Primary Counselor

Summary:

Primary Counselor role in a dynamic international school offering impactful student support and professional growth.

About the School:

A school dedicated to fostering holistic development through innovation, inclusivity, and a strong focus on social-emotional learning and child protection.

The Opportunity:

As a Primary Counselor, you will play a vital role in supporting students' academic, social, and emotional growth, contributing to a safe and inclusive learning environment that aligns with the school’s mission and values.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide short-term, solution-focused individual and group counseling to students.
• Support students in developing self-awareness, coping strategies, resilience, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Identify and respond to students’ social, emotional, or behavioral needs, referring to outside professionals when appropriate.
• Proactively support students in navigating transitions, including entering, moving between, and leaving the school.
• Design and deliver age-appropriate social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons aligned with the school’s values and developmental benchmarks.
• Collaborate with the Counseling Team, Director of Student Support, the Director of Holistic Learning, and teachers to integrate SEL into the classroom environment and curriculum.
• Lead proactive initiatives to foster a positive, safe, and inclusive school culture.
• Organize and facilitate parent education workshops on relevant topics such as resilience, digital well-being, and positive parenting.
• Work closely with teachers and the Student Support Team to identify student needs and share and implement strategies for academic and personal growth.
• Consult with parents to provide guidance on developmental, social, and emotional issues.
• Serve as a resource and advocate for students, ensuring their voices are heard and needs are considered in decision-making.
• Actively promote and uphold child safeguarding policies and procedures, serving as a first responder for student concerns.
• Serve as a member of the Child Safeguarding team while helping to ensure compliance with school protocols and collaborating with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when managing disclosures or concerns.
• Contribute to school-wide initiatives related to well-being, safeguarding, and child protection.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of counseling services.
• Uphold confidentiality and ethical standards in line with international counseling best practices.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning to stay current with best practices in school counseling, child protection, and international education.
• Participate in faculty meetings, professional learning communities, and school events.

Qualifications & Skills:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, or a related field.
• Relevant certification or licensure as a school counselor.
• Prior experience as a counselor in a primary/elementary school setting, ideally in an international or multicultural environment.
• Strong knowledge of child development, counseling practices, and social-emotional learning frameworks.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international child protection and safeguarding practices, with experience responding appropriately to disclosures and concerns.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality while prioritizing student safety and well-being.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and the ability to support a diverse student population.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Familiarity with the IB PYP curriculum.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Professional development opportunities, including IB training.
• A supportive, collegial, and innovative learning community.
• The opportunity to live and work in a vibrant and beautiful country.
• Full health, dental, and vision insurance.