University Advisor

UWCSEA Dover seeks an experienced, highly motivated, and agile University Advisor from August 2027 to join a dynamic and collaborative advising team. Operating within a fast-paced international environment, the appointee provides strategic mentorship and guidance to high school students and families navigating complex, multi-country post-secondary pathways.

This high-impact role requires adaptability, emotional intelligence, and active engagement with evolving global admissions landscapes. The successful candidate represents UWCSEA Dover at international conferences, navigates family expectations with cultural responsiveness, and works intensively with UWC National Committee scholars seeking full-need university places.

Main Responsibilities

General Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Contributes actively to the delivery of a comprehensive, high-volume university advising programme for a High School cohort of 1,300+ students across admission systems in up to 25+ countries.
• Establishes personalised advising relationships with an assigned caseload (approximately 55 students each in Grades 11 and 12, including high-financial-need applicants), building students’ skills in self-reflection and self-advocacy, and guiding students towards post-secondary outcomes. Annual caseloads may also include up to 15 gap year and National Service graduates.
• Guides Grade 10 and incoming Grade 11 students through IBDP course selection, with an aim to keep doors open for future aspirations.
• Advises families as needed on financial aid processes and scholarship opportunities, assisting high-need students in identifying viable, affordable post-secondary pathways.
• Collaborates with social emotional counsellors, Heads of Grade, mentors, and teachers to support student success and well-being.
• Facilitates a weekly Grade 11 Personal and Social Education (PSE) class.

Administration and Communication

• Designs and delivers interactive presentations and workshops for students and parents, demystifying international admissions processes and fostering balanced perspectives on global competition.
• Provides iterative, high-impact feedback on student essays and written supplements, assisting applicants in articulating authentic personal narratives.
• Leverages digital platforms (Maia Learning, UCAS) to maintain accurate application tracking, while exploring AI tools to enhance advising efficiency and guiding students on the ethical, responsible use of AI in application processes.
• Mentors teaching staff in drafting nuanced, high-standard recommendation letters within operational deadlines.
• Manages documentation pipelines, resolves administrative roadblocks, and maintains proactive communication with university admissions representatives.
• Drafts, reviews, and collates compelling, highly contextualised institutional references for university applicants.
• Analyses institutional placement data and global higher education trends to continuously inform and refine advising strategies.

Relationships with Universities and Organisations

• Proactively engages with global university representatives, articulating and advocating for the distinctiveness of UWCSEA's learning principles and academic context.
• Hosts visiting admissions officers and participates in strategic campus visits worldwide based on student geographic and academic trends.
• Represents the College at major international admissions conferences (e.g., CIS EARCOS, CIS Global Forum, International ACAC, NACAC), contributing to panel discussions and industry knowledge-sharing.
• Cultivates long-term relationships with admissions officers, scholarship bodies, and international network partners to maintain and promote UWCSEA Dover’s global reputation.

Expectations and Standards

• Follow the UWCSEA Professional Code of Conducthttps://drive.google.com/file/d/13bs54xzI8EKebZ0_FpHsk3LndGd8AO3x/view?usp=sharing and Safeguarding Code of Conduct
• Teach in line with the UWCSEA Teacher Standards

Person Specifications

• A degree (Master's preferred) and a proven track record as an international High School University Advisor managing multi-country application processes (Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, UK, and US).
• Ideally 3+ years of experience in a similar high-volume international school environment.
• Actively participates in the five key elements of a UWCSEA education (Academic, PSE, Service, Activities, Outdoor Education), contributing an average of 1.5 sessions per week to Activities and/or Service.
• Demonstrates high emotional intelligence, multicultural competency, adaptability to rapid change, a collaborative spirit, and a sense of humour.

Applications

The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and culture for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalized group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.