About BEAM

The mission of BEAM is to create pathways for students from low-income and underserved communities to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists. Led by staff with these same technical backgrounds, BEAM believes that pathways to STEM careers are created through community, individual support, and access to advanced work that typically lies outside most school curricula. We work to directly support students and to transition them to other supportive enrichment programs that enable their future success.

BEAM's model provides continuous support from middle school through college graduation, including intense academic summer programs for middle school students (after 6th and 7th grade), weekend classes and mentoring, and STEM-focused support through college. Our program includes not just access to learning advanced math but also support finding and applying to other opportunities, including support with college admissions and financial aid. In addition to our academic content, bringing students into community is a key part of our mission and all of our work is designed to support that goal.

BEAM has grown from a small summer program serving 17 students in the summer of 2011 to a year-round, national program, serving 420+ students at six summer program sites and 600+ students in year-round programming in New York City and Los Angeles this school year. In addition, our BEAM National pilot program now reaches over 500 elementary-aged students in seven different states, working to create a new nationwide pathway modeled on our local work.

With our strategic plan, our team has committed to transforming the organization from a successful startup to a more mature and scalable organization that can drive change across the country.

About the role

Director of Student Life, BEAM Summer Away

BEAM is seeking a Director of Student Life for our BEAM Summer Away campuses this summer. Each one will be part of a leadership team along with a Site Director, Associate Site Director, Academic Director, one guidance counselor, and a full complement of seasonal staff (9-10 counselors, 7-8 faculty, 1 nurse).

BEAM Discovery is a cornerstone of BEAM’s 10-year Pathway Program, providing a residential math experience where students grow as problem solvers, learners, and community members.

As the Director of Student Life, you will help students discover powerful mathematical ideas, build confidence, and see themselves as mathematicians.

Learn more about our 10-year program.

Responsibilities 

Pre-Program Preparation

In the months leading up to the camp, the Director of Student Life will engage in comprehensive preparation to ensure a successful summer program. This preparation will set the foundation for a smooth and impactful camp experience for both students and staff. 

Self-Preparation and Planning 

• Complete required BEAM onboarding, including background checks and a mix of asynchronous and synchronous virtual training.
  
• Read and internalize the BEAM Leadership Handbook, BEAM DoSL manual and engage with BEAM’s full-time staff in virtual meetings to understand the various components of running a BEAM camp. The Leadership team is allowed to make selected customizations for their camp and are expected to create a site-specific Leadership Handbook that documents such customizations and can be shared with the other leaders. The Director of Student Life is expected to support Site Directors in these customizations.
  
• Participate in virtual meetings with the other members of the Leadership Team to start building a collaborative leadership community and to prepare for “Pre-camp week”. The “Pre-camp week” represents the days when leaders and staff meet for training and logistical preparation before students arrive at camp (2-3 meetings of 1 hour each).
  
• In collaboration with the members of the Leadership Team, plan the content, staff training, and schedule of the “Pre-camp week” based on templates and guidance from BEAM. More details in the next section. Leaders are expected to start planning virtually and finalize the plan during the  “Leadership Retreat” (Pre-camp Leaders only days). 
  
• Support Site Directors in planning the schedule for the “Leadership Retreat” based on templates and guidance from BEAM.
  

Leadership Retreat: (Before summer staff arrive)

In partnership with the leadership team, the Director of Student Life will:

• Align on leadership roles and responsibilities, and site-specific operational policies.
• Establish a set of working norms and communication expectations among leadership and staff.
  
• Plan team-building activities or social events.
  
• Train for the role.
  
• Refresh on changes to BEAM policies and systems.
  
• Prepare to implement training.
  

During the Summer:

• Managing the counselor team:
• Train counselors using BEAM-provided scripts in the days before the program.
• Supplement provided materials with additional systems and training as needed.
• Provide coaching and supervision during the first few days of camp, while counselors are learning their roles.
• Coordinate special counselor duties and assign responsibilities as needed.
• Briefly check in with each counselor regularly, and be present to answer any questions or address concerns.
• Provide mid-program feedback to counselors and follow up with written summaries to document anything that may affect rehire decisions.
• Coordinate coverage in the event of counselor absences.
• Coordinating program activities:
• Supervise morning transportation.
• Manage field trip logistics and delegate student supervision responsibilities to counselors.
• Plan activities using counselor preferences and assign counselors accordingly.
• Train counselors on grouping students into activities and overseeing proper supervision.
• Track inventory and coordinate the purchasing of necessary supplies and snacks.
• Ensure activities run smoothly and provide a positive, engaging experience for the students.
• Oversee the planning and execution of special events, such as talent shows.
• Assist with set up and end-of-day clean up of common areas and academic areas.
• Behavior Management
• Collaborate with the site leadership team to review student behavior reports via the CARE system.
• Handle routine follow-up and escalate serious infractions to the Site Directors.
• Communicate with parents about any issues at the program with guidance from  the site leadership team. 
• Leadership 
• Work in partnership with the Guidance Counselor to help students transition to a new independent living environment.
  
• Model program values by balancing academic and social leadership, treating students with respect, and centering students as doers of mathematics in the classroom.
  
• Participate in the leadership decision making process, along with co-SDs and the guidance counselor.
  
• Carry out miscellaneous roles as needed to ensure smooth program operations.
  

Post Camp Wrap Up:

• Support Site Leadership in completing the SD clean-up checklist.
  
• Complete staff evaluations and 1:1 debriefs.
  
• Support the process of updating the BEAM storage inventory with an end of camp detailed list of items. 
  
• Attend the BEAM-led multi-site Summer Camp step-back meeting
  

If you are interested in further prep OR wrap-up work, please talk to us about this as we may have additional prep or wrap-up work to send your way, with BEAM paying you an hourly rate for that work.

Qualifications

To be considered for this role, you must have served as staff at an in-person BEAM Summer Away site for at least one summer and must have been offered a multiple-year rehire offer at that time.

In the case of multiple individuals interested in the role, BEAM will decide who to hire taking into account the following:

• Preference given to those who have been a BEAM Summer Away counselor for multiple years.
  
• Preference given to those with experience working at the specific site of the role.
  
• Preference given to those with past leadership and/or administrative experience.
  
• Preference given to those with multiple years experience working at BEAM.
  

Application Process and Deadline:

• The initial step is to submit your application, including an unofficial transcript, resume, and responses to some short application questions, via our online portal. 
• If you are interested in being considered for multiple locations, you only need to complete one application. 
• Candidates will be asked for their location preference.
• When your application is complete, we will follow up with next steps. The final step of the process is an interview with an experienced BEAM staff member.
• For accommodation requests related to the job application process, please contact HR at accommodations@beammath.org.

Details

Dates/Location

BEAM Summer Away LA

• Location: Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA)
• Staff (Leaders: 33 days on site, Staff: 29 days on site)
  
  • Leadership Retreat:  June 21 (arrival); June 22 (9:30am start)-June 24
    
  • All Staff Pre-camp Training: 06/24 - 06/27
    
  • Camp: 06/28 - 07/19
    
  • Staff Wrap-up: 07/20 - 07/22
    
  • Leadership Wrap-up/Depart: 07/23  

BEAM Summer Away NY

• Location: Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY)
• Staff (Leaders: 33 days on site, Staff: 29 days on site)
  
  • Leadership Retreat: 06/28 (arrival); 6/30 (9:30am start) - 6/29
    
  • All Staff Pre-camp Training: 07/01 - 07/04
    
  • Camp: 07/05 - 07/26
    
  • Staff Wrap-up:  07/27 - 07/29
  • Leadership Wrap-up/Depart: 07/30

Compensation

• $32.50 per hour for Pre-Camp work.
  
• $8,750 for Camp and Wrap-up.
  

Benefits

BEAM provides a number of benefits, including:

• Transportation expenses to/from staff’s residence to a BEAM Summer Away campus location are covered by BEAM within BEAM's approved travel guidelines. This includes flight cost if needed. Details about expense approval criteria and travel booking process will be provided later.
  
• We provide free dorm room, breakfast/lunch/dinner, and laundry access through all training and camp days. 
  

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Beyond a commitment to nondiscrimination, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

BEAM is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race (including traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), ethnicity, religion (including clothing or facial hair worn in accordance with the religious tenets), color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, breastfeeding, gender (including actual or perceived sex, gender identity, and gender expression including a person’s actual or perceived gender-related self-image, appearance, behavior, expression, or other gender-related characteristic, regardless of the sex assigned to that person at birth), sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health decisions, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, status as a veteran, active military service member, or uniform service member, marital or partnership status, familial status, caregiver status, age (18 or older), predisposing genetic characteristics, disability, creed, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, unemployment status, salary history, credit history, an individual’s status as having a known relationship or association with a member or members of a protected category, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination. 

All personnel decisions will be made in accordance with the principles of equal employment opportunity and subject only to valid (job-related) requirements for employment, benefits, or promotional opportunities.