High School Social Emotional/College Counselor

The Social-Emotional and Academic Counselor supports the well-being, academic growth, and future-planning development of Secondary students through proactive social-emotional learning programs, individual and small-group counseling, and a developmental college and career guidance program. The Counselor helps students understand their strengths, interests, and values, and equips them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed educational decisions, including a strong, well-supported path to university.

Working closely with teachers, families, and external partners, the Counselor helps create a caring, inclusive environment where every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to thrive as a learner and community member, in line with the KIS Astana mission and IB philosophy. As the school grows to include upper secondary grades, the Counselor will lead the build-out of a full college and university counseling program.

You can read the full job description here.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, Education, Social Work, or a related field (Master's preferred).

• Minimum 3 years of experience working with adolescents in a school or youth development setting.

• Demonstrated college admissions experience, including fluent understanding of UCAS, the Common App, scholarship programs, and international university admissions processes.

• Professional counseling certification or equivalent experience in school counseling, career education, or student guidance.

• Knowledge of adolescent development, social-emotional learning frameworks, trauma-informed practice, and career exploration frameworks.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

• Experience writing counselor recommendations and school reports for international university applications.

• Established network of university admissions contacts.

• Membership in or certification through professional bodies (e.g., ISCA, IACAC, ASCA, or equivalent).

• Understanding of international school contexts and IB MYP/DP philosophy.

• Familiarity with the Kazakhstani education system and regional higher education pathways.