Summer Academy 1 - Summer Site Director

June 17th - August 3rd, 2024

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

The Organization

At Thrive Scholars, our goal is to see talented economically disadvantaged BIPOC students develop inter-generational wealth and financial security and become the diverse corporate, civic, and academic leaders our country so desperately needs. 

Our comprehensive, data-driven, high-touch program model focuses on the key inflection points that can be the difference between graduating from college and graduating from a top college with the grades, degree, career skills, and networks needed to thrive in any career. Throughout our six-year program, Scholars benefit from admissions guidance and intensive academic preparation before college, and a comprehensive set of academic, personal, social-emotional, financial, and career supports throughout college – all meant to contribute to their economic mobility, starting from their very first job post-graduation. 

(Please read Thrive’s Economic Mobility Statement below.)

The Program

As 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 Opportunity

Thrive Scholars is seeking a Summer Site Director (SD) to provide on-site leadership at our 2024 Summer Academy hosted at Amherst College, 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 Summer Academy, 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 17th - 20th - On-campus orientation and program setup
• Program dates for scholars are scheduled for Friday, June 21st - Thursday, August 1st, with June 21st and August 1st being Scholar travel days

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

Reports to: Director of Summer Academy

Compensation: 

• The Site Director will be paid between $9,500 - $11,000, commensurate with experience. 
• Reimbursement of up to $350 will be provided for travel for candidates traveling 100+ miles one way between their home and their work location.

Housing: Room and board will be provided, and covered by Thrive Scholars. Non-AC housing, with potential for necessary accommodations.

Location: Hosted at Amherst College

Primary Responsibilities 

The Site Director will be responsible for the following: 

Programming 

• In collaboration with Thrive Program Staff, develop & lead student orientation 
• Assist with planning & chaperoning off-site field trips 

Administration 

• Serve as primary liaison with host site for all operational and program matters while in session
• Oversee management of program logistics, including budget, supplies, and residential assignments
• Manage Associate Director's time-off schedule, ensuring appropriate coverage of duties and PA oversight 
• Keep Thrive’s Director of Summer Academy informed via regular check-ins & communication; work collaboratively with Thrive staff to troubleshoot as necessary & implement approved decisions 
• Host weekly staff meetings and individual check-ins with ADs to provide feedback and guidance as needed to ensure strong performance 
• Serve on the senior management team of Summer Academy, assisting with interdepartmental planning and student issues 
• In 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 PA’s work schedules
• Serve as the main point of contact for nursing and mental health staff on campus
• Oversee the use of Thrive-assigned campus vehicles 
• Responsible for oversight of any master or additional keys
• Ensure all campus off-boarding tasks are complete; including, but not limited to, taking inventory of all remaining supplies and returning keys and other campus materials

Student Supervision & Support 

• With the ADs, engage in ongoing monitoring of individual student safety, well-being, & program participation; provide support around residential, academic, health, & socio-emotional issues that may arise; & work as a liaison with medical, mental health, or safety services, as needed 
• Ensure that students abide by SA Code of Conduct and attendance policies, and administer appropriate consequences &/or support for students who are not in compliance 
• Mediate conflicts among Scholars and residential life staff
• Maintain objectivity and strict confidentiality in all sensitive matters and with student information 
• Serves as point person for parents during Summer Academy

Experience & Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with youth in a full-time role 
• Experience working in a learning-living community, such as an academic summer program, a residential high school, or a college/university 
• Knowledge of best practices for risk management in a residential setting 
• Experience in & passion for working with a diverse community of high school & college students 
• Superior interpersonal skills & ability to build effective relationships with students, faculty, & staff 
• High level of dependability & strong commitment to ensuring the health & safety of participants at all times 
• Enthusiasm & ability to work in a high-energy environment, foster positivity & energy among high school & college students 
• Ability to train/manage a team of college-age staff members 
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities 
• Uphold and enforce the values, policies, and procedures of Thrive Scholars and the Summer Academy Program, as outlined in the program manual 
• Valid driver’s license 
• CPR & First Aid certification preferred 
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s Degree in School Counseling, Higher Education, Social Work, or similar degree or equivalent experience preferred

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

Thrive has instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all employees, including remote staff. Individuals selected for job opportunities must be fully vaccinated and up to date, per CDC guidelines, and will be required to provide proof of vaccination status in advance of your hire date. 

If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs, Thrive will consider requests for reasonable accommodations consistent with our policy.  Accommodation requests cannot be guaranteed, Thrive will consider requests where we are able to provide such accommodations without undue hardship to the organization pursuant to applicable law.  Any such accommodation must be approved in advance of signing an offer letter.

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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. 

Compensation: 

• The Site Director will be paid between $9,500 - $11,000, commensurate with experience. 
• Reimbursement of up to $350 will be provided for travel for candidates traveling 100+ miles one way between their home and their work location.