Careers and Universities Counsellor at Safa Community School

Job Overview

POST: Careers and Universities Counsellor at Safa Community School, Dubai

Safa Community School - a beacon of excellence. In 2024, we were honoured with the ‘Happiest School in the UAE’ title, a testament to our commitment towards student well-being. In addition, we were proud recipients of the ‘Value Add, Leaving No Child Behind Award’, reflecting our dedication to academic progress. This was further underscored by our 2024 GCSE VA score of +2.2. Our high staff retention rates and inclusion in the top 15 Schools in the UAE by the Schoolscompared.com survey are a source of pride for us all.

At Safa Community School, we are more than just a school; we are a community. With a parent body comprising Expats, including around 35% from the UK, we have fostered a reputation for being a friendly, warm, and community-oriented school. Our positive relationships among staff, parents, and students testify to our inclusive approach, making everyone feel welcomed and part of a larger family. This sense of belonging sets us apart and should make you feel at home in our school.

Safa Community School is not just another school but an award-winning all-through UK curriculum school, from FS1 to Year 13, with 2,570 students. Follow our school's Instagram channel to glimpse our vibrant community showcasing student achievements, community events, and more at safa_scs. Discover how we nurture talent, foster creativity, and build a thriving environment for every student.

Due to continued growth and expansion across all areas of the school and to accommodate our rapidly increasing Sixth Form cohort, we seek to appoint an exceptional Careers and Universities Counsellor to join our team.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

• Degree-level qualification in Counselling or related field.
• At least 3 years of experience as a Careers and Universities Counsellor.
• Strong knowledge of university admission processes in the US, UK, Canada, Middle East and internationally.
• Extensive experience with UCAS and university entry requirements.
  
  

Job Purpose

• To meet the requirements of Gatsby Benchmark 8 by providing 1-to-1 career guidance and advice to students from Years 7-13.
• To ensure, through individual careers meetings, that students are encouraged to recognise their strengths and potential and empower to make informed decisions about their education and career choices.
• To support the careers programme in school by highlighting the use of careers tools such as Unifrog through interaction with students
• To help facilitate parent understanding and knowledge of careers and education pathways through attendance at Parent events
• To ensure support and challenge for students in their interviews to facilitate engagement with their school life, to support long-term education and career plans.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• To ensure that all Year 9-13 students have access to careers guidance intervention via individual interviews, HOY/SEN/self-referrals and through Parent Meetings and Options Evenings
• To undertake diagnostic and aptitude testing to support students with personal growth and self-awareness. From this assessment, provide personalised action plans to students following interventions via email and uploaded to Unifrog, signposting them to research materials and websites, career and planning resources both in school and online and individual specific action points
• To provide after each visit: an updated spreadsheet detailing students seen, intended destinations, career idea if known, any additional actions agreed/needed to be implemented by school and evidence of quality assessment via student evaluation
• To focus on Post 16 & 18 options in interviews with Years 10-13 to assist with career pathway planning and GCSE options in Year 9
• Support students’ emotions around university choices and expectations, and help students make appropriate choices
• Offer information, advice and guidance to individual students applying to universities locally and abroad.
• International Students: Understand university degree, entrance requirements, visa requirements, funding, fees and keeping up to date with admissions and policy changes
• Organise higher education events, including presentations and career expos, liaise with universities and organisations, and attend local university information sessions.
• Guide students in writing application essays, personal statements and preparing for interviews
• Process student applications on the Common Application (US) and UCAS (UK) systems
• Help students apply to Oxbridge and Ivy League, assist students in preparing medical and veterinary applications etc.
• Administer special university entrance exams.
• Coordinate references (writing and training staff), recommendation letters and documentation for university applications
• Support students on Results Days and guide internships and part-time work
  
  

Person Specification

• Enthusiastic about fostering student growth and supporting their cultural capital.
• Ability to work collaboratively, put students first, and maintain a high standard of professionalism with a growth mindset
• Motivated, flexible, and resilient, with strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to thrive in a busy environment
• A genuine interest and enjoyment in working with students and their families
• Ability to interpret and track student progress through the use of data
• Committed to continuous personal and professional development
• Demonstrate a keen interest in all aspects of school life
• Show solidarity by supporting school policy, and the Leadership team, publicly
• Challenge school policy, and the Leadership team, privately
• Strong interpersonal skills and networking abilities
  
  

Application Process

Closing date for applications is Friday, 30th May 2025 at 10h00 UAE time.

• All applications must be submitted on the TES Portal. Only complete applications submitted through the Portal will be considered.
• Submit an up-to-date, full resume / CV.
• Submit a covering letter of no more than two A4 pages.
• Provide at least three referees’ names, telephone numbers (with international dialling codes), and email addresses. One must be a current employer.
• The closing date for all applications is Friday, 30th May 2025 at 10h00 UAE time.
• Applications will be assessed in order of receipt and interviews may occur at any stage after applications are received. We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date and therefore invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
  
  

Upon request, feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stages.

At Safa Community School we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to various background checks including, receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification and police checks, social media checks, including overseas checks.