Position Summary
Are you a high-energy college student or recent graduate looking for an awesome residential summer experience? You've just found it! ESF Pre-College is hiring Senior Residential Counselor for Staff Culture who live on campus with the students and are responsible for supporting the staff experience for our summer programs.
The Senior Residential Counselor for Staff Culture is the lead for building a supportive, fun, and well-supported residential team. This role assists the Residential Director with scheduling staff time off equitably and in a way that works for the program, helps schedule floor monitor and desk duty coverage liaises concerns to program leadership, and plans staff morale and appreciation initiatives throughout the program. The Senior Residential Counselor also fulfills the core responsibilities of a Residential Counselor.
Counselors join a mission-driven team and help students from around the world have a safe, rewarding summer. Our staff members are expected to make a positive impact on the students in their care. Comprehensive training and orientation prepare every counselor for the role.
Why ESF Pre-College?
- Inspire Young Minds: Make a meaningful difference in the lives of teens while receiving comprehensive training and support.
- Unleash Your Potential: We offer internships, fieldwork, and professional development opportunities.
- Become a Leader: Gain valuable leadership experience as you organize schedules, plan team events, and mentor students and fellow staff.
- Positive Environment: Experience being part of a team guided by ESF Core Values.
Extra Perks
- Housing and Meals: Included for the duration of your contract.
- Shuttle Transportation: Once you've arrived in Philadelphia, our team will pick you up from Philadelphia International Airport or 30th Street Station.
- Travel Reimbursement: Programs provide up to $300 reimbursement for arrival/departure travel assistance in accordance with ESF protocols.
- Gym Access: Residential staff are provided access to a gym.
- Global Team: Our residential teams consist of members from multiple countries and states.
- Employee Referral Bonus Program: Increase your earnings through referrals from your network.
- Weekend Trips: As part of your chaperone duties, you will visit tourist attractions and popular locations near your program site.
Position Scope
- Staff must arrive by 12:00 PM (noon) on their staff check-in date at the program site. The ESF Pre-College team delivers orientation, training, and staff bonding time before students arrive. Staff are required to stay for the duration of the program, including any holidays, and will depart by 10:00AM on the morning after student departure.
- Residential staff live on campus throughout the program to support and supervise students and respond to emergencies. Schedules are dynamic and may change based on the needs of the program, including same-day changes.
- Days and half days off are scheduled throughout the program. Staff also receive scheduled time off each day. The Senior Residential Counselor for Staff Culture assists with the staff schedule, but their own time off is approved by the Residential Director.
- Multiple contract lengths available, including:
- 10 weeks: May - August
- 8 weeks: June - August
- 6 Weeks: June- July
- 3.5 Weeks: July
- Compensation: $750 per week (including housing, meals, trips, and activities)
Requirements
- Age Requirements: Minimum age is twenty-one (21) years old.
- On-Campus Residency: Ability to live on campus for the entire duration of contract dates.
- Education: Must be either enrolled in college or possess a college degree.
- Experience: Prior experience working with teenagers; examples include but are not limited to teaching, coaching, tutoring, or summer camp counselor. Prior experience as a Resident Assistant or camp or program leader, or experience with staff scheduling, team building, or event planning, is strongly preferred.
- Organization & Scheduling Skills: Comfortable building and maintaining calendars and schedules, tracking requests and changes, and balancing fairness with the needs of the program.
- Safety & Supervision: Comfort or experience chaperoning groups of ten (10) or more students.
- Communication: Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to listen, encourage, and collaborate with fellow staff and handle schedule requests with tact and discretion.
- Spreadsheet & Tracking Skills: Comfortable using spreadsheets (Google Sheets and/or Excel) to organize information, track data, and keep accurate records.
- Required Training: Complete all training, background screenings, and other pre-employment credentials required by ESF Pre-College and the state of the program site.
- Language Skills: Fluent in speaking, writing, reading English. Note: Additional consideration will be given to candidates who speak more than one language (not required).
- Team Handbook: Review and follow the ESF Pre-College Team Handbook.
- Dress Code: Always maintain the ESF Pre-College uniform when working.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Besides meeting new friends and having fun together, our Senior Residential Counselors for Staff Culture work hard, too, with their primary functions being:
- Staff Time Off Scheduling:
- Assist the Residential Director in building and maintaining the staff time-off schedule, so days and half days off are distributed equitably across the team.
- Balance staff requests with the needs of the program so there are no gaps in coverage.
- Collect and track time-off requests and shift swaps and follow program policies and approval procedures.
- Share the schedule with staff in advance, communicate any changes right away, and keep the Residential Director updated.
- Handle staff schedule requests and personal information with tact and discretion.
- Floor Monitor and Desk Coverage Scheduling:
- Assist with scheduling coverage, including evening and weekend desk and floor monitoring duty, so every shift has the right number of staff.
- Track swaps and call-outs, and flag any coverage gaps to the Residential Director right away.
- Keep the floor monitoring schedule clear, current, and easy for all staff to find.
- Staff Bonding & Team Building:
- Plan and organize staff bonding opportunities during the program, including staff training and orientation.
- Brainstorm with the Residential Counselors to gather fresh ideas for team activities, outings, and traditions.
- Make sure bonding events are inclusive, fun, and planned around the program schedule and staff time off.
- Gather feedback from staff and adjust future events as needed.
- Staff Appreciation & Morale:
- Plan and carry out staff appreciation initiatives throughout the program, such as recognition, shout-outs, notes, treats, and celebrations of milestones.
- Check in with staff regularly, help create a welcoming and supportive environment, and pass along concerns to the Residential Director.
- Prepare supply lists and submit purchasing requests to the Residential Director in line with ESF Pre-College procedures and timelines.
- Remain within budget, keep receipts organized, and look for creative, low-cost ideas.
- Positive Group Management & Student Care:
- Supervise and care for the students during the program and provide a fun and safe environment for the students.
- Enforce residence hall and program rules, address concerns respectfully, and report behavior or safety concerns to the Residential Director right away.
- Actively attend daily and nightly staff meetings and student-facing floor meetings.
- Complete scheduled floor monitoring shifts, desk coverage, and check on students as assigned.
- Follow all protocols for traveling off-site with minors, including headcounts and staying with the group.
- Chaperone academic activities, weekend trips, and field trips on a rotating basis.
- Student Engagement & Activities:
- Brainstorm, plan, create, and deliver evening and weekend activity programming.
- Actively participate in all assigned activities and trips.
- Work effectively with co-counselors and the full-time ESF Pre-College team, attend staff meetings and check-ins, and collaborate on daily responsibilities.
- Quality Programming & Logistics:
- Assist the full-time Program Director and the Residential Director in successfully implementing the program academically, logistically, and residentially.
- Support daily program operations, including check-in, check-out, and student transitions.
- Prepare the campus for students' arrival with signage.
- Health, Safety, & Emergency Response:
- Respond immediately to student emergencies and urgent concerns, and notify the leadership team and the Nurse on-site.
- Escort students to medical facilities, including urgent care and the emergency room, as directed by program leadership.
- Communicate with the Residential Director and Residential Nurse about students’ medical needs, medications, and allergies in line with program protocols.
- Be the Ultimate Role Model:
- Serve as a positive and encouraging role model for the students and peers.
- Demonstrate ESF Core Values daily.
- Model the ESF Virtues of Character daily (Gratitude, Respect, Trustworthiness, Effort, Kindness, Positivity, Resilience, and Community).
- Follow and enforce ESF Pre-College policies on curfew, alcohol, drugs and vaping, cell phone use, and professional communication with students and colleagues.
- Photography & Video, including editing & cataloging:
- Capture high-quality photos and videos of all program highlights, including staff bonding and appreciation events (guidance provided to identify opportunities); minimum ten (10) photos per day.
- Take video clips of "day in the life" student activities and special events.
- Upload photos and videos to a designated location.
- Flexibility is Important: Adapt quickly to changing priorities, such as same-day schedule changes or unexpected situations, and proactively resolve student and facility concerns.
- Have fun!
Physical Requirements
- Push/pull, lift, and carry a minimum of thirty-five (35) pounds.
- Ability to travel around the assigned campus and surrounding areas, with or without reasonable accommodation, to supervise students and attend activities, including distances of up to eight (8) city blocks.
Organization Overview
ESF Pre-College is powered by ESF Camps & Experiences. ESF has been a vital influence in the camp industry since 1982. ESF (Education, Sports, and Fun) features award-winning camp programs in PA, NJ, NY, CT, MD, and DE for people of all ages. We are considered one of the country's leading camp companies and people developers.
Our portfolio includes 40 nationally recognized day camps in multiple states (www.esfcamps.com), baseball camps with the Philadelphia Phillies, and basketball camps with the Philadelphia 76ers along with the Brooklyn Nets. ESF recently launched new programs, including ESF Pre-College, our pre-college academic program. ESF also operates two nonprofit foundations: Dream Camp offering after-school mentoring & summer camps for underserved youth in PA & CT and Acting Without Boundaries providing unique acting programs for youth with physical disabilities.
Reporting Relationships
- The Senior Residential Counselor for Staff Culture reports directly to the Residential Director and the ESF Pre-College full-time directors.
This job description is subject to change. ESF Pre-College is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
Please apply online at www.esfjobs.com