Summer Academy 2 - Summer Site Director

June 24th - August 5th, 2024

Training and program start-up to begin in April; virtual onboarding to take place in mid-late May. Specific dates TBD.

The ProgramAs rising high school seniors and rising college first-years, students attend our Summer Academy Program (six weeks in the first summer, five weeks in the second). At its core, Summer Academy (SA) is an immersive academic experience where students learn the quantitative, writing, and critical thinking skills they need to excel in college and in their preferred majors, with additional time devoted to personal and professional development topics. Summer Academy is a residential program held on the campuses of Amherst College and Northwestern University. This year, we will serve approximately 500 students across both sites.

The PositionThrive Scholars is seeking a Summer Site Director (SD) to provide on-site leadership at our 2024 Summer Academy hosted at Northwestern University, ensuring a positive, enriching, and safe experience for Scholars. The Site Director will be the primary on-site representative and will be in charge of the day-to-day operation of the program. The Site Director will administer program logistics, act as the main point of contact between campus, summer, and Thrive staff, support the development and implementation of recreational programming, and provide supervision/support to the Assistant Site Directors (AD). As this is a residential program, the Director will live among the Scholars in a residence hall and will collaborate with the ADs to provide coverage 24 hours/day for the duration of the program in case urgent matters arise. The Site Director will have 6 paid days off throughout SA, to be taken on weekdays. The SD will be expected to participate in planning before the start of Summer Academy. The tentative onboarding schedule for the position is outlined below.April 1st - June 1st - Approximately 20 hours a month for training, program start-up, and orientation (mid-late May).June 24th - 27th - On-campus orientation and program setupProgram dates for scholars are scheduled for Friday, June 28th - Saturday, August 3rd, with June 28th and August 3rd being Scholar travel days

After the conclusion of SA, the SD, along with the ADs, will be responsible for creating an end-of-program report.

Reports to: Director of Summer Academy

Location: Hosted at Northwestern University

Compensation:The Site Director will be paid between $8,500 - $10,000, commensurate with experience.Room and board will be provided, and covered, by Thrive Scholars.Reimbursement of up to $350 will be provided for travel for candidates traveling 100+ miles one way between their home and their work location.

Primary Responsibilities The Site Director will be responsible for the following

Programming In collaboration with Thrive Program Staff, develop and lead student orientationAssist with planning and chaperoning off-site field trips

Administration Serve as primary liaison with host site for all operational and program matters while in sessionOversee management of program logistics, including budget, supplies, and residential assignmentsManage AD's time-off schedule, ensuring appropriate coverage of duties and PA oversightKeep Thrive’s Director of Summer Academy informed via regular check-ins and communication; work collaboratively with Thrive staff to troubleshoot as necessary and implement approved decisionsHost weekly staff meetings and individual check-ins with ADs to provide feedback and guidance as needed to ensure strong performanceServe on the senior management team of Summer Academy, assisting with interdepartmental planning and student issuesIn collaboration with Thrive Program Staff, collaborate on and lead training for Resident Program Assistants (PA)In collaboration with Thrive Program Staff, maintain AD’s and RC’s work schedulesServe as the main point of contact for nursing and mental health staff on campusOversee the use of Thrive-assigned campus vehiclesResponsible for oversight of any master or additional keysEnsure all campus off-boarding tasks are complete; including, but not limited to, taking inventory of all remaining supplies and returning of keys and other campus materialsStudent Supervision & Support With the ADs, engage in ongoing monitoring of individual student safety, well-being, and program participation; provide support around residential, academic, health, and socio-emotional issues that may arise; and work as a liaison with medical, mental health, or safety services, as neededEnsure that students abide by SA Code of Conduct and attendance policies, and administer appropriate consequences and/or support for students who are not in complianceMediate conflicts among Scholars and residential life staffMaintain objectivity and strict confidentiality in all sensitive matters and with student informationServes as point person for parents during Summer Academy

Experience and Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years of experience working with youth in a full-time roleExperience working in a learning-living community, such as an academic summer program, a residential high school, or a college/universityKnowledge of best practices for risk management in a residential settingExperience in and passion for working with a diverse community of high school and college studentsSuperior interpersonal skills and ability to build effective relationships with students, faculty, and staffHigh level of dependability and strong commitment to ensuring the health and safety of participants at all timesEnthusiasm and ability to work in a high-energy environment, foster positivity and energy among high school and college studentsAbility to train/manage a team of college-age staff membersAbility to independently manage multiple prioritiesUphold and enforce the values, policies, and procedures of Thrive Scholars and the Summer Academy Program, as outlined in the program manualValid driver’s licenseCPR & First Aid certification preferredBachelor’s degree required; Master’s Degree in School Counseling, Higher Education, Social Work, or similar degree or equivalent experience preferred

Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Knowing their importance to the success of our work, Thrive Scholars is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org

Thrive Scholars’ Economic Mobility Statement:

We know that everywhere in our country, there are incredibly high-achieving BIPOC students from economically disadvantaged communities who have big aspirations for their future. By virtue of everything they have achieved—academically, personally, and extracurricularly—these students demonstrate tremendous promise to continue to achieve at great levels in college and in their careers. However, as a result of structural barriers they encounter during the pivotal transitions from high school to college to career, we know that many are hindered from reaching their career ambitions and their goals of economic mobility and financial security. We understand these barriers to be complex and rooted in deep societal inequities and in systemic racism, and we believe they must be addressed at all levels—individual, institutional, and systemic.

At Thrive Scholars, we have found that we are well-equipped to make a meaningful impact on the individual student level. As an organization, we have identified some of the main barriers that get in the way of Scholars getting that first job out of college that will position them to realize economic mobility. We have developed, over the last twenty years, key interventions, delivered through our College Access, Summer Academy, College Success, Mentorship, and Career Development programs - all aimed at helping high-achieving students from economically disadvantaged communities overcome these obstacles to experience economic mobility. This is our North Star. We do not believe that is all of the work that needs to be done at a societal or even individual level in order to promote a just society where every individual can succeed holistically, but we believe this part of it is where we as an organization should focus.Apply now