High School Counselor

Hong Kong International School (HKIS) is in search of High School Counselors to execute a comprehensive and developmental guidance program aimed at enhancing students' personal, social, spiritual, and academic growth. This initiative aligns with globally recognized standards for school counseling in international educational settings.

Counselors at HKIS are expected to embody the school's mission:

“Dedicating our minds to inquiry, our hearts to compassion, and our lives to service and global understanding.”

The counseling framework at HKIS High School is intentionally designed to address the diverse needs of students within a community-focused model. The High School is divided into four distinct communities, each supported by a dedicated pair of counselors. Together, these counselors provide support to approximately 50 students per grade within their assigned community. Their collaboration emphasizes:

• Advocating for students in academic, social/emotional, and college/career domains.
• Offering guidance through individual and group counseling, programming, and consultations.
• Creating strong relationships with students, families, and faculty to foster an inclusive and supportive school environment.

This cooperative model seeks to deliver personalized support and guidance for every student throughout their high school journey.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Professional Knowledge

• Demonstrates an understanding of SEL competencies (e.g., CASEL framework, ISCA standards) and academic and career exploration curricula to enrich HKIS programs and counseling practices.
• Knowledgeable about current child safeguarding policies and standards, implementing measures to ensure the welfare of all students.
• Recognizes the varied interests, cultural backgrounds, strengths, talents, and spiritual identities of students and families, applying this insight in counseling and group seminar planning and execution.
• Remains updated on contemporary research regarding typical and atypical adolescent development, learning, and life transitions.

Requirements

• Experience in an evidence-based secondary counseling framework.
• A growth-oriented mindset.
• Background in counseling in diverse, multicultural settings.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with faculty, parents, students, and administrators.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with the ISCA and/or ASCA counseling frameworks.
• Interest and experience in creating and delivering curriculum, particularly in counseling.
• Ability to gather and analyze individual and group data.
• Proficient in technology for student planning, documentation, and virtual counseling program delivery.
• Enthusiasm for teamwork and ongoing professional development.
• Commitment to child safeguarding principles.

Responsibilities

• Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, including classroom teachers, administrators, learning specialists, parents, and external providers.
• Providing responsive services, including child protection and trauma crisis support.
• Conducting individual and small group solution-focused brief counseling sessions.
• Participating in parent education and partnership initiatives (e.g., coffee mornings, parenting courses).
• Consulting with faculty.
• Delivering professional development sessions for faculty, such as Child Protection and Mental Health training.
• Working with administration to facilitate smooth transitions for students entering or leaving HKIS.
• Providing SEL and mental health and well-being lessons.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• A Master’s or advanced degree in Counseling or a related field (School Counseling preferred).

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of experience as a counselor in a school setting at the relevant grade/age level.
• Experience in leading and facilitating student and parent groups in a culturally diverse environment.

Apply via the WhatSchool platform.