Job overview
HKIS School Counselors deliver comprehensive counseling services designed to nurture students’ personal, social, spiritual, and academic growth. Grounded in internationally recognized standards of practice, this role is integral to fostering a supportive and inclusive school environment.In alignment with the HKIS mission—dedicating our minds to inquiry, our hearts to compassion, and our lives to service and global understanding—the Middle School Counselor plays a vital role in guiding early adolescents through a transformative stage of development. By implementing a proactive model of support, the counselor promotes mental health, wellbeing, and social –emotional learning, while honoring the spiritual lives of all students within a diverse and respectful community.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:-
Professional Knowledge:
• Demonstrates an understanding of child and adolescent development including typical and atypical behavior; theories of system dynamics: family, school, classroom, community; knowledge of the transition process, local laws and regulations and cross‐cultural perspectives.
Delivery of Service:
• Deliver preventative and responsive services including individual and small group counseling, classroom guidance, crisis intervention and group facilitation; and includes family education, faculty consultation and leadership in care for the whole student.
Management:
• Manages caseloads effectively by utilizing resources, technology, and data systems to fulfill assigned responsibilities in alignment with HKIS policies and procedures. Oversees child safeguarding concerns in accordance with school guidelines and local regulations, including identifying risk, initiating appropriate referrals, maintaining accurate documentation, and collaborating with families, faculty, and external agencies to ensure student safety and well-being.
Problem-Solving/Assessment:
• Identify student needs and strengths: gathering information, use of formal and informal tools including standardized test and work samples where appropriate, forming hypotheses and monitoring progress.
Communication:
• Demonstrates exceptional communication skills by tailoring messages and mediums to suit diverse audiences, contexts, and cultural nuances. Proactively engage the HKIS community to build strong partnerships around student learning. Empowers students to advocate for their academic and personal needs.
Collaboration and Professional Practice:
• Build, promote and maintain strong learning communities. This includes building professional and reciprocal relationships, sharing information about students, curriculum and resources that enhance the success of the HKIS community.
Schoolwide Competencies:
• Pedagogical practices align with HKIS’ Foundational Documents including the Learning Principles and Practices and
• Assessment, Grading and Reporting Philosophy
• As a school grounded in the Christian faith, we hire Christian teachers and administrators as well as those of other faiths.
• HKIS seeks to hire candidates who are interested in the complex questions of faith and spirituality and who are keen to learn and interact with others of different faith traditions.
• Global minded: Understands, respects, and appreciates diverse cultures, a sense of global stewardship and responsibility
• HKIS faculty are required to comply with the HKIS Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy
• Capable of learning new software and systems, including Microsoft 365, Schoology and PowerSchool
• Seamlessly uses technology as an instructional tool
• Ability to analyze and use student data
Other:
• Undertake other duties and functions as required that will impact and strengthen the contributions of the department and overall operations of the school.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:-
Education:
• Master’s or Advanced Degree in Counseling (School Counseling preferred)
Experience:
• Minimum of five years experience as a counselor in a school context at the relevant grade/age level
• Experience leading parent and student groups within a culturally diverse setting
• Experience relevant to Middle School developmental needs, including understanding of early adolescent development.
• Familiarity with recognized counseling frameworks such as ISCA (International School Counselor Association) and/or ASCA (American School Counselor Association)
Required Knowledge & Skills:
The successful applicant will...
• be committed to the HKIS Mission, Vision, and Student Learning Results (SLR’s)
• seek to understand, respect, and appreciate diverse cultures, and have a sense of global stewardship and responsibility
• communicate articulately (verbal and written) to a diverse community including students, staff, and parents
• understand the importance of collective efficacy and the role each individual plays in promoting a positive school culture
• be a dynamic educator with a willingness to innovate and inspire
• seek to collaborate with others, with the ability to build relationships of trust and respect
• build positive relationships with all stakeholders and act as mentor and advocate for children
• understand and respond to the developmental needs of Middle School aged children
• actively engage in co-curricular experiences including the yearly Programme of Extended Activities for Kids (PEAK) trips,athletics and activities, supporting divisional events
• align with the HKIS Education Philosophy and Assessment, Grading, and Reporting Philosophy
Child Protection Statement:
• At HKIS, each child’s welfare is paramount. We act to ensure that our students enjoy the right to be protected from harm and exploitation and have their welfare safeguarded.
We invite you to learn more about our school and discover for yourself career opportunities in our remarkable HKIS community at https://www.hkis.edu.hk/