Join Our Staff

Summer Search Silicon Valley currently has a position available for:

Program Associate

program associate

OUR ORGANIZATION AND MISSION

Headquartered in San Francisco, Summer Search is a dynamic, national non-profit organization that identifies resilient low-income high school students and inspires them to become responsible and altruistic leaders. Through year-round mentoring, life-changing summer experiences, college advising, and a lasting alumni support network, students are supported to matriculate to and graduate from college while also learning the importance of giving back. 

Founded in 1990, Summer Search currently operates offices in Boston, New York City, the North San Francisco Bay, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Silicon Valley, and transforms the lives of more than 1,600 students and 1,700 alumni across the country every year.  The Summer Search Silicon Valley, founded in 2005, serves 85 students from 17 East Bay, Peninsula and San Jose schools. Additionally, we support 81 students in several colleges and universities within and outside California. Under the leadership of  Executive Director, Carlin Johnson Politzer, we hope to serve more than 200 students annually by 2015.

JOB SUMMARY

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

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Relationship-Building

• Builds individualized relationships with students based on Summer Search’s mentoring model by utilizing listening skills, providing direct feedback, creating opportunities for introspection, and holding students accountable to what they are capable of achieving.
• 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 known as RAP -Reflection, Altruism, and Performance.
• 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 and set her or him up for success.
• Works with students 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 the Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) student database to assess student progress and inform staff evaluations as well as organizational learning.
• Works with Program Manager and senior mentors to consistently assess and measure outcomes of program activities, and uses data tracking and analysis as a learning opportunity.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Personal interest in the Summer Search mission and demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of underserved teenagers.
• Committed to self-reflection and transparent communication as part of professional growth
• Self-starter who is energetic, outgoing, and comfortable in a close-knit team-oriented setting
• Flexibility to work on different tasks as needed
• Eagerness to learn

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least two years of work experience after college, preferably in the youth development field
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Strong command of Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with database operations

• Bilingual English-Spanish a plus

OUR BENEFITS

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

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Medical, dental, vision, FSA, life and disability insurance
• 401(K) with Employer Match
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Commuter benefits

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to Summer Search, please attach your resume with a cover letter that addresses your track record of performance, your desire to learn, and your ability to overcome challenges. Please focus your cover letter on details that are not in your resume, so that we will have a more complete picture of who you are. Cover letters over one page will not be accepted. Send your application to April Ruiz in Human Resources at bayareahire@summersearch.org.