School Counselor for Grades 10-12

The Northwest School is an independent day and boarding school. We serve students in grades 6 to 12 on an urban campus in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. We provide an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that nurtures compassionate, globally aware and environmentally conscious individuals who find joy in learning and are ready to inspire and innovate in our interconnected world.   

Northwest fosters a warm, inclusive community dedicated to our school values. We believe that a diverse community enriches our institution, making it more creative and dynamic. The Northwest School is committed to building a faculty and student body that reflects the diversity of the broader society. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.   

POSITION OVERVIEW: Real life is layered and complex, with intersecting experiences marking every day. The health of the community as a whole depends on individuals leading well-balanced lives. Physical, emotional and intellectual well-being, enhanced by self-reflection and evidenced in a sense of comfort in oneself and one's place in the world, are essential to developing each person's potential. The school counseling team at NWS works in close collaboration with the administration and faculty to maintain and improve the overall social emotional health of the school community. The Counseling team supports individual students and their families in times of emotional need, including short-term therapeutic interventions, and also assumes a leadership role in developing and implementing advisory and other guidance programs designed to sustain a healthy emotional climate in the school community, allowing students in grades 6 through 12 to fully engage the community. This position will support all students and is the primary contact for students in grades 10 through 12 and our boarding student community. 

This is a full-time position for 10.5 months each year. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:  

In their work with students, the School Counselor: 

Provides a skillful and knowledgeable resource and listener for students in need.

Assesses the mental health needs of individual students for referral to professional  resources in the community. 

Consults with the teaching faculty and administration about the emotional and mental  health and academic progress of our students. 

Creates and supports delivery of culturally responsive wellbeing curricula for students in our boarding program.

In their work with the faculty, the School Counselor: 

Consults with the teaching faculty and administration about the emotional and mental  health and academic progress of our students. 

Collaborates with members of the Upper School Administration and Student Success Team to ensure student-wellbeing on an individual and community level. These teams include: Upper School Director and Assistant Director, Director of Student Success (who supervises this position), Dean of Students, Learning Resources Coordinators, Residential Life Coordinators, College Counselors, and School Nurse, among others.

Provides in-service training to the faculty about issues critical to adolescents and their  mental health. 

Collaborates with grade level teams, boarding faculty, Health and Wellness faculty, and Peer Mentoring faculty to develop curricula related to social emotional learning.  

Helps manage school crises that relate to the emotional health of our day and boarding students. 

In their work with parents/guardians, the School Counselor: 

Works to enhance their understanding of adolescents, including participating in Parent/Guardian Association parent representative meetings and educational forums. 

Consults with parents about the mental health and social issues of their children and  recommends mental health services when appropriate. 

Coordinates and communicates health plans for students with specific mental health or  other health needs. 

In their work across all constituent groups, the School Counselor:

Upholds legal and ethical obligations as determined by best practices of professional and  legal responsibilities of a school counselor. 

Ensures clear procedures that are consistently implemented around student challenges,  with effective communication and record-keeping. 

Supports a school climate that allows for diverse voices, and a commitment to inclusivity. 

Liaises with community organizations that support student and community wellbeing.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Perform other duties as assigned by the direct Supervisor or the Head of School.  
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance as a core and essential function of the position.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• All candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the school’s mission, values, and philosophy, especially related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and global perspective. 
• Master’s Degree in counseling, school counseling, social work, or related field and 3 years successful experience working with adolescents ages 12-18 and their families is required 
• Strong active listening and reflective skills 
• Crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills 
• A commitment to upholding confidentiality 
• Strong professional judgement and boundaries 
• 3+ years’ experience in an educational setting is preferred 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to lift to 25 pounds in connection with job duties such as assisting with classroom setup or moving materials 
• Ability to stand, sit, and move comfortably throughout classrooms and school hallways for extended periods 
• Ability to climb stairs, navigate uneven surfaces, and escort students as needed between locations within and outside school buildings 
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including inclement weather 
• Evening and weekend work will be required at times 

COMPENSATION: 

The salary range is $75,000 - 90,000 based on education and years of experience. This is a .88 FTE position eligible for benefits. The Northwest School offers an excellent benefits package which includes medical, dental, long-term disability, and life and accident insurance coverage, fully paid for employee only coverage. Vision is available as an employee paid benefit. A retirement program matches up to 6% of an employee's salary after one year of service in a 403(b) plan. An intentional, mission focused school culture, generous time off, lunch, access to the on-site fitness facility, an exceptional commitment to professional development, and a unique urban location are also benefits of working at the Northwest School. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:  
 Please submit a cover letter & resume via the Paycom system on the school's website. https://www.northwestschool.org/about/employment  

 **Please note we are unable to consider materials submitted through other avenues such as Indeed.com without a corresponding application through our website.   

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work required for this position and is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and is subject to change at the discretion of the employer. 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, or marital status.