About Summer Discovery

Our mission is to provide best-in-class, immersive summer college enrichment experiences that perfectly balance curriculums curated by top tier universities in diverse fields of study, with opportunities for students to have fun, travel and explore new places with new friends.

We support students in their mission to deepen their knowledge of their academic passion and foster college-ready confidence through hands-on learning experiences in their preferred field of study. We are the industry trailblazers, applying nearly sixty years of learning, refinement and relationship building into what we do each day.

Simply put, our team is obsessed with summer and determined to help our students excel, building lifelong skills, embracing intellectual curiosity, innovation, and a love of learning. Our team members make a significant impact in the lives of students, and we take great pride in supporting them in every step of the journey. We roll up our sleeves and do what it takes to deliver the very best summer ever!

What's the job?

As a specialist, you'll design and lead a daily 90-minute club session in your area of expertise — Sports — for students. Outside of your club, you'll serve in a general Residential Counselor capacity, playing a vital role in guiding and supporting students through their academic and social experiences on campus. You'll provide supervision, mentorship, and coaching, ensuring a positive and enriching residential life for all students. As a specialist, you'll be living on campus and working around the clock, with varied and unpredictable hours. Your work schedule will be dynamic and is highly likely to change based on the needs of the program

Sports: Lead athletic programming across multiple disciplines including basketball, track and field, ultimate frisbee, American football, and baseball Specialist should demonstrate expertise in at least 3 of the listed sports and be comfortable running drills, games, and friendly competitions

Essential Functions

• Club Leadership: Plan and lead a daily 90-minute specialty club session, delivering age-appropriate instruction that accommodates varying skill and experience levels within your track
• Policy Adherence: Follow the guidelines outlined in the Employee Handbook and Staff Manual
• Orientation: Participate in pre-arrival virtual orientation and in-person orientation before the students arrive on campus
• Student Supervision: Oversee students' daily and weekend schedules, including academic, recreational, and social activities
• Emergency Response: Handle emergencies with admin team support and provide assistance as directed Frequent communications with leadership, nurse, and residential staff regarding medical needs and emergencies Escort students to medical facilities, including emergency rooms, when necessary
• Safety & Well-being: Ensure the safety and holistic (physical & mental) well-being of assigned students, working under the guidance of the leadership team and Head RC
• Residential Life: Facilitate a positive residential experience by managing residential operations and creating a supportive environment in the residence hall
• Academic Life: Support student growth in their studies by reinforcing academically inclined habits through peer-to-peer interaction
• Activity Participation: Engage in academic, recreational, and social activities as needed
• Daily Duties: Fulfill various responsibilities including staff meetings, office coverage, dorm duty, late-night duty, and other assigned tasks
• Role Model: Demonstrate positive behavior and serve as a role model for both students and staff
• Student Support: Assist students with academic, socio-emotional, and social challenges, including tutoring and providing insights into college life
• Problem-Solving: Proactively address and resolve student and facility issues
• Programming Contribution: Create and help organize after-class and weekend activities, including athletics and games, while introducing new programming to keep students engaged and entertained
• Supervision of Activities: Oversee off-campus trips and on-campus events as assigned
• Social Engagement: Join students for meals and social activities to foster mentorship
• Compliance: Adhere to Summer Discovery policies, including curfew, alcohol and drug/vape policies, and maintaining professional conduct
• Flexibility: Handle changing priorities like same-day schedule changes, adapting in the moment when plans change, or managing unforeseen challenges
• Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with others on the campus team to achieve shared goals, emphasizing skills like communication, active listening, empathy, timeliness, and a willingness to share responsibility and support teammates
• Maintain a "What's Next, How Can I Help" Attitude

Core Competencies

• Exemplary Conduct: Exhibit leadership, honesty, and integrity, maintaining high standards of behavior, including those related to cell phone use, communication with colleagues/students, and adherence to policies
• Judgment and Problem-Solving: Use sound judgment in decision-making and mentoring
• Positive Attitude: Display a friendly and supportive demeanor while working with students
• Technical Skills: Operate various office and recreational equipment effectively

Physical Demands

• Health & Stamina: Maintain good physical and mental health to engage fully in all program activities, including active participation in your specialty track
• Supervision: Monitor large areas for safety, both day and night
• Living Conditions: Adapt to living and working in potentially non-air-conditioned spaces during the summer
• Movement: Engage in continuous movement across campus while supervising students

Schedule/Location

• Location: On-campus residency required throughout the program duration Summer location is discussed during the interview process and will depend on availability and skill set requirements
• Orientation: Attend a paid staff orientation five to seven days prior (dependent on program location) to the program start Engagement, curiosity, and learning is required during orientation
• Work Schedule: Flexibility in schedule required due to the dynamic nature of the work We do offer one day off for every two weeks on campus
• Commitment: As a Specialist, you'll be living on campus and working around the clock, with varied and unpredictable hours This means you'll be available 24/7 to support and supervise students, handle emergencies, and engage in all program activities

Education/Experience/Qualifications

• Age Requirement: Must be at least 20 years old by the start of the program (21 years old for certain locations)
• Education: Completed or currently pursuing a four-year university degree
• Specialty Expertise: Demonstrated skill and experience in the role
• Experience: Previous experience in academic, tutoring, mentoring, camp, or recreational roles with students
• On-Campus Residency: Ability to reside on campus for the entire duration of the program, ensuring full immersion in the daily operations and student experience