Founded in 1973, AISB is an accredited, private, non-profit international school. Based on an American educational model with English-taught courses, the high school focuses on critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. Students can customize their graduation pathway by combining an American High School Diploma, an IB Diploma, and a Global Impact Diploma. AISB is accredited by CIS and MSA, and is a member of CEESA, SCIS, IB, and ISTA.
The American International School of Budapest (AISB) seeks to appoint an Elementary School Counselor with a starting date of August 1, 2027. Please note the posting is tentative only.
Qualified candidates with experience and skills matching the job description are invited to apply by submitting their application through Search Associates by 31st November 2026. Please note that we accept applications exclusively through Search Associates
The recruitment team will contact shortlisted candidates. The school reserves the right to appoint a suitable candidate prior to the application deadline.
Position Overview:
The counselor’s primary function is to facilitate the development of students in the social-emotional domain of their growth. The counselor works collaboratively with faculty, staff, parents, and students to foster the personal and social development of our diverse international student body in line with the mission, vision, and values of the school.
Qualifications and Experience:
Personal Attributes
- Illustrates organizational and time-management skills
- High Emotional Intelligence (EQ): demonstrates strong communication and empathy skills and establishes cooperative and collaborative working relationships with staff, students, and parents
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, with an ability to work effectively with students, parents, faculty, and administration.
- Demonstrates initiative, flexibility, and a positive attitude
- Communicates effectively in English, both in written and oral form
- Openly accepts and considers different perspectives and manages change effectively
- Maintains a solution-based approach to problem-solving
- Demonstrates a commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and student-centered school culture
- Actively contributes to a positive school climate
Knowledge
- Familiarity and experience implementing the ISCA standards
- Strong understanding of child development and transitional support between school divisions, and the typical (and atypical) challenges students face.
- Knowledge of best practices when supporting students and families with mental health / social-emotional issues
- Demonstrates a concrete understanding of children’s developmental stages
- Understands the importance of a proactive, articulated Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program across the school
- Strong knowledge and understanding of relevant safeguarding and child protection policies and protocols in an international setting
Certifications & Experience
- Holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling, Psychology, or related field
- Minimum 3 years recent, proven experience as a Elementary School Counselor
- Experience working in a multicultural environment with a culturally diverse student population and with families for whom English is a second language.
- Technology literate in Web and Google Applications
- Experience with Safeguarding platforms (e.g., CPOMS)
- Demonstration of ongoing professional development in areas of best practice
Key Responsibilities:
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Aligns the SEL program with ISEL and ISCA standards
- Assist teachers and students in creating a safe and positive learning environment integrating into the grade level curriculum where authentic and appropriate
- Coordinates and implements individual and group counseling based on identified needs
- Supports the positive transition of new and withdrawing students
- Collaborates with the principals and counselors across divisions to ensure consistency and care for students transitioning across divisions
- Plans and delivers an effective school counseling program and seeks continuous improvement
Child Safeguarding
- Assists students in developing their independence and social skills by modeling appropriate language, interactions, and positive behaviors at all times.
- Demonstrates effective documentation practice in line with safeguarding and data protection guidelines
- Assists in school crisis management
- Is responsive to the needs of students, faculty, staff, and parents
- Reports observations and incidents (e.g. accidents, fights, appropriate and/or inappropriate social behavior, violations of rules, safety conditions, etc.) relating to specific students for the purpose of communicating information to appropriate personnel
- Conducts ongoing teacher and parent workshops on child safeguarding
- Manages student behavior in alignment with our child safeguarding policy
- Ensures all actions align with the legal requirements of the host country
- Collaborates effectively with
- the through-school counseling team to ensure cross-divisional alignment
- the Elementary School Principal, Associate Principal, Director of Teaching and Learning, the student support team, teachers and parents to ensure appropriate support and strategies are in place
Professional Growth
- Continued professional growth through regular attendance at workshops, seminars, conferences, and/or advanced coursework at institutions of higher learning
- Attends faculty, committee, and team conversations as required to reflect on and refine teaching and learning practices
Professional Responsibilities
- Supports and adheres to the mission, vision, and values of AISB, as well as board policies, administrative procedures, and school regulations, and supports each of these to the community-at-large
- Maintains appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance and appropriate use of time
- Assists with class placements for students across the elementary school
- Oversees the vertical progression of counseling services across the Elementary School
- Attends, supports, and participates in assemblies, after-school activities, and special events (divisional and school-wide)
- Participates in overnight trips in grades 3 - 5
- Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with members of the school community
Performs additional duties effectively (during and outside the regular school day) as requested by the administration
AISB takes child safeguarding measures seriously.Appointments are subject to satisfactory enhanced criminal checks.
The school reserves the right to appoint a candidate to the position ahead of the announced deadline, should a suitable applicant be identified.
