Summer Activity Coordinator- Queens (Jamaica), NY

The Activity Coordinator position is the heart of our summer program at Brook Hill - blending all the best parts of being a summer camp counselor, tour guide, and resident assistant while meeting people from all over the world and helping them have the best summer vacation ever!

The leader we’re searching for might be you! Are you…

• A natural role model who is genuinely excited about the opportunity to meet people from around the world and learn about different cultures?
• Comfortable being silly in front of large groups and eager to have just as much fun as the students you are leading?
• An initiative-taker who is able to be calm, collected, and flexible when things don’t go as planned?
• Confident in making decisions when appropriate and just as confident in asking for help when needed?
• Energetic and passionate about bringing positivity and care into every student interaction?
• If this sounds like you, we think you would enjoy and succeed in the Activity Coordinator role!

This is a seasonal, full-time, salaried, and in-person position. Activity Coordinators are responsible for leading students on guided tours of excursion sites, interacting with and engaging with students, leading and participating in on-campus activities, and assisting with program logistics such as group check-ins and check-outs. Activity Coordinators work under the direct supervision of the Activity Manager. Full room and board is provided for the duration of employment.  Residing on campus is a requirement of the position.

About Us:
At The Brook Hill Alliance (formerly PLUS), we operate a variety of international education programs including Brook Hill Study Tours, our English language study and travel program for international high school students across North America. Our students have the opportunity to take English classes and explore the surrounding regions while staying at North American colleges and universities. At Brook Hill, we are dedicated to creating vibrant, inclusive, and safe opportunities for students to grow academically, culturally, and personally.
 
Time Commitment:
This is a high-intensity, high-fun position. You will have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the sights in the location you’re working in, AND you will be expected to fulfill all your duties to contribute to the success of the program.

• Employment period ranging from 2 to 8 weeks during the summer (between mid-June and mid-August), depending on the needs of the campus - the majority of Activity Coordinators work for 4-6 weeks and will almost certainly be contracted to work during the last two weeks of July
• Irregular and significant working hours that fluctuate to meet the demands of a dynamic workday - no day is the same, and sometimes no hour is the same. Night and weekend work is expected, and we typically cannot honor any vacation time requests during the employment period
• One full day off per calendar week (Monday - Sunday for each week where you work a full week) and other blocks of free time based on the specific needs of your campus each day
• Approximately 8 hours of paid online training which must be attended/completed before arriving to your program site

 
Travel:

• Regional travel is required - all work-related travel during the employment period will be provided and covered by Brook Hill
• Residential employees are responsible for all travel costs to and from campus location prior to and at the conclusion of their employment period. If you choose to bring a car to campus, any costs related to parking may not be included 

Compensation:

• Wages are between $1,125 - $1,205 per week
• Housing for duration of the employment period
• Meals (full board) for the duration of the employment period

 
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
The following is expected of Activity Coordinators:

    Standard Expectations
    You will be responsible for understanding, adhering to, and enforcing all Brook Hill/campus policies and procedures, with tasks including but not limited to:

• Interacting with groups of international high school students and their chaperones in a professional, enthusiastic, and customer service-oriented manner
• Ensuring the safety of all participants and practicing appropriate emergency preparedness and response under Brook Hill protocols
• Assisting in duties other than the aforementioned and the following, as assigned and as they arise

    Off-Campus Activities (Excursions)
    You will lead students and their chaperones on engaging tours of local sights and landmarks, with tasks including but not limited to:

• Knowledgeably delivering relevant information (as provided by Brook Hill) about each landmark
• Leading groups on walking and bus tours with confidence in the route
• Ensuring student safety at all times, including in transit and at tourist sites
• Assisting in coordinating logistics for excursions including communicating with bus drivers, facilitating hotel check-ins, etc.
• Playing games and entertaining students while on excursions, especially if there is an unforeseen delay
• Preparing for and responding appropriately to emergencies, including being on night duty and on-call on a rotating basis during overnight excursions at hotels

    On-Campus Activities
    You will help organize and deliver activities for students and their chaperones, with tasks including but not limited to:

• Attending and participating in all of the following activities: orientation and welcome activities, talent shows, graduation ceremonies - this means being ready to perform at the talent shows!
• Setting up, leading, and tearing down all recreational activities including discos, game nights, movie nights, etc.
• Organizing and supervising sporting activities including field games, soccer tournaments, basketball games, etc.

    Student Engagement & Wellbeing
    You will spend the majority of your time interacting with students and their chaperones, with tasks including but not limited to:

• Responding appropriately to students’ and chaperones’ concerns in a professional, enthusiastic, and customer-service oriented manner
• Engaging with students as much as possible to help them improve their conversational English skills
• Encouraging student participation and involvement during on- and off-campus activities
• Eating and conversing with Brook Hill participants during meal times
• Supervising students in the residence halls, dining hall, activity spaces, and off-campus locations
• Participating in night duty (including conducting rounds of the residence halls and responding to emergency calls) on a rotating basis

    Office, Campus, & Miscellaneous
    You will be responsible for supporting the logistical and organizational needs of the campus, with tasks including but not limited to:

• Attending daily staff meetings
• Assisting in administrative tasks as assigned by the management team
• Capturing photo and video content of participants for the purposes of social media
• If applicable, using the company card appropriately and tracking all spending
• Assisting in arrival, departure, and changeover procedures including check-in/check-out procedures, room checks, airport pickups, etc.
• Knowledgeably guiding students to campus locations and resources as needed
• Assisting the management team as necessary and as requested

 
Qualifications and Desired Skills:

• Authorization to work in the U.S. required
• Must be 18 years or older
• High school diploma required
• Previous customer service experience strongly preferred
• Previous summer camp experience or work with minors strongly preferred
• Knowledge of and experience with NYC subway system preferred
• Previous international experience preferred
• Athletic, musical, theatrical, and/or artistic talent and enthusiasm preferred

 
Successful Activity Coordinator candidates will be able to work individually and as a member of a team and have strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills. They will also have a strong work ethic, customer service and problem-solving skills, and be professional, personable, energetic, outgoing, positive, adaptable, self-motivated, proactive, creative, and able to work well under pressure. A cover letter expressing your interest in the role and outlining your strengths for the position is strongly preferred.
 
Physical Demands:

• Do the essential functions of this job require lifting? Yes, 25 lbs.
• Do the essential functions of this job require standing? Yes
• Do the essential functions of this job require walking up stairs? Yes
• Do the essential functions of this job require stretching? Yes
• Do the essential functions of this job require bending? Yes