Join Our Staff

Summer Search Boston currently has positions open for:

Program Associate (full time)

program associate

OUR MISSION

Summer Search is a dynamic national non-profit organization that finds resilient low-income high school students and inspires them to become responsible and altruistic leaders by providing year-round mentoring, life-changing summer experiences, college advising, and a lasting support network.

Summer Search started in 1990 in San Francisco and currently operates in seven sites serving over 900 students and 2,000 alumni nationally. Summer Search Boston is the largest program site, serving 300 students this year with the goal to serve 400 students by 2012.  For more information about Summer Search visit our website at www.summersearch.org.

JOB SUMMARY

Program Associates are mentors who help build the resiliency and capacity of urban teen leaders.  They contribute to the success of the organization by working directly with students to reach short, mid, and long-term outcomes through three domains: addressing student needs by building relationships that promote personal/social development and life skills, aid in successful summer program placement and preparation, and ensure college/career-readiness.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Relationship-Building:

• Uses all available data to make key decisions around quality control and program site goals as well as ensures staff training and development supports quality improvement. Supports site Program Director in providing training and supervision to ensure a quality experience for all students. Partners with National Talent and Training Team to provide additional training resources.
• Organizes and coordinates small and large-group interactions: school lunches, sophomore and college workshops, and Spring/Fall Events.

Increasing Resiliency:

• Uses an internally developed model of assessment that identifies qualities of resiliency: Reflection, Altruism, and Performance (RAP).
• Works with students in an ongoing way to develop those RAP qualities over time, noticing patterns of thinking and behavior.

School Attachment/College Readiness:

• Understands students’ full academic and extracurricular participation/performance in school, including attendance, relationships with teachers, peers, etc.
• Understands college readiness requirements and works collaboratively with students and Summer Search’s college counselors to ensure they ultimately matriculate to post-secondary education.

Summer Program Preparation and Integration:

• Collaborates with Program Manager and Summer Program Coordinator to ensure that each student is appropriately placed on a trip that will challenge them and set them up for success.
• Works with each student who has passed the four-week self-selection period to ensure that they are physically and emotionally ready for both their first and second trips, and works with each student to celebrate successes on their trips, reflect on learning opportunities and reintegrate their experiences through writing essays, weekly mentoring conversations, and group interactions with fellow students.

Program Data Tracking:

• Enters and tracks data accurately on a daily basis in Efforts to Outcomes student database, so data can be used to assess student progress, staff evaluations, and organizational learning.
• Works with Program Manager and Senior Mentors to consistently assess and measure own results of program activities, and uses data tracking and analysis as a learning opportunity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least two years of work experience after college strongly preferred
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Self-starter who is comfortable in a close-knit team-oriented setting
• Flexibility and eagerness to learn and work on different tasks as needed
• Strong command of Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with database operations
• Bi-lingual English-Spanish a plus

OUR BENEFITS

Summer Search is committed to creating an environment that is supportive of learning, growth and staff development. Our investment in staff includes:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Medical, dental, vision, FSA, life and disability insurance
• 401 (K) Plan and employer matching program after 1 year of employment
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Commuter benefits program
  

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to Summer Search, please attach your resume with a cover letter that speaks to why you are applying to Summer Search. Include in your letter your track record of performance, your desire to learn, and your ability to overcome challenges. Send your application to Sarah Ham in Human Resources at bostonhire@summersearch.org.