If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.
Job Description
Job Summary
Summer Precollege Programs at Smith College offer intellectually stimulating and unique opportunities for high school students who wish to pursue their academic interests in the classroom and beyond. The Program Assistant provides administrative and programmatic support to the program administrators and the academic and residential staff employed with Precollege Programs.
Position Responsibilities
- Work in an office setting where you will assist office staff with maintaining spreadsheets and processing and printing reports from various databases.
- Assist the office and residential staff with developing a residential activities calendar.
- Assist office staff with coordinating participant transportation.
- Support administrators in ensuring that housing is ready for incoming participants and closed out at the end of the program.
- Manage precollege program mail delivery by communicating with the College’s Mailroom for pickups.
- Establish and maintain appropriate participant and employee boundaries.
- Provide exceptional customer service to all families and students.
- Support an inclusive house environment for students and colleagues during the in-person program.
- Serve as a positive role model and representative of Smith College.
- Maintain participant confidentiality.
- Enforce and follow all safety guidelines associated with the program. These include but are not limited to being responsible for students’ safety and whereabouts at all times.
- Attend staff training and all staff meetings required of your position.
Residential Activity Planning
- Reserve campus rooms and tech resources for after-class activities.
- Create flyers and communications to promote residential activities to participants.
- Ensure residential staff is prepared to lead activities, have all supplies needed, and provide feedback to staff after activities conclude.
- Organize the after-class supply inventory and maintain supplies through the summer with shopping trips, as needed, with a Smith vehicle.
Employment Information
- Employment Duration: May 18 – August 5, 2026
- May 18 - June 19 Work in the office (Part-time)
- June 22 - July 3 Staff Training Weeks (Full-time)
- July 4 - August 1 Precollege Programs in Session (Full-time)
- August 3- 5 Close Out Work in Precollege (Part-time)
- Paid Hours: 10-20 per week (Part-time) and 35 – 40 per week (Full-time)
- Work Shifts: Monday - Friday, 9-5pm. Some weekend work is required. Overtime possible.
- Compensation - $19-$22 per hour
- Optional Housing and Meals - June 21 - August 2, 2026
- Housing can be provided by Precollege Programs starting June 21. Housing is a single room in a shared residential space.
- Up to three meals a day are provided by the Office of Precollege Programs from June 21 – August 1.
Qualifications
- A high school diploma or GED.
- A current driver’s license for at least one year, being accident-free for two years, and being willing to drive a 12-passenger Smith vehicle to transport participants is required.
- CPR and First Aid Certifications are required.
- Must be able to work nights and weekends.
- Have exceptional attention to detail and organization.
- Experience in customer service and office work preferred.
- Experience working in residential life, student engagement, or summer camps is preferred but not required.
- Maturity to work with high school students and create professional boundaries.
- Friendly and enthusiastic.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Team player who can also work well independently and is independently driven.
- Demonstrated responsibility and dependability.
- Must be capable of working under pressure in a somewhat disruptive environment.
- Must be able to sit, stand, or maintain physical activity for extended periods.
- Ability to work up to 40 hours weekly and for the length designated for the position without holding any other on-campus jobs during employment.
Position Type
Fixed Term
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About Smith College
Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.
As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.