Job Description

Are you a team player, builder, explorer, listener, or maker? Tinkering School is in need of a dedicated Program Manager for our Summer Camp. The Program Manager's role is crucial in curating and shaping an environment that fosters engagement while allowing children to lead their own exploration.

We are looking for candidates with experience in open-ended learning environments and the challenges they present. Ideally, you can hold space for a 7-year-old's unbelievably fascinating tangential story and talk to an eleven-year-old with the adult tone they crave and deserve. We can teach you how to use tools, and you can learn to build alongside the kids, but it is essential that you firmly believe children are already whole people with important things to say. Are you ready to admit you don't know what to do, then ask questions and do what an 8-year-old suggests? Does the mystery of a project soon-to-be designed by kids excite you!?

At Tinkering School, we offer a unique opportunity to work with a diverse group of children and professionals in a dynamic and creative environment. We are eager to talk to makers, educators, DIYers, and camp leaders with 20 years of experience. We are as keen to meet master storytellers who can handle a crowd as we are to talk to quiet listeners who will take the time to hear the tiniest voice of the shyest camper. We seek to find a well-rounded individual to whom children of all inclinations can relate, build relationships, and trust. What matters most is a focus on the kids and an ability to inspire. 

The Tinkering School Program Manager reports to the Head of School and manages a team of Tinkering School Collaborators and Junior Collaborators

Expected Work Schedule: The Tinkering School Program Manager is part-time during the school year, while summer programming is out of session, and becomes full-time during summer programming (June - August). 

Compensation and Benefits: The salary is $42,000 - $50,000.00, depending on experience. Benefits include sick time accrual. 

Additional compensation opportunities may be available depending on the skills of the candidate and the needs of the school. 

How to Apply:

Send application materials to seanhamer@sfbrightworks.org and cc hiring@sfbrightworks.org

1. Cover letter with answers to the following questions:
1. How did you hear about the position? 
2. What is your experience working with young people ages 6-16? Or, if this is your first experience, tell us why you want to work with young people.
3. When was the last time you witnessed someone struggling with a task and how did you respond?
4. At Tinkering School, the plan can change dramatically, swiftly, and often. Tell us about your comfort with and ability to improvise.
5. What else do you want us to know about you? Is there anything you would like to share with us?
2. Send your resume (PDF format only, please)
3. Feel free to also email us photos and links of some cool project(s) you’ve worked on (not required)

Who We Are Looking For

Candidates will say "That's me!" to the following skills:

Required Core Skills

• Project Management (scheduling and staff management) 
• Budget Management 
• Ability to Work with Children who have an inquisitive nature: with a lot to share and a deep urge to be heard and seen
• Group Facilitation: Staff Development & Training
• Outstanding Communication Skills with experience in Conflict Resolution
• Storytelling: Develop and manage the marketing and social media pages of Tinkering School to tell the story of campers, the impact of Tinkering School for former and current campers, and inspire new tinkerers to participate.
• A tool master who can handle a drill press and is comfortable guiding a six-year-old through the use of our chop saw.
• CPR/First Aid Certification is required

Soft Skills

• A provocations crafter. The good projects tell us what they look like at the end, but the very best projects simply get us excited to start.
• A listener. Some kids are shy and don’t usually get a lot of attention. You know how to find those kids, figure out what makes them tick, and get them engaged.
• Ring leader, with ideas about games and activities that can engage a wide range of kids side by side on a giant open field

Welcomed Skills

• Bilingual 
• Experience with Robotics and Coding
• Experience with project-based curriculum design, knowledge of inclusive special education theory and practice
• Understanding of SEL / Child Development
• Experience with fine arts, applied arts, or any other personal superpowers

Responsibilities and Duties

• Create an engaging and hands-on Tinkering School experience that honors the curiosity and independence of children
• Manage Staff (group facilitation, scheduling, recruitment, etc)
• Hiring, training, and managing a team of Tinkering Collaborators, Junior Collaborators, and volunteers
• Manage the successful operation of the Mars Mission 
• Maintain standard Tinkering School documentation practices
• Operational Oversight 
• Managing all aspects of Tinkering School's daily operations
• Manage Project Logistics 
• Purchasing, Inventory management, and space coordination in collaboration with Brightworks (K-12 School) 
• Follow all standard Tinkering School safety protocols
• Manage Tinkering School policies regarding enrollment, and communications, and ensure that all policies are followed.
• Maintain quality and safety standards for Tinkering School programs.
• Manage Family and Camper Experience 
• Manage Tinkering School program registration and enrollment processes
• Communicate and support parents as needed with registration and in-camp support
• Ensure all campers demonstrate safe practices around tools and the building while feeling empowered to pick up tools
• Ensure Campers have a positive and memorable experience in the Tinkering School program 
• Development and Outreach
• Contribute to the on-going development and documentation of camps by participation in team meetings, provide content for social media posts, blogs, Plus/Delta and Field Reports
• Promote and Market Tinkering School and camper’s experiences via Tinkering School social media accounts 

About Brightworks School

Brightworks is a San Francisco independent K-12 school that believes "everything is interesting". We are a learning community that strives to create a meaningful learning experience for students based on depth of inquiry, collaboration through trust and creativity, and development into capable, adaptable citizens of the world. We use real tools, real materials, and real problems to encourage students’ love of learning, curiosity about the world, ability to engage, tenacity to think big, and persistence to do amazing things. The Brightworks mission is to ensure that engagement, constructivist learning is accessible to all children, families and educators. To that end, we tour and provide professional development to hundreds of educators each year both nationally and internationally.

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