Thank you for your interest in Laguna Blanca—an Early Kindergarten through Grade 12 private college preparatory day school. Laguna is a close-knit and welcoming learning community for employees, students, and families. Located on two beautiful campuses with state-of-the-art facilities and a talented and dedicated workforce, students genuinely enjoy learning and feel safe trying new and challenging things. With a school-wide commitment to our core values of scholarship, character, balance, and community, teachers are empowered to create spaces and programs that thrill and inspire.  

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Laguna Blanca offers a comprehensive benefits package for employees. Learn more about the benefits and perks of being an Owl.

Current Openings

List of 6 items.

  • Assistant/Associate Director of College Counseling

    Laguna Blanca School seeks an Assistant/Associate Director of College Counseling. The College Counseling team educates, guides, and supports students and their families through the college search and application process. Our ultimate goal is for students to attend a college or university where they will be successful and well-equipped to continue that success in life. The team is composed of the Director of College Counseling, Assistant / Associate Director, and Registrar & College Counseling Coordinator.

    The successful candidate will be innovative and creative; a self-starter who will take initiative; attentive to detail; a team player; comfortable and confident in working with students from a variety of cultures and backgrounds; and an excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communicator. This is a great job for someone who loves working with families and is able to multitask, handle pressure, and maintain confidentiality. This position is a 12-month position and includes some evening and weekend responsibilities. We are posting this role as Assistant/Associate Director of College Counseling— the formal title of the position will be dependent upon the experience of the person ultimately selected for the role.  

    Contact employment@lagunablanca.org for more information.

    ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

    This position is dedicated to counseling and guiding students and parents towards common goals on college selection and admission by:
    • Establishing strong and regular communications with families and students
    • Being available to meet with Grades 9-12 families
    • Working with families and students to develop a list of colleges and universities for application that align with students’ interests, skills, and proficiencies
    • Evaluating the student’s academic and social growth and making recommendations to highlight the student’s candidacy in the college application process
    • Managing students’ and families’ expectations throughout the college process
    • Providing course selection advice to students
    • Providing advice and suggestions to students and families regarding extra-curricular on and off-campus activities
    The Ideal Candidates will:

    • Have an in-depth knowledge of colleges and universities as well as a contextual grasp of the current college admission landscape
    • Have meticulous organization and attention to detail in order to ensure deadlines are met in regard to letters of recommendation and other submission materials
    • Support hosting college visits to campus and establishes strong relationships with college representatives and admissions officers
    • Represent the school at various events (on campus and off campus), speaking to current and prospective students and families about the services the college counseling team provides
    • Participate and organize events for college preparation such as grade-level retreats, college trips, college nights, Case Studies, parent presentations, etc.
    • Have the ability to travel, at times, to professional development conferences and college/university campus visits 
    Qualifications and Characteristics:

    • Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree preferred
    • Minimum of 3 to 5 years’ experience in college counseling and/or college admissions and an extensive, active network of college admissions contacts
    • Knowledge of curriculum and trends as related to college admissions
    • Knowledge of SCOIR
    • Eagerness to engage with students and their families to support them as they navigate the college application process
    • Excellent administrative, communication, writing, and public speaking skills
    • A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
    • Proficiency with data analysis, experience with college counseling software
    • A flexible and patient collaborator with administrators, faculty, and staff
    • Ability to bring joy, kindness, humor, maturity, and empathy to the school environment
    • Background in financial aid support and/or essay writing support for student applicants
    • Willingness to work as part of a team with an emphasis on collaboration
    • Experience with college counseling or enrollment management software
    • Creative analytical and problem-solving skills
    • Excellent interpersonal skills with the proven ability to maintain professionalism and tact in high-stress situations
    • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
    • A strong commitment to independent school life. The counselor can expect a fast-paced, dynamic work environment, and involvement in all aspects of school life including chaperoning duties, serving as a student advisor, and taking on various other responsibilities.
    Reporting Structure:

    This position reports to the Director of College Counseling.   
     
    Specific Responsibilities:

    The Assistant / Associate Director’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
    • Providing college counseling guidance to approximately 50% of each class (roughly 55 students per grade level).
    • Communicating regularly with counselees and families about the various stages in the college counseling process
    • Generating persuasive, individualized letters of support for each senior in caseload and working with the office to submit these and other credentials to colleges, universities, and scholarship programs
    • Helping to maintain working relationships with college admission professionals at colleges and universities throughout the country and abroad by visiting an appropriate number of college campuses each year
    • Supporting programming related to college counseling for families in Grades 9-12
    • Providing guidance to students and parents about the course selection process as it pertains to college counseling
    • Assist in the administration and coordination of the PSAT exam
    • Keeping abreast of the rapidly changing college admissions scene
    • Offering guidance to students about appropriate summer enrichment opportunities
    • Maintaining an active and engaged presence in professional organizations such as NACAC, ACCIS, College Board, and others to keep current with issues in the admission and counseling professions
    • Performing other special projects and support as assigned by the Director of College Counseling
    Physical Requirements:

    • Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times
    • Must be able to traverse school facility and lead students to safety in the event of an emergency
  • Bus Driver

    Laguna Blanca School is seeking a qualified school bus driver. Candidates must be certified school bus drivers with an air brake certificate. We are a close-knit community looking for someone who works well with children and the rest of our community. Candidates must be able to pass a background check and comply with state and federal regulations.

    This position will primarily run the morning and afternoon shuttle between our two campuses in Hope Ranch and Montecito. There are also field trips that will provide additional hours. This position will typically be 25-30 hours per week with a minimum of 25 hours per week.

    Please call or email Brian McDonald to apply at (805) 698-7173 or bmcdonald@lagunablanca.org.
  • Groundskeeper/Maintenance Technician

    We have an opening for a Full-Time Grounds & Maintenance Technician in our Facilities Department. We are looking for a hard-working person to join our team. Ideally, this person
    would be self-driven and enjoy performing a variety of tasks each workday.

    These tasks range from general landscaping (i.e. mowing lawns, using blowers to clean walkways, etc.) to general building/property maintenance tasks. The right applicant will have at least two years’ experience in gardening and/or general maintenance/construction. Some of the responsibilities of the position are as follows:

    • Maintaining turf
    • Setting up for events
    • Fixing irrigation
    • Gardening
    • Painting
    • Cleaning (using basic cleaning chemicals with proper personal protective equipment)
    • Knowledge of basic hand tools and light power tools (drills, circular saws, grinders, etc.)
    • Miscellaneous Maintenance
    Requirements: Must be able to lift 30 pounds and maintain a California’s Driver’s License. Fingerprinting and background check are required.

    Benefits include medical, dental, vision and retirement. For more information or to apply, please call Brian at 805.698.7173 between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM or email a reply to bmcdonald@lagunablanca.org.
  • Head of Lower School

  • Head of Upper School

  • Substitute Teacher

    Laguna is looking for Substitute Teachers that will be on our Hope Ranch campus who would be available to cover classes when a member of the faculty is sick or away on a planned
    absence. Must be comfortable being in person on campus with students and have experience with students in Grades 5-12.

    Competitive applicants will possess the following skills and attributes:
    • Experience teaching middle school, and/or high school students
    • Knowledge of Google Suite tools to access classroom materials
    • Dependability to arrive on time, respond to substitute requests, and connect with the Sub-Coordinator
    • Ability to address a range of students with differing learning styles in order to proctor the day’s activities and expectations set by the faculty member.
    • An interest in collegial collaboration
    • High energy level and positive attitude
    • Strong communication skills, including verbal and written
    • Use and knowledge of technology in education
    • Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask
    • Ability to successfully develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, students, and families

    QUALIFICATIONS
    • The most qualified applicants will have classroom/library and/or campus experience and must possess a strong desire to take an active role in the school. Candidates should be technologically proficient and possess excellent communication skills. Bachelor's Degree and experience expected, advanced degree and teaching credential preferred.
    Laguna Blanca implemented and follows all safety protocols as recommended by the CDC and County Public Health. Upon hire, the applicant must complete a LiveScan, TB Test, and Covid test and submit to periodic maintenance testing for Covid.

    PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
    • Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times
    • Must be able to traverse school facility and lead students to safety in the event of an emergency
Laguna Blanca School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any characteristic that is legally protected under applicable local, state, or federal law. This nondiscrimination policy includes but is not limited to admission, financial aid, educational programs, athletics, and employment.


HOW DO I APPLY?

1. Submit cover letter and resume to employment@lagunablanca.org 
2. AND complete the online employment application below. 

The application process is not considered complete until we receive BOTH the applicant's cover letter/resume and employment application.
Laguna Blanca is Santa Barbara’s premier private, co-educational, college preparatory day school for students in Early Kindergarten through Grade 12.