INTERIM UPPER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR
Shady Side Academy
Shady Side Academy seeks an Interim Upper School Admissions Counselor to join its Enrollment Management team. This highly relational role serves as a primary point of connection for prospective Upper School students and families, helping them explore Shady Side, navigate the admissions process, and determine whether the Academy is the right fit.
The ideal candidate is an engaging communicator, strong writer, and natural relationship builder who easily connects with adolescents and adults. Previous admissions experience is welcomed but not required; experience working with students, families, or school communities and a demonstrated ability to learn quickly, communicate effectively, and exercise sound judgment are highly valued.
Reporting to the Chief Enrollment Officer, the Interim Upper School Admissions Counselor works in close partnership with the Associate Director of Upper School Admissions and colleagues across Enrollment Management and the Upper School. As the Academy continues to evolve its approach to Enrollment Management, the scope and structure of this position will be revisited following the 2026–2027 admissions cycle as part of longer-term planning for the team.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Prospective Family Experience & Communication
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Build authentic relationships with prospective students and families, helping them understand the Upper School experience and envision themselves as part of the Shady Side community.
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Conduct student and family admissions conversations with warmth, curiosity, and professionalism.
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Manage an assigned portfolio of prospective students and families, providing timely, personalized communication and guiding them through requirements, deadlines, and next steps.
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Develop a strong understanding of the Upper School program, culture, and student experience and communicate its value clearly and authentically.
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Write thoughtful, audience-centered communications for prospective and applicant families, including individualized outreach and other admissions-cycle messaging.
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Recognize family questions, motivations, and concerns and connect families with the people and experiences that can best inform and influence their decision.
Admissions & Enrollment
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Support applicants in completing the admissions process and maintain consistent engagement throughout the admissions cycle.
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Review applicant materials and, with training and guidance, develop increasing responsibility for candidate evaluation and admissions recommendations.
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Participate in Admissions Committee discussions and contribute thoughtful observations about prospective students and families.
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Maintain accurate, substantive records of family interactions and applicant progress in the enrollment database.
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Collaborate with Enrollment Management colleagues to identify families requiring additional outreach, support, or engagement.
Student Ambassadors & Family Engagement
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Oversee the Senior School Student Ambassador program in close partnership with and with meaningful guidance from the Associate Director of Upper School Admissions and Upper School Admissions Assistant.
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Recruit, train, communicate with, and engage student ambassadors, sustaining a program that develops students as authentic and effective representatives of the Academy.
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Coordinate ambassador participation in admissions visits, programs, and other prospective-family experiences.
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Build strong relationships with student ambassadors and create opportunities for student leadership, ownership, and feedback.
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Contribute to admissions and yield experiences with particular attention to the relationships and interactions that help prospective students develop a sense of connection and belonging.
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Engage faculty, staff, coaches, students, and other community members to create personalized connections based on prospective students' interests.
Enrollment Strategy & Continuous Improvement
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Develop expertise in independent school admissions, enrollment management, and family decision-making through coaching, professional development, and hands-on experience.
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Use enrollment data, family feedback, and observations from prospective families to identify opportunities to strengthen communication, engagement, and conversion.
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Bring curiosity and initiative to the work, sharing ideas that improve the prospective family experience and team effectiveness.
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Collaborate across departments and contribute to broader Enrollment Management priorities and initiatives.
QUALIFICATIONS & QUALITIES
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Bachelor's degree required.
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Experience working with adolescents, families, education, coaching, student life, communications, customer service, sales, recruitment, or another relationship-centered field preferred.
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Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to adapt tone, message, and level of detail for different audiences and purposes.
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Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills and the ability to build rapport with a wide range of students and adults.
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Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, reliability, and attention to detail.
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Ability to manage multiple relationships, communications, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
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Comfort learning and using databases, project-management tools, and other technology.
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Ability to accommodate the seasonal rhythm of admissions work, including increased evening and after-school commitments during the peak admissions period from December through March.
The successful candidate will be:
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Student-centered, deeply relational, and genuinely curious about people.
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A strong and thoughtful writer who understands that excellent communication is central to building trust and relationships.
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An exceptional listener who makes students and families feel known.
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A confident communicator who can develop into a persuasive storyteller for the Academy.
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Energized by working with students and developing student leadership.
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Coachable and intellectually curious, with a strong appetite for learning a new professional field.
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Organized, responsive, and committed to excellent follow-through.
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Collaborative and comfortable working across roles and departments.
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Interested not only in executing a process well, but in understanding why families make the decisions they make and how their experience can continually be improved to drive outcomes.
This interim position provides an opportunity to develop significant experience in admissions and enrollment management while contributing directly to the Academy's enrollment goals and prospective family experience.
