University Guidance & Career Counselling Lead

The NEST School Chennai · India

JOB DESCRIPTION

University Guidance & Career Counsellor – IBDP & Cambridge A Level

Designation: University Guidance & Career Counsellor

Reporting To: Head of School / Director

Location: Chennai

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced University Guidance & Career Counsellor to lead undergraduate university counselling for students pursuing IBDP and Cambridge A Level . The role will manage the complete student journey from career exploration and profile building to university selection, application, admission and enrolment , across India and international destinations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualised university and career counselling from Grade 6 onwards.
• Develop student profiles, career pathways and strategic university application plans.
• Guide students on university selection, including reach, match and safety choices.
• Manage end-to-end applications through UCAS, Common App, BridgeU and other international/Indian portals.
• Review and guide students on personal statements, essays, resumes, portfolios, interviews and entrance assessments .
• Advise on SAT, ACT, IELTS, TOEFL , scholarships, financial aid and university-specific requirements.
• Maintain application timelines, documentation, predicted grades and recommendation requirements.
• Conduct student/parent counselling sessions, university admission workshops and career guidance programmes.
• Build relationships with universities and coordinate university visits, fairs and admission interactions .
• Maintain accurate application records and report on offers, admissions, scholarships and placement outcomes .

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in Education, Counselling, Psychology, Career Guidance or a related field.
• 5–6 years of experience in university counselling, college admissions or student placement.
• Mandatory experience with IBDP and/or Cambridge A Level , preferably in an international school.
• Proven success in undergraduate placements to top global universities , including Ivy League, Oxbridge, Russell Group and other highly selective institutions.
• Strong knowledge of Indian and international university admissions and application processes.
• Experience with UCAS, Common App and BridgeU is essential.
• Strong university network and demonstrated ability to manage multiple applications and deadlines.

Preferred Institutional Background

Preference will be given to candidates with relevant experience in reputed university counselling/college admissions organisations such as:

Crimson Education India | Athena Education | Univariety | Mindways | Bon Avenir

Candidates from comparable organisations with strong experience in student profile building, university strategy, application management and international admissions may also be considered.

Key Competencies

• Excellent counselling, mentoring and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of global higher education and admissions trends.
• Strategic thinking with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent stakeholder management and parent engagement skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple students, applications and deadlines.
• High professional integrity and confidentiality.

Key Performance Indicators

• Successful university placements and quality of offers.
• Admissions to highly selective/top-ranked universities.
• Student and parent satisfaction.
• Timely and accurate application completion.
• Scholarships/financial aid secured.
• Effective university engagement and career guidance programmes.

The ideal candidate will combine strong counselling expertise with proven international admissions experience and a demonstrated track record of achieving exceptional university outcomes for students.