The Program
As rising college first-years, students attend our six-week Summer Academy. At its core, Summer Academy is an academic boot camp where students learn the quantitative and writing 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 campus of the University of Chicago from June 29 to August 9. This year, we expect to serve 200+ students and are currently planning for an in-person program. We will also continue to monitor COVID developments in order to determine whether a residential program is safe and feasible, or if we will need to pivot to a virtual program as we did in 2020 and 2021.  

The Position
Thrive Scholars is seeking multiple Assistant Site Directors (ADs) to provide on-site leadership at our 2022 Summer Academy (SA), ensuring a positive, enriching, & safe experience for Scholars. The Assistant Site Director will assist the Site Director in the day-to-day operation of the program. In collaboration with the Site Director, the AD will assist in administering program logistics, manage the development and implementation of recreational programming, provide supervision/support to Scholars & supervise Resident Counselors. As this is a residential program, the Assistant Site Director will live among the Scholars in a residence hall and will collaborate with the Site Director to provide coverage 24 hours/day for the duration of the program in case urgent matters arise. The Assistant Site Director will have 6 paid days off over the course of SA, to be taken on weekdays. They will participate in orientation from June 14th to June 21st. After the conclusion of SA, the ADs, along with the Site Director, will be responsible for creating an end-of- program report. 

Reports to: Summer Academy Site Director

Salary: The Site Director will be paid between $7,000 - $9,000, commensurate with experience. 

Housing: Room and board will be provided, and covered by Thrive Scholars.

Primary Responsibilities The Assistant Site Director will be responsible for the following:

Programming 

• In collaboration with the Site Director, help lead the student orientation 
• Manage the development & implementation of recreational/community-building events for students on evenings/weekends 
• Support activities designed by our College Success, Mentorship & Career teams, focused on preparing Scholars for college transition & engaging them in career exploration 
• Plan & chaperone off-site field trips 

Administration 

• Keep Site Director informed via regular check-ins & communication; work collaboratively with Dir and Thrive staff to troubleshoot as necessary and implement approved decisions 
• Attend weekly staff meetings 
• Lead training for & provide ongoing supervision to Resident Counselors (RCs) 
• Host weekly meetings with RCs to provide feedback and guidance as needed to ensure strong performance  
• Track Scholar attendance
• Provide ongoing classroom and academic needs support
• Implement classroom assignments, dining hall use, and daily schedules in collaboration with RCs
• Maintain updated documentation regarding the program and students 

Student Supervision & Support 

• With the RCs, 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 

The Ideal Candidate 

• Minimum of 3 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 
• Experience in school counseling or social work preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required