Academic Director, BEAM Summer Away

Role Overview: Instructional Leadership

The Academic Director is the instructional leader for a BEAM site, responsible for ensuring high-quality, student-centered math instruction and supporting faculty growth. As Academic Director, you will guide the academic vision for your campus, support faculty growth, and ensure that BEAM’s inquiry-based, student-centered math instruction comes to life every day.

BEAM Summer Away 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.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Ensure high-quality, inquiry-based math instruction aligned with BEAM’s mission and values.
• Coach, support, and evaluate faculty, including Junior and Senior Faculty.
• Facilitate collaboration spaces that promote shared learning and instructional coherence.
• Align academic goals with site operations in partnership with site leadership.

The Academic Director partners closely with the Site Director, Associate Site Director, Director of Student Life, and Guidance Counselor as part of a cohesive leadership team. While the primary focus is academic excellence and faculty development, the role also supports site-wide operations as needed to ensure a strong student experience.

Key Responsibilities:

I. Pre-Program Preparation

Your work before camp ensures that faculty arrive prepared and that the academic program launches smoothly.

Self-Preparation and Planning:

• Complete BEAM’s Leadership and Faculty Coach training.
• Review the Site Leadership Handbook and align with program expectations.
• Participate in virtual leadership team meetings.
• Support final hiring or placement decisions for faculty.
• Support student course assignment processes.
• Attend synchronous faculty training sessions and the virtual course planning retreat.

Pre-Camp Week (On-Site):

• Leadership Retreat: Align with the leadership team on roles, academic expectations, and camp-wide goals; contribute to planning team-building activities and culture-setting norms; assist in preparing classroom spaces, materials, and logistics.
• All Staff Pre-Camp Training: Lead all faculty-specific training, including academic modules; facilitate prep time, course refinement, and problem-solving planning for faculty; assign and review academic training tasks or modules; confirm completion of HR onboarding for faculty.

II. During Camp

Academic Leadership (Primary Function)

• Observe each faculty member across three full observation and feedback cycles.
• Provide individualized coaching and implement BEAM’s coaching and feedback structures.
• Co-facilitate twice-weekly collaboration spaces with senior faculty focused on lesson planning, math content, pedagogical strategies.
• Guide faculty on best practices for Open Math Time, problem-solving pedagogy, and student discourse.
• Provide and record formal summative feedback for all faculty.
• Support new faculty in understanding BEAM’s teaching philosophy.

Site Leadership (In partnership with the Site Director)

• Serve as the primary translator of academic needs within the leadership team.
• Participate in daily and weekly leadership check-ins.
• Communicate academic updates, shifts, or faculty needs.
• Troubleshoot classroom or scheduling issues in partnership with leadership.
• Provide emergency class coverage if needed.
• Support decision-making conversations when academic or student needs intersect.

Community Leadership

• Ensure classrooms reflect BEAM’s commitment to safety, belonging, inquiry, and student ownership of math.
• Support faculty in implementing student accommodations and engagement strategies.
• Address escalated academic or classroom-based student behavior concerns.
• Model academic and social leadership aligned with BEAM’s values.

Operational and Logistical Support

(The Academic Director is not the primary logistics manager, but supports key pieces that intersect with academics.)

• Manage petty cash and supplies related to instruction.
• Support planning and staffing for field trips and academic extensions.
• Supervise Open Math Time.
• Coordinate math circles or enrichment events for students and staff.
• Participate in occasional evening responsibilities as aligned with leadership team norms.

III. Post-Camp Wrap Up

• Complete summative faculty evaluations and lead all faculty debrief conversations.
• Support Site Director in completing the end-of-camp checklist.
• Contribute academic insights to BEAM’s multi-site step-back meeting.

Qualifications

• Experience:  At least 2 years as Academic Dean or 4+ years in an instructional leadership role.
• Preferred Experience: Worked with middle school and/or high school students.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success coaching teachers or leading instructional teams.
• Content Expertise: Deep comfort with middle school math content, problem-solving pedagogy, and inquiry-based teaching.
• Coaching Skills: Skilled at providing clear, actionable feedback and building trusting coaching relationships.
• Professional Development: Experience leading professional development or collaborative planning spaces.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication, organization, and partnership skills.
• Values: Commitment to equity, inclusive practices, and student-centered learning.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Room and board is covered by BEAM for the duration of the summer program.
• Travel from and to the camp site is covered by BEAM within BEAM’s approved travel guidelines.
• Small classes with 10-15 students and 2 adults.
• An opportunity to truly get to know the extraordinary students.
• Professional development before camp to set you up for success.
• A collaborative, supportive team of educators and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Location

• BSA CA: Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA)

Program Dates (PY26)

Compensation: The compensation is $9,750 for the main camp period as Academic Director, and a contract at an hourly rate for any preparatory work before camp starts as a pre-summer set up associate.

Application Process

First Round Interview  → Project  → Final Interview  → Reference checks & offer!

For more information and the application, contact us at hiring@beammath.org. For information on our residential summer camps, check out our BEAM Summer Away postings!

BEAM Summer Away Faculty

BEAM Summer Away 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 a faculty member, you will help students discover powerful mathematical ideas, build confidence, and see themselves as mathematicians.

Learn more about our 10-year program.

What Our Classrooms Look Like

Our classrooms are student-centered, lively, and discussion-rich. Students explore patterns, debate conjectures, justify their reasoning, and collaborate on open-ended problems. Teachers guide thinking through purposeful questions, models, and structures that promote productive struggle. We affirm students’ strengths and identities and help them grow as confident, capable problem solvers.

About the Courses You Will Teach

Faculty teach courses in one of BEAM’s four signature areas:

• Pure Topics: Abstract ideas such as graph theory, combinatorics, number theory, tessellations, and symmetry. Focus is on reasoning, proofs, and stretching mathematical imagination.
• Applied Topics: Connect math to the real world through circuits, programming, data, voting theory, or modeling. Show students how math explains and solves practical challenges.
• Strategic Math Thinking: Contest-style puzzling that builds creative problem-solving techniques, pattern recognition, and systematic reasoning.
• Solving Big Problems: Deep, collaborative problem sets that build endurance, pattern hunting, case analysis, and introductory proof structures. (This is BEAM’s only semi-scripted course.)

About the Role

We are looking for math and STEM educators who love working with middle schoolers and are excited to join a residential community. This role encompasses teaching, community engagement, and partnership with counselors and site leadership. Faculty design and teach their own courses, participate fully in camp life, collaborate with academic coaches, and help maintain a supportive, structured environment.

Core Responsibilities (You Will…)

Instruction and Curriculum Design

• Design engaging, student-centered math courses aligned to BEAM Summer Away offerings.
• Prepare daily lesson plans, problem solutions, and materials in advance.
• Adapt instruction for the specific learners in your classroom.
• Incorporate practices that support multilingual learners using visuals, structured reasoning, and language-accessible explanations.
• Maintain pacing expectations and collaborate with coaches when adjustments are needed.

Classroom Leadership

• Establish and maintain classroom norms and routines that promote student inquiry, persistence, and collaboration.
• Use restorative, respectful redirection aligned with BEAM’s behavior expectations.
• Partner with TAs during class for student support, behavior management, and transitions.
• Apply the BEAM behavior escalation process and involve leadership when needed.

Collaboration and Coaching

• Participate in coaching cycles including observations, debrief meetings, and implementing feedback.
• Attend academic collaboration sessions to align on pacing, goals, and instructional priorities.
• Work closely with TAs, Academic Director, and faculty peers to create a coherent and supportive learning environment.

Student Support

• Identify academic or social-emotional concerns and communicate them to the appropriate leadership team member following documentation protocols.
• Build positive relationships with students through classroom interactions, meals, activities, and trips.

Community and Camp Life

• Support evening free time, independent study, relays, and other activities at least 5 days per week.
• Attend meals with students to foster community.
• Attend assigned field trips such as hiking, field day, or regional excursions.
• Participate in 2 to 3 weekly staff meetings for PD, alignment, and community building.
• Provide emergency coverage for supervising students as needed.

Training, Wrap Up, and Communication

• Attend all pre-camp training sessions and complete required pre-work.
• Participate in camp wrap-up sessions including feedback surveys, reflection activities, and documentation.
• Use BEAM communication tools such as radios, shared drives, and schedules.

What You Bring (You Have…)

• Course Design Experience: Experience designing inquiry-based lessons where students take the lead in exploring and justifying mathematical ideas.
• Preferred Experience: Worked with middle school and/or high school students.
• Classroom Leadership Experience: At least 3 years as a primary instructor in schools, enrichment programs, colleges, math circles, or similar settings.
• A Commitment to Equity: You create affirming, rigorous classrooms where all students, including multilingual and historically marginalized learners, can grow as mathematicians.
• STEM or Mathematical Expertise: A strong understanding of mathematical reasoning, proofs (for pure classes), or applied mathematical contexts (for applied classes).
• Growth Mindset and Collaboration Skills: Openness to feedback and enthusiasm for working with a diverse team of educators.
• Clear, Compassionate Communication: Ability to communicate expectations, redirect calmly, and collaborate effectively with counselors, faculty peers, and camp leadership.

Requirements

• Authorized to work for any employer in the US.
• International graduate students with CPT or OPT are welcome to apply.

Exceptional candidates will have:

• Experience teaching enrichment math or science.
• Experience working with low-income or historically marginalized students.
• Experience supporting multilingual learners or students with diverse needs.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a seasonal employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role:

• Frequent sitting, talking and listening and occasional walking, bending, stooping, and pulling.
• Ability to handle and operate computers, tools or controls.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Moderate noise level.
• Work in an indoor classroom environment that may not have air conditioning in the summer.
• For residential roles: live in a dormitory at the campus in which the program takes place.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• All-Inclusive Stay: Room and board is covered by BEAM for the duration of the summer program.
• Travel Covered: Travel from and to the camp site is covered by BEAM within BEAM’s approved travel guidelines.
• Small Class Sizes: Enjoy small classes with 10–15 students and 2 adults.
• Deep Connections: The camp setting allows you to truly get to know the extraordinary people that students are.
• Support & Growth: Professional development is provided before camp to set you up for success.
• Curriculum Freedom: The opportunity to teach exciting math to middle school students, with the freedom to design your own curriculum, set the arc and goals for your class, and explore student ideas deeply as they arise.
• Collaborative Team: A collaborative, supportive team of educators and staff, bringing together diverse backgrounds—academia, middle school, high school, and more—to create an environment where everyone learns and grows together.

Locations

• BSA CA: Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA)
• BSA NY: Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Program Dates (2026)

Compensation

$6,500 for the duration of the program.

Application Process

1. First Round Interview
2. Project 
3. Final Interview 
4. Reference checks & offer!

For more information and to apply, please contact us at hiring@beammath.org.

BEAM Summer Away, Senior Faculty

BEAM Summer Away 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 a Senior Faculty member, you will teach dynamic, inquiry-driven math classes and serve as an instructional leader and mentor for Junior Faculty. You will help ensure classrooms are consistent, joyful, and mathematically rich for every student, while shaping students’ mathematical identities and supporting the growth of emerging educators.

Learn more about our 10-year program.

What Our Classrooms Look Like

Our classrooms are student-centered, lively, and discussion-rich. Students explore patterns, debate conjectures, justify their reasoning, and collaborate on open-ended problems. Teachers guide thinking through purposeful questions, models, and structures that promote productive struggle. We affirm students’ strengths and identities and help them grow as confident, capable problem solvers.

The Type of Math You Will Teach

Senior Faculty design and teach a course from one of the four class types:

• Pure Topics: Explorations in abstract mathematics (e.g., graph theory, combinatorics, number theory, symmetry, or tessellations).
• Applied Topics: Math connected to real-world phenomena (e.g., circuits, programming, biology, astronomy, voting theory, or data).
• Strategic Math Thinking: Contest-style and puzzle-based problems that build flexible strategies (e.g., casework, invariants, pattern recognition, and divisibility).
• Solving Big Problems: A semi-scripted course where students grapple with deep, multi-step problems that require stamina, collaboration, and proof-style reasoning.

The Role: Senior Faculty

We are seeking experienced educators with strong instructional skills, a deep commitment to equity, and a track record of supporting other teachers. Senior Faculty in BEAM Summer Away design and teach dynamic, student-centered math classes while serving as mentors and instructional leaders for Junior Faculty. In addition to instructional leadership, this role plays a key part in shaping a cohesive residential community and partnering closely with counselors and site leadership to support students’ academic and personal growth.

Core Responsibilities

1. Instruction and Curriculum Design

• Design and teach rigorous, student-centered math courses aligned to BEAM’s Summer Away offerings.
• Prepare complete lesson materials (problems, examples, pacing plans, and solutions).
• Adapt instruction to student needs while maintaining the integrity of the course arc.
• Incorporate support for multilingual learners using visuals, structured explanations, and reasoning scaffolds.
• Use diagnostic listening and formative assessment to adjust instruction.

1. Mentorship and Coaching

• Mentor one Junior Faculty member through regular check-ins (at least every other day).
• Observe your mentee’s teaching and provide specific, actionable feedback tied to BEAM’s instructional vision.
• Model structures, routines, questioning techniques, and problem-solving facilitation in your classroom.
• Support your mentee in lesson planning, classroom culture, pacing, and student engagement.

1. Supporting Collaboration Spaces

• Co-facilitate one to two collaboration sessions each week with the Academic Director for faculty and Junior Faculty.
• Contribute to productive professional conversations about lesson planning, pacing, student misconceptions, and student work.
• Foster a collaborative environment where teachers feel supported, curious, and aligned.

1. Classroom Leadership and Culture

• Set clear expectations and norms for inquiry, collaboration, and respectful engagement.
• Use calm, restorative redirection aligned with BEAM’s behavioral expectations.
• Follow and model the camp’s behavior escalation ladder and partner with TAs and Academic Director on classroom culture.
• Communicate proactively with leadership about academic or behavioral concerns.
• Set clear expectations for TA roles in supporting group work, engagement, and transitions.

1. Community and Camp Life

• Help cultivate a joyful, consistent camp experience by engaging in the community outside of class.
• Support evening free time, independent study, relays, and other activities at least five days per week.
• Eat meals with students and colleagues to build relationships and foster a welcoming environment.
• Attend field trips (hiking days, field days, or amusement park trips).
• Participate in staff meetings two to three times per week.
• Provide emergency coverage for supervising students as needed.

1. Training, Communication, and Wrap Up

• Attend all pre-camp training sessions and complete onboarding requirements.
• Use BEAM communication tools (radios, shared schedules, and shared drives).
• Participate in end-of-camp wrap-up, including reflections, documentation, and curriculum archiving.

What You Bring

• Curriculum Design Expertise: Experience crafting inquiry-driven, student-centered lessons that promote deep problem-solving and mathematical reasoning.
• Classroom Leadership Experience: At least five years as a primary instructor in a school, enrichment, university, or math circle environment.
• Coaching and Mentorship Experience: At least two years supporting other educators through coaching, department leadership, mentorship, or similar roles.
• Commitment to Equity: A strong belief that mathematical brilliance exists in every community and that inclusive structures help students thrive.
• Mathematical Readiness: A strong understanding of the mathematics relevant to BEAM Summer Away courses.
• For Pure and Problem Solving courses: Comfort with proof and reasoning structures.
• For Applied courses: Ability to connect mathematics to real-world contexts.
• Growth Mindset: A reflective teaching practice and openness to implementing feedback.
• Effective Communication Skills: Skill in facilitating groups, giving clear feedback, and building supportive, trust-based relationships.
• Preferred Experience: Worked with middle school and/or high school students.

Employment Requirements

• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US.
• We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas.
• International graduate students able to obtain CPT or OPT are welcome to apply.

Exceptional Candidates Will Have

• A background in teaching enrichment math or science.
• Experience working with low-income students or from historically marginalized communities, including Title 1 schools.
• Experience supporting multilingual learners or students with diverse needs. 

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Room and board is covered by BEAM for the duration of the summer program.
• Travel from and to the camp site is covered by BEAM within BEAM’s approved travel guidelines.
• Small classes with 10-15 students and 2 adults.
• The opportunity to build deep relationships with extraordinary students in a camp setting.
• Professional development before camp to set you up for success.
• The freedom to design your own curriculum, set the arc and goals for your class, and explore student ideas deeply as they arise.
• A collaborative, supportive team of educators and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Details & Logistics

Program Dates Breakdown:

Compensation: $8,500 for the duration of the camp and $32.50 per hour for pre-work as Pre-Summer Set Up Associate.

Application Process

1. First Round Interview
2. Project 
3. Final Interview 
4. Reference checks & offer!

For more information and to apply, please contact us at hiring@beammath.org.

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. 
  

Director of Student Life, BEAM Discovery

BEAM is seeking a Director of Student Life for our BEAM Discovery 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 (23-29 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 
• 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 Discovery 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 Discovery 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 Discovery LA

• Location: Alliance College Ready Middle Academy 12 (Central LA)
• Staff (Leaders: 32 work days, Staff: 30 work days)
• Leadership Retreat: 06/15
• All Staff Pre-camp Training: 06/16 - 06/18 (Juneteenth Observed)
• Camp: 06/22 - 07/24
• Staff Wrap-up: 07/27 - 07/28
• Leadership Wrap Up: 07/29

BEAM Discovery NY

• Locations: Downtown site hosted at New Design High School (Lower East Side)
• Staff (Leaders: 32 work days, Staff: 30 work days)
• Leadership Treat: 6/29 
• All Staff Pre-camp Training: 6/30 -  07/02
• Camp: 07/06 - 08/07
• Wrap-up: 08/10 - 8/11
• Leadership Wrap Up: 8/12

Compensation

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

Benefits

BEAM provides a number of benefits, including: 

• Lunch and snacks, with options for dietary restrictions on weekdays through all training and camp days.
• 2-3 staff dinners during camp to relax, connect, and celebrate together 
• Limited, assigned parking is available (Los Angeles) 

BEAM currently runs two summer programs, BEAM Discovery and BEAM Summer Away. BEAM Discovery is a day camp for rising 7th graders in Los Angeles and New York City, where students spend five weeks learning advanced math, making friends with others who love math, and building the skills, confidence, and self-identity for success. In the summer after 7^th grade, students begin the Pathway Program at Summer Away, where they spend three weeks on a college campus in SoCal or Upstate New York learning proof-based math, building a community of peers, developing independence, and having fun.

We typically hire for the following summer positions at each of our sites. You can learn more about these roles on our website using the links below.

Counselors/Teaching Assistants

As a counselor with BEAM, you'll have both an academic and a non-academic role. You will act as a role model and mentor to the students, run activities each day for them to relax and socialize, and assist in mathematics courses, including guiding students through challenging problems, assist instructors, and help give feedback to students on their work.

We're looking for counselors who are reliable, take initiative, who will inspire the students to do better, and who are who can think on their feet while supporting students learning advanced math. The camp's academics will be challenging to everyone, with courses on topics such as combinatorics, number theory, problem solving, graph theory, game theory, and more, so you'll get plenty of chances to stretch your mathematical muscles.

Learn more about being a Counselor/TA here.

Faculty and Junior Faculty

As faculty, your role is to guide students as they discover new fields of mathematics. Our classes are small and highly interactive. Each class generally has around 15 students, and you will have a teaching assistant (either in college or a high school BEAM alum) to assist, allowing for a high degree of personalization. 

We seek individuals who have a depth of mathematical expertise, good pedagogical style, classroom management skills, and the potential to be a role model. Our courses are about understanding mathematics on a deep level rather than procedures, and we're looking for teachers who can create classes that reflect this. Furthermore, we are looking for staff members who can reflect and seek personal growth, for our students, themselves, and the entire program. 

Learn more about being BEAM Discovery Faculty.

Learn more about being BEAM Summer Away Faculty here.

Guidance Counselors

Guidance Counselors with BEAM provide social and emotional support. You will be with the students during most non-academic time, running activities and using meal times to talk to any students who may need your support. Beyond working with students, you can expect to work closely with our Counselors as well as the Director of Student Life and the Site Director.

Learn more about supporting BEAM Discovery students here.

Learn more about supporting BEAM Summer Away students here.

Health Directors/Nurses

Nurses provide medical support as needed to students in our program. We typically hire for both full- and part-time nurses depending on the need of the program site. 

For more information on our programs and summer positions, we encourage you to explore our website.