Now Hiring

We are seeking residential life staff who have a passion for mentorship and are committed to fostering an environment suited for learning and artistic growth. As a member of the Summer School of the Arts staff, you will supervise and act as a source of encouragement and guidance for our students (13-18 years old). During the day, their instructors give them the training and experience needed to help them realize their talents and make decisions regarding their future in the arts. Your major job is to provide guidance necessary to help students develop high standards of conduct, social skills, and the ability to live harmoniously with each other. The success of the program relies on the effective interaction of these two areas.  Due to the residential nature of the program, all staff must live on-site.  Applicants with teaching experience, overnight/summer camp experience, or a teaching/arts degree are preferred. 

• Hiring for NYSSSA season begins in November and continues on a rolling basis until all spots are filled
• Applicants must have a valid drivers license and be at least 21 years old
• Room and board are provided to all staff members
• Must be available July 1, 2025-August 3, 2025
• Salaries vary depending on position and responsibilities and are between $17 and $25/hour. All NYSSSA Program Staff (including directors, counselors, health care staff, and artistic staff), due to the nature of working at a 24/7 residential summer camp, are overtime ineligible and can earn a maximum of 40 hours of hourly pay at the rate for their position. Staff will receive one full day off per week with downtime when students are in classes.

About NYSSSA:

Established in 1970, the New York State Summer School of the Arts Program has trained over 20,000 students since its inception. The In-Residency NYSSSA Program offers an immersive summer experience for high school artists. Schools consist of 40-100 students depending on the exact program. The 4-week summer program will take place at SUNY Fredonia and delivers robust pre-professional training, personalized coaching, and leadership development to qualified students across the state.

In this intensive program, students immerse themselves in their chosen artistic discipline, dedicating up 7-12 hours a day for 5-6 days a week. The teaching staff is comprised of accomplished professional artists, companies, college professors, and teachers who impart their skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the future artistic talent of New York's high schools.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $17-$25/hr

Schedule:

• Every weekend
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person at SUNY Fredonia

 

NYSSSA is hiring for the following positions:

• Director of Administration (1 Position Available)
• Assistant Director of Administration (3 Positions Available- one at each program)
• Residential Life Counselors (18 positions available)
• Health Care Staff- LPN, RN, PA, MD (3 Positions Available)

 

Director of Administration 

The Director of Administration has overall on-site responsibility of the administrative and residential life needs of NYSSSA. The Director of Administration will be required to perform preparatory work in the month prior to arrival on campus to ensure smooth operations at the start of the program.

The Director of Administration is the primary liaison between the SUNY Fredonia staff, Artistic Directors of each program, ADAs/Res Life Staff, Health Care Staff, and the Albany Main Office staff. The Director of Administration is assigned a wide variety of tasks and duties that must be performed to insure the efficient operation of the program.

Specific duties include, but not limited to:

• Develops and supervises a comprehensive training program for residential life staff
• Coordinate needs between host-campus, artistic staff, and residential life staff.
• Completes all required reports, inventories, and forms
• Manage overall budgets, purchase supplies and materials for artistic and residential life staff
• Coordinate and supervise on site student activities as needed
• Fill in for ADAs on their day off.
• Provide supervision of students in dormitories, on campus, and during scheduled group activities
• Address behavioral problems, homesickness, and enforcing rules and regulations
• Hold information meetings with students
• Transport students for off-site trips, visits to medical facilities,  and businesses for purchasing supplies
• Assist faculty in coordinating on-site needs
• Ensure a positive team-working relationship amongst the Residential Life staff, host team building activities, and counsel staff as needed.
• Counsels students and contacts parents/guardians as needed
• Arranges for the ordering and delivery of food for field trips and special events
• Arranges transportation with host-campus for large-group outings that involve bussing needs
• Promotes and maintains positive relations with host campus, students, parents and local community.

 

Assistant Director of Administration (Visual Arts, Media Arts, Theatre)

The Assistant Director of Administration has overall on-site responsibility of residential life for their specific school (Visual Arts, Media Arts, or Theatre). They are assigned a wide variety of tasks and duties that must be performed to insure the efficient operation of the program.

Specific duties include, but not limited to:

• Alongside Director of Administration, develops and supervises a comprehensive training program for residential life staff
• Supervise all Res Life Staff (team of 4-10 counselors per ADA)
• Supervise students on a 24/7 basis
• Act as Liaison between Director of Administration, Albany office, program-specific artistic staff, and students
• Completes all required reports, inventories and forms
• Manage program-specific residential life budget and track expenses
• Plan, organize, and supervise recreational activities
• Provide supervision of students in dormitories, on campus, and during scheduled group activities
• Alongside other program staff, address behavioral problems, homesickness, and enforcing rules and regulations
• Hold information meetings with students
• Transport students for off-site trips, visits to medical facilities,  and businesses for purchasing supplies
• Assist faculty and teaching assistants as needed
• Counsels students and contacts parents/guardians as needed

 

Residence Life Counselors

Each Residential Life Counselor is a residential instructor and on call 24 hours. They are responsible for the general welfare of the students. Counselors will supervise eight to twelve students. Counselors are responsible for the general oversight of students, conditions of the dorms, and the supplies and materials used as part of Res Life activities. Counselors develop daily, weekly and monthly activity schedules for students.

Specific duties include, but not limited to:

• Supervise the students on a 24-hour basis
• Responsible for the well being and health of the students
• Plan, organize, and supervise recreational activities
• Maintain Res Life supply inventories
• Counsel students who become homesick or disruptive.
• Assist in the purchasing, inventory and delivery of supplies, materials and equipment.
• Provide supervision of students in dormitories, on campus, and during scheduled group activities
• Hold informational meetings with students
• Support and assist other counselors in the development and completion of program activities
• Transport students for off-site trips, visits to medical facilities,  and businesses for purchasing supplies
• Administer first aid to students if necessary
• Support and aid students during open-studio hours.

To Apply:

Please send an email with the subject NYSSSA "insert school" ResLife 2025 with the following documents to NYSSSA@nysed.gov.

1. A fully completed and signed application. We are unable to move forward without the signed application. 

       2. A letter of intent identifying the School and Position(s) (please see position overviews below) you are applying for. The letter should specifically state your interests and experience.

       3. A resume

 

Please note, applications will not be reviewed until all documents are received. NYSSSA will contact qualified candidates for interviews. If you are not contacted for an interview, you application will remain on file should a staff vacancy occur.

Questions? Contact us at nysssa@nysed.gov

Health Care Staff

Health Care staff must be a NYS certified LPN, RN, PA or MD. Health Care staff are responsible for the health and wellbeing of both staff and students on a 24-hour basis. During the month, the Health Care staff oversee 180 students at the program. Mental Health counseling experience a plus.

Specific duties include, but not limited to:

• Distributes and monitors student medications;
• Maintain records of all medications, injuries, accidents 
• Work with Assistant Director of Administration, Directors of Administration, and Counselor staff to transport students as needed to and from local urgent care, emergency rooms, doctor offices and field trip locations.
• Meets student's parents/guardians during check-in to review medical forms
• Assist Residential Life staff with student homesickness
• Evaluate student's ability to stay at NYSSSA when issues arise such as homesickness, mental health concerns, inability to follow rules, and medication complications
• Maintain NYSSSA infirmary and prepare accident and illness reports
• On call 24/7 while NYSSSA is in session to accompany sick or injured students to the hospital or urgent care.

To Apply:

Please send an email with the subject NYSSSA Healthcare Staff 2025 with the following documents to NYSSSA@nysed.gov.

1. A fully completed and signed application. We are unable to move forward without the signed application.
2. A letter of intent identifying the position you are applying for. The letter should specifically state your interests and experience. 
3. A resume
4. Proof of medical certification

 

Please note, applications will not be reviewed until all documents are received. NYSSSA will contact qualified candidates for interviews. If you are not contacted for an interview, you application will remain on file should a staff vacancy occur.

Questions? Contact us at nysssa@nysed.gov