expanded college counseling team. As the school reimagines the college counseling process, they are adding a new Director to the existing team – for a total office of 4.5, including a Senior Director, two Associate Directors, and a half-time Office Manager – to reduce caseloads, enhance high-touch service to students and families, and best set the office up for success. The Director will oversee the entirety of the college counseling team, including a Senior Director with many years of experience in college counseling who will serve as a critical asset in data analysis. The successful candidate will be an established and national thought leader and partner who thrives on strengthening MA’s existing priorities and processes while, at the same time, considering what more might be achievable in the future—and then working alongside the college counseling team, senior leadership, and the school community to turn that ambition into reality. 

Founded in 1971 by a small group of educators and private individuals with a forward-thinking vision for education, MA is a co-educational, independent, college preparatory day school in San Rafael, California, just north of San Francisco. The school enrolls 450 students in grades 9-12. MA’s founders realized – far ahead of their time – the importance of incorporating experiential learning and citizenship with intellectual development, ideals that today have become a model for education in the 21^st century. MA has long been recognized for its commitment to environmental stewardship and its innovative curricular and co-curricular programs that engage students in real-world topics and in learning by doing. 

That real-world bent extends to the College Counseling Office, too. MA views college counseling as critical to a student’s educational experience, and this Director must believe deeply in college counseling as a conduit for a student’s personal development, including their capacity for discernment, communication, resilience, autonomy, and intrinsic fulfillment. MA is a small, close-knit community, and it is equally critical that the Director values and engages positively with students and families during a process that – while exciting – can also be anxiety-producing. MA is a school impressively committed to continuous improvement and pushing its own boundaries, and that ethos extends to its faculty, staff, and students – including this Director.

Specifically, the incoming Director will lead their team with an innovative and bold vision; externally represent and strengthen the College Counseling Office within the broader MA ecosystem; understand, champion, and communicate the ethos of the MA experience to colleges and universities; build strong relationships with students and families, both individually and in group settings; serve as a voice in the national college counseling landscape; and work with the office to leverage the use of data analytics. The successful candidate will bring a high level of emotional intelligence, the ability to think on their feet in high-pressure situations, humor and levity when appropriate, a problem-solving mindset, active involvement both within the MA community and the broader college admissions community, and a deep resonance with the mission and values of MA.

The anticipated salary for this position is between $150,000 and $180,000 annually, commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience. 

Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent in confidence electronically below. 

Berkley Braden is leading this search with Jonathan Sanchez.

Marin Academy is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.