2026 SMASH Academy - Residential Advisor (Michigan)

About SMASH

At SMASH, we aim to build a strong STEM workforce through academic learning and experiential engagement for high school and college students. We empower dedicated students in STEM fields through intensive education, rigorous coursework, and access to resources, aiming to cultivate success in college and careers. Our vision is to create a STEM ecosystem where every student can thrive in the global economy. By providing opportunities, we seek to enrich our communities and workplaces with well-prepared, competitive leaders.

This is a pivotal time for SMASH as SMASH builds on the success of our programs. Working at SMASH is about rapid growth, grit, personal commitment, accountability, and courage to challenge the status quo. If you have what it takes to change the STEM landscape, we want to hear from you.

SMASH is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization operating under the umbrella of the Kapor Center family of organizations.

Position Description

The SMASH Residential Team is composed of the Residential Director and Residential Advisors (RAs). The Residential Director manages the RAs. 

The Residential Advisors (RAs) support the Residential Director (RD) to oversee the residential and youth enrichment components of the SMASH Academy. RAs are responsible for ~100 high school students living on campus during the duration of SMASH Academy at a full site. Reporting to the RD, RA’s build a tight-knit scholar learning community that is safe, empowering, and conducive to advancing scholars' interest in CS and social justice. RAs promote scholar success in CS through facilitating residential programming, including workshops, wellness activities, and other SMASH events. RAs also act as educational leaders (for both students and staff) to create, model, and sustain the culture. 

This is a 3-week residential assignment, with an additional commitment of training + prep prior to launch and a close out after SMASH Academy, and requires living on campus full time with evening and weekend work requirements.

As this role has a virtual component, we expect staff to provide the following -- their own personal computer (desktop or laptop) that has a working webcam, speaker and microphone for video conferencing capabilities (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, Cisco Webex); reliable Internet connection (at least 25 Mbps download speed); and quiet work space for virtual programming. If you cannot provide your own equipment, please speak with your Program Director.

You must be available for all training and program dates.

Onboarding

6.27.2026 - 7.2.2026 (National, Virtual)

Residential Staff Move-In

7.5.2026 (non-working day)

Residential Staff Training

7.7.2026 - 7.10.2026 (Site-specific, In-Person)

SMASH Academy

7.13.2026 - 7.31.2026 (Site-specific, In-Person)

Virtual Close Out

7.31.2026

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to those listed below.

Key Responsibilities:

Residential Team Member

• Live on campus for the duration of the program
• Supervise 30-105 high school students (minors) in residence; serve as a role model for responsible behavior and personal integrity
• Work closely with fellow Residential Team members to create, deliver, and fine-tune scholars’ residential experience
• Continuously develop personal leadership and teamwork skills to ensure the whole team functions at a high-performing level
• Complete administrative duties as it relates to surveys, incident reports, scheduling, event planning and coordinating, tracking, etc.
  
  

Residential Programming and Facilitation

• Manage and facilitate daily scholar duties and meetings, e.g. wake up calls and lights out, suite meetings, meal participation, community meetings, etc
• Collaboratively implement SMASH Residential Curriculum, consisting of experience-based lesson plans and workshops
• Coordinate and attend weekly Fun Friday activities, weekend field trips and speaker series and networking nights, all dependant on COVID-19 safety precaution protocols
• Support program activities, inc