About SMASH

SMASH is committed to increasing racial equity in K-12 computer science (CS) education and the next generation of our workforce by building interest, knowledge, and aspirations in computing among underrepresented identities in the field. 

After operating for more than 20 years and inspiring thousands of students of color to pursue careers in STEM, the SMASH Board has spent the better part of 2022-2023 reimagining SMASH in alignment with educational and economic shifts.

In this next phase of the organization, SMASH aspires to engage even more students from underrepresented backgrounds through a more intensively CS-focused curriculum and across a wider variety of formats. Innovative in-person and virtual programs aim to provide early exposure to CS concepts and careers to students of all ages, with deep-impact programming specifically for high school students.

Programming will continue to center on SMASH Academy, a three-week, cost-free, residential on-campus summer experience which helps students develop critical thinking, civic and social awareness, and leadership skills. Initially available at five partner sites across the country, this next phase of Academy supports rising 11th and 12th graders in developing CS skills and credentials.

With the support of partners, SMASH plans to offer additional in-person experiences for high school and college students with Hackathons/Open Innovation Challenges, which will provide early exposure to computer science (CS), empower youth to address pressing community challenges through CS, design thinking and rapid prototyping.

To bring the SMASH experience to a national audience, we also plan to develop digital programs to support students nationwide in developing their CS knowledge and support their college and career navigation journey. SMASH digital resources will be open to students nationwide, while in-person programming serves students throughout the Bay Area, greater Atlanta, Detroit, and Boston regions.

This is a pivotal time for SMASH as SMASH builds on the success of our programs. Working at SMASH is about rapid growth, grit, personal commitment, accountability, and courage to challenge the status quo. If you have what it takes to change the computer science landscape, we want to hear from you.

SMASH is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization operating under the umbrella of the Kapor Center family of organizations. 

Position Description

The SMASH Residential Team is composed of the Residential Director (RD) and Residential Advisors (RAs). The Residential Director manages the RAs. 

The RD requires a part time commitment prior to SMASH Academy and full time commitment during the summer program. Prior to SMASH Academy launching, in collaboration with the Program Director (PD), the RD is responsible for pre-launch essential duties including: recruiting, hiring, and onboarding a residential team, planning residential team training, attending weekly meetings and supporting their respective Site Management Team (SMT). 

Upon launch of SMASH Academy, this position becomes a full time position with the RD being the primary director and supervisor of the Residential Team and Program. 

The RD is responsible for a) the schedule, planning, and delivery of SMASH residential programming and curriculum and b) the wellness and youth development of ~100 high school students living on campus. The RD fosters a clean, safe, positive, and inclusive environment that encourages SMASH scholars to develop their full potential. The RD also acts as a leader and role model for both scholars and staff -- defining culture, norms, activities and interactions that assure an enriching and socially just experience conducive to scholar success in CS. In summary, the individual will plan for and oversee all residential and youth development components of SMASH Academy. 

This assignment is a part time position starting on March 22, 2025, then moving to a full time engagement starting June 23, 2025. 

As this role has a virtual component, we expect staff to provide the following -- their own personal computer (desktop or laptop) that has a working webcam, speaker and microphone for video conferencing capabilities (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, Cisco Webex); reliable Internet connection (at least 25 Mbps download speed); and quiet work space for virtual programming. If you cannot provide your own equipment, please speak with your Program Director.

All staff and scholars will be required to comply with the SMASH COVID-19 policy for in-person programming. Currently, staff working in-person are expected to test at least once each week they are working in-person with colleagues. Additionally, we encourage testing before and after in-person company and non-company sponsored events and travel. All staff and scholars must also comply with any site specific COVID-19 requirements. Site specific requirements will be shared as they become available and are subject to change. If a quarantine mandate is enforced by local government, university, or SMASH, all SMASH Academy programming will be held virtually.

SMASH reserves the right to revise, delete, and add to its COVID-19 policy at any time, with or without notice. Nothing in the SMASH COVID-19 policy creates a contract or changes the nature of the at-will employment relationship.

You must be available for all training and program dates.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to those listed below.

Residential Team Management

• Lead the Residential Team of RAs
• • The RA team is responsible for the supervision of ~100 high school students (minors) in residence at all times (number is site dependent)
• Serve as a role model for responsible behavior and personal integrity
• Head the SMASH residential program, including directing and scheduling the work of RAs 
• Manage the performance of RAs (number is site dependent), including coaching and performance evaluation
• Lead the team on the organization, planning, and delivery of programming and workshops
• Oversee the Residential team shift schedule and requests for time off or shift swaps
• Coordinate and ensure completion of team deliverables
• Conduct workshop observations
• Complete RA performance evaluations during the last week of SMASH Academy program
• Develop a strong sense of community and teamwork amongst the residential team to ensure strong scholar support
• Continuously develop personal leadership and teamwork skills to ensure the whole team functions at a high-performing level
• Adhere to COVID-19 safety precaution protocols put in place

Residential Programming + Facilitation

• Deliver site-specific RA Training in collaboration with SMASH Curriculum and Training team
• Guide the residential team in preparing and decorating the dorms before scholar move-in
• Prepare and facilitate SMASH Residential Team Meetings
• Plan (in coordination with SMT) residential programming and signature events, including but not limited to: 
• • Town Hall Meeting
  • Community Meetings
  • Recognition and Exhibition Event
  • Talent Show
  • Family Event

**All programming will depend on COVID-19 safety protocols*

• Ensure the residential team thoroughly organizes and/or supports recurring events including but not limited to: 
• • Fun Friday activities
  • Weekend field trips
  • Speaker series
  • Networking nights
  • Programming/activities during unscheduled windows

SMASH Site Leadership

• Enforce SMASH policies and procedures and ensure all staff are aligned on expectations
• Build community with and amongst scholars and staff
• Facilitate a communication between the residential and academic components of SMASH
• Communicate and meet with families as needed with guidance from the PD
• Attend Site Management Team Meetings, SMASH Community Meetings, SMASH Residential Director Workspace Meetings
• Facilitate check-ins with the entire residential team
• Communicate and uphold norms and program rules of conduct to ensure student safety, open and honest communication, and responsible student behavior
• Build and maintain positive relationships with all SMASH and university personnel; positively represent the SMASH organization and program 
• Act as an academic and leadership role model, while maintaining physical and social boundaries with scholars (applies to social media) 

Scholar Support + Safety

• Serve as a mandated reporter and additionally as point person for any residential incident reporting
• Coordinate and maintain logistical aspects of dorm life including maintaining relationships with university staff
• Implement SMASH Scholar support practices and adapt with PD based on site specific needs
• Uphold SMASH policies and core values while using restorative practice to hold scholars accountable whenever applicable
• Identify scholars who need additional support and lead the residential team in developing and delivering support plans (per the direction of the Program Director)
• Reside in residence halls among scholars; Sleep on site for a minimum of 6 nights per week, and co-lead on-call staff in emergencies
• Address scholar issues through a Restorative Practices approach

Debrief & Wrap Up

• Attend Staff Closeout
• Attend site management Staff Closeout
• Complete and submit RA performance evaluations
• Ensure completion of RD deliverables (e.g. final survey,  share RA evaluations with SMASH, etc.)

Required Attributes:

• Collaboration: Exceptional listening, communication, and presentation skills; excellent time management and organizational skills; timeliness and dependability; courageously candid when facing difficult conversations
• Relationship Building: Welcome and embrace individual differences of everyone in the room; humility; patience when navigating situations; ability to listen to multiple perspectives; restorative approach to relationship building and conflict resolution 
• Problem Solving: Remain curious, innovative, iterative, and quickly pivot as needed; keep activities on track, think creatively, and act swiftly in the face of unanticipated events; make data-based decisions
• Resilience: Approach situations with a growth mindset, adapt, and reflect to ensure desired outcome(s) are met

What you bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field
• 1-3 years supervisory experience of a 5+ person team (residential settings preferred)
• 1-3 years professional experience in youth academic and/or recreational programs
• 1-3 years professional experience in youth supervision (middle and high school preferred)
• Direct experience working with students of color and/or low-income youth
• Excellent written, verbal, and organizational skills are required
• Strong attention to detail, prompt responsiveness to communications and delivery of deliverables
• Understanding and sensitivity to the barriers that students of color face with accessing higher education
• Ability to work efficiently both independently and collaboratively and be able to give and receive feedback
• Self-starter with a solution-focused approach to challenges
• Ability to work some nights and weekends before SMASH Academy begins, as required for some program events
• Access to a vehicle during SMASH Academy preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google products
• Spanish fluency preferred (not required)
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred
• Position requires lifting up to 15 pounds
• Pass criminal background check and/or LiveScan

Application Information:

Apply for this position below and ensure you can make the training and program dates (see table in above section of Job Description). If applying to multiple sites, please rank your site preference in the application. 

The application includes a place to upload your resume and cover letter and to provide written responses to specific prompts. This position will close when filled.

If you have been selected for this position by your Program Director (PD), an application is required (you do not need to submit a cover letter) and your PD will send you the link to apply Please also submit the recommitment form provided by your PD, and SMASH will send you your updated offer letter.

Compensation:

The total compensation for this position is estimated to be $9,696 - $9,996 (a bonus for returning staff is included). Should the employee miss any hours or days of work, the daily and therefore total compensation will be adjusted accordingly. If your assignment ends earlier than we anticipate for any reason, your compensation may also be reduced accordingly. Please note, pay will be variable per pay period based on part-time and full-time phases of the program. These policies are subject to variation based on specific circumstances.

Statement of Non-Discrimination:

In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination/harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status.  Above and beyond discrimination/harassment based on “protected categories,” SMASH also strives to prevent other subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (i.e., stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our office. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at SMASH.

We value a diverse workforce: people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.