Job Description

Upper School Counselor 

Job Title : Upper School Counselor 

Department: Student Services Department/Upper School 

Reports to: Department Chair for Student Services, Ms. Lisa Bernard & Head of Upper School, Ms. Tosha Arriola

FLSA Status: Exempt

PDS Status: Staff, full-time, benefited

Employment Opportunity: Founded in 1970, Providence Day School is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational college preparatory school serving approximately 1,900 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. Committed to academic excellence, global diversity, and character development, PDS seeks to inspire in its students a passion for learning, a sense of social responsibility and a commitment to personal integrity. Cited for excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, the College Board Advanced Placement Program, and the National Council of Teachers of English, PDS provides a challenging and diverse college preparatory curriculum.

PD is recognized as one of The Charlotte Observer’s “Top Workplaces 2024”, as well as, “Top Workplaces 2023”, “Top Workplaces 2022”.  This award is particularly special because the results are based solely on confidential responses from our employees. Additionally, PD is recognized as one of greater Charlotte’s 2022 and 2023 Healthiest Employers by the Charlotte Business Journal. This award demonstrates the school’s commitment to promoting the health and wellness of our employees and the importance of appropriate work-life harmony.  

The Providence Day School community welcomes people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs who share a commitment to respect one another and accept differences. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer with a policy of nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, gender, or gender identity.

Providence Day School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is a member of ABC (A Better Chance), and holds memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, North Carolina Association of Independent Schools, Educational Records Bureau, National and Southern Associations for College Admission Counseling, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the College Board. 

This position is a full-time, 11-month staff position beginning August 2025.

The primary goal of the Counseling Department is to promote the development of the whole child, including social, emotional, behavioral, and academic development, throughout the school.  To be most effective, the counselor will collaborate with students, parents, faculty, and staff to best support students’ social/emotional needs.  

Responsibilities: The Upper School Counselor will serve on various teams/committees, including the Administrative Team, Admissions Committee, and student-faculty advisory. The counselor will create and implement rising 9th-grade student orientation and assist new upper school students in transitioning to PDS.  The counselor will collaborate with the Dean of Students and Freshman Class Deans to plan and implement Freshmen programming. The Upper School Counselor will collaborate with the Upper School Learning Specialists and Deans of Students to support our students' social/emotional well-being.  

The counselor will assist the Head of Upper School with students placed on academic and behavioral probation. Additionally, this person will collaborate with the Student Services department, including the Middle and Lower School Counselors on broad issues related to the community’s wellbeing and mental health. This person will also be responsible for advocating for students in an empathetic and culturally competent manner, conducting individual and small group counseling sessions when needs are identified. The counselor is expected to attend all Upper School meetings, departmental monthly meetings, and any other applicable meetings that should arise. The counselor will assist in advances in community diversity and inclusion per the school’s mission. The counselor will assist the Head of Upper School in providing mental health, health issues, wellness, substance abuse, social functioning, study skills, executive functioning training, and any other needs that may arise to the faculty, staff, and parents. This person will maintain confidential, detailed written notes.  The counselor and team shall be a general resource to the school community as needed. 

Qualifications: Seeking a dynamic candidate for the role of Upper School Counselor. Preference is given to candidates with three to five years of counseling experience in a school setting. This individual should be well versed in best practices, including ethical standards and confidentiality; individual and group counseling; student advisory systems; preventive and responsive services;  student, faculty, and parent programming; and addressing current mental health concerns. 

Candidates should have a strong academic background and possess proficient technology skills. In addition, the candidate should have strong organizational skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively as a team member. 

A master’s degree from an accredited institution in school counseling, school psychology, or social work is the minimum requirement for this position. Preference is given to applicants with current certification and licensure. 

Salary and Benefits: Providence Day School is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding employees through a compensation plan that compares favorably with those of other local and nationwide independent schools.  Individual salary levels are competitive and are determined by educational background and experience.  A complete benefits package includes TIAA retirement and medical, dental, vision, short-term, and long-term disability coverage.

Application Process: Applicants should submit a cover letter of interest, current resume, college transcript, three letters of recommendation, and a list of references with telephone numbers.  Materials should be sent to:  

PDS.UpperSchoolCounselor@providenceday.org

This position is open until filled.  Providence Day School is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).

Qualifications: Seeking a dynamic candidate for the role of Upper School Counselor. Preference is given to candidates with three to five years of counseling experience in a school setting. This individual should be well versed in best practices, including ethical standards and confidentiality; individual and group counseling; student advisory systems; preventive and responsive services;  student, faculty, and parent programming; and addressing current mental health concerns. 

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Full time, Temporary work, Local area, Trial period,

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