College Alpin Beau Soleil is seeking to recruit a
Director of College Counselling

Start date: September 2022

OUR PHILOSOPHY

At Beau Soleil, we believe it’s what you do that counts. This philosophy holds true in all that we do as staff and for our students. We are a community that believes in the power of action, engagement and participation, inside and outside of the classroom.
Our unique holistic education is built around four core values: Respect, Responsibility, Ambition and Determination, which provide a framework to community life for our international student body. Our students come from over fifty different countries, with diverse academic backgrounds and a wide range of future aspirations.
With curricular programmes in both English and French, students graduate with an IB or Advanced Studies Diploma. Within this framework, small class sizes allow for a flexible programme and staff are encouraged and supported to bring new ideas to all that they do.

OUR STAFF

As a full boarding school, our staff are involved in all aspects of school life, sharing time in the classroom, in the boarding houses, out on the mountain and travelling the world. You may find yourself teaching an IBDP class in the morning, helping to staff one of our amazing expeditions in the afternoon, or accompanying a group to surf in Bali during the holiday period.
Professional development and training opportunities abound, and we believe in growing talent and supporting great teachers in their career paths. As a member of the Nord Anglia Education group of schools there are opportunity for ongoing professional training and exchange amongst the world’s leading premium schools organisation.

OUR COMMUNITY

Our location in the heart of Villars-sur-Ollon, offers an enviable lifestyle with access to skiing in the winter months and a multitude of outdoor and sporting activities throughout the year. Montreux, Lausanne and Geneva are all within easy reach for cultural adventures and inspiration.
The Beau Soleil campus is an inspiring place to work with facilities that are second to none. Our ongoing campus development and maintenence programme ensures that our students and staff thrive in an environment of which they can be rightly proud.

YOUR PROFILE

Are you dedicated to helping students find the right fit? The college application process can be daunting, but guiding students and their families through it should be you passion. You will be able to discuss the pros and cons of attending a small liberal arts school versus a large university, and be able to shed light on the campus culture of schools near and far. As Director of College Counselling, it’s essential to match students with the best next step in their academic journey after graduation. At Beau Soleil the college counselling programme embraces our School’s commitment to personalised learning by working with each student to customise his or her path to a bright future beyond our walls.
Beau Soleil is a truly global comunity with students that represent over 50 nationalities and therefore each student has different wants and needs from the next steps in their educational journey. As the Director of College Counselling you with be sympathetic to this and be flexible in your approach to each student. Graduates from Beau Soleil apply to universities all over the world and you will have expertise in university admissions from UK or US system and a willingness to learn about others. 

You will be a fluent English speaker, ideally you will be familiar with the IB Diploma and confident working with students from diverse backgrounds. You will be an excellent communicator and confident with technology; someone who gets on well with colleagues, students and parents.
Amongst other things, you’ll be well organised, have a good sense of humour and will want to participate fully in the extracurricular aspects of school life including the boarding house. We have a comprehensive learning programme that includes Saturday morning academics and exciting challenges ranging from climbing 4000m peaks to night time ski racing.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• A good honours degree
• Qualified teacher
• Fluent English speaker

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be a pastoral agent of change who helps students develop.
• Be an accessible first point of contact for students, parents, agents, colleagues and universities concerning the progression of Beau Soleil students to university; responding swiftly and appropriately to all enquiries.
• Working with the senior team to promote good practice in university progression in all aspects of school life, recognising the importance of the holistic development of every member of the school community.
• Provide good quality individual careers guidance that balances aspiration and reality that helps each student and her / his family to plan, manage and execute the student’s hopes for their future and develop the skills of tutors and house staff to deliver this too.
• Working with the Director of Studies develop a curriculum that enables students to flourish at university.
• Provide academic counselling where necessary and especially around subject and pathway choices.
• Enable students, parents/agents and colleagues to access high quality information concerning possible progressions through managing online materials, running the College Counselling Centre and organising talks, fairs and events.
• Manage the collection of subject references, letters of recommendation and other such materials from colleagues.
• Ensure that the school develops excellent relationships with universities.
• Keep accessible records so that all senior staff can always be aware of student progressions and destinations.
• Manage other staff who provide advice concerning progressions.
• Train all members of the school community to facilitate excellent conversations about university choices.
• Work with marketing, admissions and alumni management to help manage and promote the student journey through Beau Soleil, including building alumni mentoring.

Being accessible to students and colleagues involves significant amounts of evening and weekend working and being fully involved in a range of school activities.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• 5 years as a College Guidance Counsellor, ideally covering the US and UK
• 5 years of working in schools, ideally as a teacher
• 5 years of building a relevant network of contacts in a range of English-speaking universities

Highly desirable

• Experience of working in a UK or US university
• Experience of training teachers
• Experience of event management

Desirable

• Experience of international education
• A qualification in, or experience of delivering pastoral care / counselling
• Experience of developing and managing international curricula and assessments

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Be kind
• Outstanding listening skills
• High emotional intelligence abilities with the ability to see the best in everyone
• Strategic vision and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong team-working and independent organisational skills
• Flexible and agile in approach to working
• Customer-oriented
• IT competent

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be made via Beau Soleil recruitment website at www.beausoleil.ch/en/about-us/employment-opportunities and should contain a CV, letter of application and the details of two professional referees. The closing date for applications is Monday 31st May 2022.

Successful short listed candidates will be contacted straight away with initial discussions conducted remotely by telephone or video call.

Collège Alpin Beau Soleil is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. A police check is required prior to appointment.