Founding Director of College Admissions Consulting

About PolarisWise

PolarisWise is a U.S.-headquartered education organization dedicated to enhancing student development, college success, and personalized learning innovations. Founded by veteran leaders with nearly 20 years in international education and U.S. college admissions, PolarisWise is assembling a comprehensive education ecosystem integrating strategic advising, admissions expertise, mentorship, career exploration, student growth, and technology solutions.

The company supports students throughout their journeys—from self-awareness and academic/personal growth to career and college admissions, transition, and sustained achievement. Additionally, PolarisWise is creating technology-driven education products, professional advisory networks, institutional collaborations, and novel partnership models across markets including the U.S. and China.

Position Overview

We seek an entrepreneurial education leader to join as the Founding Head of Admissions Officers (AO) and Essay Consultants. This senior leadership role involves establishing a high-caliber team of former Admissions Officers and Essay Consultants, setting professional benchmarks, overseeing recruitment and training, managing quality assurance, and guiding admissions and essay-related service development at PolarisWise.

The role includes direct student advising, contribution to product and workflow design, supporting marketing and educational events, and representing PolarisWise at selected external engagements. As the organization grows, responsibilities may expand to product innovation, institutional partnerships, professional education programs, and additional student development initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, and lead a team of AO and Essay Consultants, defining qualifications and competencies.
• Implement onboarding and professional development programs, set performance and quality standards, and provide coaching and feedback while managing team performance.
• Establish standards for student competitiveness evaluation, application strategies, essay frameworks, and ensure effective collaboration among team members.
• Review critical student cases, ensure strategic alignment in applications, and guide complex case management.
• Participate in product and service innovation, refining procedures, templates, and exploring technology-enabled improvements.
• Advise selected students, particularly complex cases, and engage with families during senior-level counseling sessions.
• Represent the company in webinars, workshops, conferences, and cultivate partnerships with schools and other stakeholders.
• Travel within the U.S., China, and internationally for training, meetings, institutional visits, and partnership development, collaborating across global time zones.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in selective U.S. college admissions, counseling, or advanced college advising.
• Comprehensive knowledge of holistic admissions processes at highly selective institutions.
• Proven leadership in managing and mentoring admissions or counseling professionals, with ability to create replicable professional standards.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills, comfortable with entrepreneurial environments and cross-cultural interactions.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally and work across American and Asian time zones.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience as a former admissions officer at a prestigious U.S. university.
• Leadership roles in college counseling or admissions consulting organizations.
• Experience managing distributed professional teams and working with international, particularly Asian, student populations.
• Background in education product development or technology-enhanced service delivery.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an outstanding admissions consultant and a strategic builder, passionate about developing people, crafting systems, improving products, tackling challenging student cases, and scaling expertise into standardized, high-quality service models. This role offers the unique opportunity to influence the foundation and growth of a pioneering education company rather than managing existing programs.

Additional Information

• Salary ranges from $100,000 to $115,000 annually, commensurate with experience and leadership credentials.
• Performance-based bonuses may be provided.
• Application requires submission of resume, a concise overview of experience in college admissions or counseling, leadership or training background, application strategy and essay advising expertise, current location, availability, and willingness to travel internationally as needed.