SMASH Academy

About SMASH

At SMASH, we aim to build a strong STEM workforce through academic learning and experiential engagement for high school and college students. We empower dedicated students in STEM fields through intensive education, rigorous coursework, and access to resources, aiming to cultivate success in college and careers. Our vision is to create a STEM ecosystem where every student can thrive in the global economy. By providing opportunities, we seek to enrich our communities and workplaces with well-prepared, competitive leaders.

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 STEM landscape, we want to hear from you.

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

Position Description

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

The Residential Advisors (RAs) support the Residential Director (RD) to oversee the residential and youth enrichment components of the SMASH Academy. RAs are responsible for ~100 high school students living on campus during the duration of SMASH Academy at a full site. Reporting to the RD, RA’s build a tight-knit scholar learning community that is safe, empowering, and conducive to advancing scholars' interest in CS and social justice. RAs promote scholar success in CS through facilitating residential programming, including workshops, wellness activities, and other SMASH events. RAs also act as educational leaders (for both students and staff) to create, model, and sustain the culture. 

This is a 3-week residential assignment, with an additional commitment of training + prep prior to launch and a close out after SMASH Academy, and requires living on campus full time with evening and weekend work requirements.

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.

You must be available for all training and program dates.

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

Key Responsibilities:

Residential Team Member

• Live on campus for the duration of the program
• Supervise 30-105 high school students (minors) in residence; serve as a role model for responsible behavior and personal integrity
• Work closely with fellow Residential Team members to create, deliver, and fine-tune scholars’ residential experience
• Continuously develop personal leadership and teamwork skills to ensure the whole team functions at a high-performing level
• Complete administrative duties as it relates to surveys, incident reports, scheduling, event planning and coordinating, tracking, etc.
  
  

Residential Programming and Facilitation

• Manage and facilitate daily scholar duties and meetings, e.g. wake up calls and lights out, suite meetings, meal participation, community meetings, etc
• Collaboratively implement SMASH Residential Curriculum, consisting of experience-based lesson plans and workshops
• Coordinate and attend weekly Fun Friday activities, weekend field trips and speaker series and networking nights, all dependant on COVID-19 safety precaution protocols
• Support program activities, including: scholar move-in/move-out, Town Hall, family picnic, dance and talent show, recognition and exhibition event, supplies inventory/packing, and staff debriefs 
• Manage the facilitation of scholars’ study time and collaborate with designated instructors on assignments
• Plan and deliver activities for scholars to participate in during unscheduled times and supervise scholars’ unstructured free time and recreational activities 
• Complete all assigned deliverables on time
• Adhere to COVID-19 safety precaution protocols put in place
  
  

SMASH Site Leadership

• Attend and actively engage in regular program meetings, 1:1s with site management, RA retreat, training, and debrief (see link above for specific training dates)
• 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 as well)
  
  

Scholar Support and Safety

• Supervise scholars, being that they are minors, at all times and remain attentive to their safety as well as socio-emotional needs
• Create an environment that cultivates a sense of self-efficacy and personal well being 
• Participate in identifying scholars who need additional support and collaborate with the team, per the direction of the RD and Program Director, to develop and deliver support plans
• Uphold SMASH policies and core values 
• Communicate norms and program rules of conduct to ensure student safety, open and honest communication, and responsible student behavior
• Report, document, and follow up on any scholar misconduct as per SMASH and university policies, expectations, and core values
• Sleep on site amongst scholars and support in responding to overnight emergencies 
• Depending on the site, participate in a rotating on-call daytime shift (when scholars are in class) and/or on-call nighttime shift by responding to emergency phone calls and conducting rounds
• Position requires walking, sitting, and standing day to day. Climbing stairs, running, and participation may be required during community activities. Lifting and carrying up to 20 lbs of supplies may be required
• Address Scholar Issues through a Restorative Practices approach

Debrief & Wrap Up

• Attend Staff Debrief
• Ensure Completion of RA deliverables (e.g. final survey, 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:

• Demonstrated commitment and/or alignment and understanding of the mission of SMASH
• Demonstrated effectiveness working with students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds
• Will complete junior year of college by start date (preferred), or has completed at least freshman year of college and has proven, relevant experience

• Comfort working with online data, tools, and platforms - which include Google Drive, Google Calendar, Slack, Canvas, SMASH Resource Library, etc.

• Previous experience teaching and/or facilitating programs for high school age youth
• Flexibility and professionalism a must
• Ability to form positive and professional relationships with ethnically and culturally diverse youth and staff
• Ability to work efficiently, both independently and collaboratively, and give and receive feedback
• High competency in written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, teamwork, decision-making, and working with diverse groups of individuals
• Ethical, consistent, and available to students as a role model and resource
• Willingness to be hands-on, conflict resolution oriented, and an active problem solver as challenges arise
• Strong academic and critical thinking skills; ability to tutor high school AP math and/or science preferred (not required)
• Interest or skills in sports, yoga, art/expression and/or wellness activities a plus
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred (not required)

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:

This is a non-exempt position. The hourly compensation for this position is estimated to be $18.00. 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.

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