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 a Summer Site Director (Dir) to provide on-site leadership at our 2022 Summer Academy (SA), ensuring a positive, enriching, & 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 and Thrive staff, support the development and implementation of recreational programming, and provide supervision/support to the Assistant Site Directors. As this is a residential program, the Director will live among the Scholars in a residence hall and will collaborate with the ADs to manage and participate in a 24 hour/day coverage schedule for the duration of the program in case urgent matters arise. The 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 21st to June 28th. After the conclusion of SA, the Dir, along with the ADs, will be responsible for creating an end-of- program report. 

Reports to: Director of Summer Academy

Salary: The Site Director will be paid between $9,000-$11,000 commensurate with experience. 

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

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 UChicago host site for all operational and program matters while in session
• Oversee management of program logistics, including budget, supplies, and residential assignments
• 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, develop & lead training for Resident Counselors (RCs) 
• Create and maintain ADs’ and RCs’ work schedules

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

The Ideal Candidate 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with youth in a full-time role 
• Experience managing people and/or programming 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 professional staff and 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