Job Title: Director of College Counselling
Start Date: 1 August 2026
Location: Dalian, China
School Type: Well-known British K-12 School
Salary Range: 440,000 – 580,000 RMB (depending on experience)

Reporting To: Head of School
Direct Reports: Counselling and Student Services support staff

Role Purpose
Lead and manage careers, academic (Secondary), and college counselling programmes across the school.

Key Responsibilities
Oversee all college and career counselling services, policies, and processes

Manage on-site testing (PSAT, SAT) and maintain accurate student records

Lead parent information sessions and admissions committee input

Guide professional development for counsellors in college/career guidance

Support teachers, parents, and leadership with academic and college placement matters

Work with Divisional Principals to set counselling goals and strategies

Help students make effective use of school opportunities

Person Specification
Essential

Graduate qualification and certification in Counselling

Master’s degree (Counselling, Educational Admin, or Special Education preferred)

Minimum 5 years successful counselling experience

Experience with SAT/ACT test administration and interpretation

Strong college admissions and career guidance skills

International school experience

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work with diverse student/parent populations

Proficiency with student information systems (e.g., PowerSchool, CIALFO, Common App, UCAS)

Desirable

International teaching certification

Personal Attributes
Collaborative, empathetic, and self-aware

Open, transparent, and kind communicator

Makes considered, student-centred decisions

Adaptable and embraces change

Strategic, growth-oriented, and entrepreneurial

Compliance
Enhanced criminal background check (or equivalent)

Meets China visa requirements

Committed to safeguarding and student welfare

Dalian, a major coastal port city in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, is globally recognized as a premier tourist destination and a passionate "Football City" (足球城). Blessed with a mild climate, pristine beaches, and iconic Russian and Japanese-era architecture, it offers a unique blend of natural beauty and colonial history. However, the city's heartbeat is undoubtedly football; Dalian has an unparalleled legacy in Chinese sports, having produced generations of national team stars and devoted fans. The city’s former club, Dalian Shide, dominated the Chinese Super League for nearly a decade, embedding a fierce pride and identity into the local culture. Today, whether strolling along the European-style Zhongshan Square, enjoying fresh seafood at Heishijiao, or feeling the roar of the crowd at Suoyuwan Stadium, visitors experience a dynamic city where maritime commerce, seaside leisure, and football mania converge into one vibrant identity.