Mini College Administrator

ORGANIZATION: 

Rainier Scholars is a comprehensive academic enrichment program that supports students of color over a 12-year journey – from 5th grade to college graduation. We seek to serve those who are most under-represented on college campuses and have the greatest number of barriers to achieving a college education: 85% qualify as low-income, 90% would be the first in their family to earn a college degree. Our program offers rigorous academics, leadership development and personalized support for scholars, providing access to educational pathways and myriad opportunities previously unimagined. 

With a budget size of $10 million, a staff team of 50 full-time employees and 675 scholars and families whom we currently serve in Seattle and Tacoma, Rainier Scholars has established a positive brand for our unwavering commitment to education, proven success rate, and sustainable impact. We grow new generations of diverse college graduates, career professionals, and community leaders.  

POSITION SUMMARY:  

Rainier Scholars – Tacoma launched in late spring 2021 and welcomed its first cohort during the summer of June 2022. It is designed as a unique public-school partnership that collaborates alongside fellow educators to improve the outcomes of students who face the biggest barriers to success. We work towards the larger goal of expanding opportunities for everyone by centering the experiences of Multi-Generational African Americans, a group facing a highly complex set of barriers due to the country’s history of enslavement and segregation, in our program design. 

Mini College is the culminating experience for rising 7th grade students who are completing their final summer of the Summer Stretch Academy series. The Mini College Administrator plays a critical role in our effort to close the opportunity and access gap for students of color by serving as the administrator onsite at the Rainier Scholars - Tacoma Mini College program at the University of Washington - Tacoma. At the end of Mini College, scholars should understand the type of work done by people in their selected field of study and how knowledge learned in school can be applied in the real world. In the mornings, students take Math and Lit, along with classes focused on SEL, cultural identity, and preparing for college. In the afternoon, students select a more focused area of study in either law or business. Students will work in small groups on a project that introduces them to a relevant problem in the law or business.

The tasks listed below are intended as a general framework of the responsibilities of this position. Flexibility and continued quality improvement are necessary in our organization; thus, Rainier Scholars requires that individuals not perceive any job description as fixed. 

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Hiring and supervision - Collaborate with the Associate Executive Director to hire summer staff. 
• Support and provide feedback and supervision to teachers. 
• Take the lead on identifying and scheduling guest speakers and field trips.  
• Oversee end of Mini College academic reports.  
• In concert with RST staff, plan and execute an overnight college visit July 30-August 1, 2025.  
• Student support - Coordinate responses to all academic, social, emotional, and behavioral issues of students as well as collaborate with RST staff on student issues.  

The successful candidate will be able to: 

• Implement effective college and career prep programming for rising 7th graders.  
• Build trusting relationships with diverse populations, especially families and communities of color in service of program goals; facilitate interpersonal dynamics and functioning work relationships among capable, diverse staff. 
• Identify emerging relationship and programmatic issues, engage participants in solving problems, evaluate decision options, and use intervention strategies appropriately.  
• Respond quickly and wisely to an emergency or crisis involving a student. 
• Demonstrate a professional presence, strong interpersonal skills, and excellent written and verbal communication skills (including public speaking). 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; Master’s degree preferred. 
• 5 years working in schools with demonstrated leadership experience. 
• Knowledge of current best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. 
• Experience managing and providing performance feedback for a staff team. 
• Experience working with students and families of color.  
• Service mentality to families, ability to demonstrate discretion and good judgment handling confidential information. 
• Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe), Google Docs, and familiarity/ease with databases (FileMaker Pro).  Familiarity with analyzing data. 
• This role is required to be on-site at the University of Washington - Tacoma from July 2 – August 1, 2025 for Mini College. Standard work hours: 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM. Must be available by phone for bus-related issues between 7:15 – 8:00 AM and 4:15 – 5:15 PM. 
• Attendance is required at the overnight retreat from July 30 – August 1, 2025. 

DESIRED 

• Tacoma residency and/or deep connection to the Tacoma community. 
• A strong background in college-access programming. 
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish.   
• Proficiency in UbD unit design (Understanding by Design, Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). 

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS:  

This is a flat-rate position with compensation of $10,000. Due to the nature and length of the summer program, this role includes one personal day that meets the Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) requirements under Washington state law. If there is more than one day of absence, the additional time will be deducted from the final pay at a rate of $55/hr to compensate for substitute coverage.  

To Apply: Interested applicants should upload their cover letter and resume. Please specify in your cover letter how you learned of this position. Open until filled.

Our work is rooted in ensuring people from marginalized communities have the opportunity to thrive in education and careers that they are passionate about. Rainier Scholars is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for our scholars, families, and staff. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and strongly encourage people of color, first-generation college, and people from working-class backgrounds to apply. 

Salary : $55