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About the Role

The Director of College Counseling (DCC) plays a critical role in fostering a strong college and career-going culture within a Buffalo Public School by providing comprehensive college access, career readiness, and postsecondary planning services to students and families. The DCC serves as a leader within the school community, collaborating with administrators, counselors, teachers, families, and community partners to ensure students have the knowledge, resources, and support necessary to successfully pursue their postsecondary goals.

Responsibilities

Provide individualized college and career counseling to students and families.
Manage the college application, admissions, and financial aid process for all graduating seniors.
Support students with FAFSA, NYS TAP, Say Yes Buffalo and other scholarship applications, college essays, and postsecondary planning.
Build and maintain relationships with college admissions professionals.
Execute Student Leadership Network’s standard program components including classroom presentations, student workshops, parent and family engagement events, college fairs, college campus visits and tours, and career exploration activities.
Supervise and support the College Transition Coach and assist with summer CollegeBridge programming.
Facilitate college transition and persistence programming.
Recruit and support student participation in partner college programs and enrichment opportunities.
Plan and implement educational activities, including senior post-secondary planning events, college and career readiness workshops, and summer bridge programs.
Support school tours, stakeholder visits, donor engagements, and presentations showcasing program outcomes and impact.
Collaborate with school leadership, counselors, teachers, and staff to build and sustain a college and career-going culture.
Support early college and career awareness programming across all grade levels.
Partner with faculty to integrate college and career readiness concepts into school programming and curriculum.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, colleges, universities, and workforce partners.
Engage parents and families through workshops, meetings, and outreach efforts related to college planning and financial aid.
Serve as a visible, trusted, and accessible resource for students, families, and school stakeholders.
Maintain accurate and timely student records and program data.
Monitor student progress toward college and career readiness benchmarks.
Analyze data to identify trends, assess program effectiveness, and inform strategic planning.
Generate reports and provide updates to school leadership and management.
Ensure compliance with organizational, grant, and reporting requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Master’s degree in Education, School Counseling, Youth Services, Social Work, or a related field.
Minimum of three years of experience in college access, secondary education, college counseling, youth development, or an educational nonprofit setting.
Demonstrated experience supporting students through the college admissions and financial aid process.
Strong organizational, project management, and strategic planning skills.
Experience collecting, managing, and analyzing data to inform decision-making.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and student information and data management systems.
Ability to collaborate effectively with school administrators, faculty, staff, families, and external partners.
Willingness to travel locally and host occasional evening and weekend events.
Experience working in Buffalo Public Schools or similar urban school districts.
Experience working with students from historically underserved, low-income, first-generation, refugee/newcomer, and underrepresented communities.
Experience with FAFSA, NYS TAP, scholarship advising, college essay development, and college application systems.
Experience facilitating workshops related to postsecondary planning, career exploration, and financial literacy.
Familiarity with SUNY, CUNY, community college, workforce development, and four-year college pathways.
Experience with relationship-based student outreach and engagement strategies.

Skills

College & Career Counseling
Program Implementation
College Application Management
Admissions Process Support
Financial Aid Process Support
FAFSA Assistance
NYS TAP Assistance
Scholarship Application Support
College Essay Development
Postsecondary Planning
Relationship Building with College Admissions Professionals
Classroom Presentations
Student Workshops
Parent and Family Engagement
College Fairs
College Campus Visits and Tours
Career Exploration Activities
Supervision
Program Management
Data Management
Data Analysis
Strategic Planning
Reporting
Compliance
Collaboration
Communication (Written, Verbal, Presentation)
Interpersonal Skills
Google Workspace Proficiency
Microsoft Office Proficiency
Student Information Systems
Data Management Systems
Urban School District Experience
Underserved Community Support
Workshop Facilitation
Financial Literacy Education
SUNY/CUNY Knowledge
Community College Pathway Knowledge
Four-Year College Pathway Knowledge
Workforce Development Knowledge
Student Outreach
Student Engagement

Location

Buffalo Public Schools Partner Site

Work Type

Full-Time
School-Based

Experience Level

Minimum of three years of experience

Education Level

Bachelor's degree
Master's degree in Education, School Counseling, Youth Services, Social Work, or a related field

Salary/Compensations

$59,822 to $71,787 annually

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Health Reimbursement Account (up to $14,000 annually for families)
Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical, Dependent Care, and Transit/Parking Expenses
Employee Assistance Program
Employer-Paid Life Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan with a 4% Employer Match
17 vacation days annually during the first three years of employment
11 Federal Holidays
2 Floating Holidays
10 Wellness (Sick) Days per Year plus Safe Leave
20 Hours of Prenatal Leave
Generous Paid Family Leave (minimum of 12 weeks based on tenure)
Annual Wellness Week between Christmas and New Year's
Summer Friday Early Dismissals

About the Company

At Student Leadership Network, we believe in the potential of all students and are cultivating a generation of young people empowered to lead.
We work with every student, developing their abilities to achieve their educational ambitions.
Our 30-year track record demonstrates higher college enrollment and graduation rates that significantly surpass national benchmarks.
We are advancing educational access for all by expanding access to higher education in under-resourced public schools nationwide.
Our Young Women’s Leadership model elevates practices in girls'+ schools that lead to success and change the face of leadership.
Our co-ed CollegeBound Initiative develops college-going school cultures — creating high expectations and viable pathways for post-secondary success.
Visit our website at www.studentleadershipnetwork.org.

Equal Opportunity

Student Leadership Network is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We are committed to cultivating a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace where diverse talents, perspectives, skill sets, and lived experiences are valued as essential to advancing our mission and supporting student success.