Residential Assistant Director - VISIONS STP

Summary

The VISIONS Summer Transition Program (STP) is a four-week residential experience designed to build students' skills for independence, technology and employment. STP is specifically geared towards the needs of legally blind high school youth between the ages of 13 and 21. There are opportunities to refine their independent living, orientation and mobility, technology, career and social skills. They are also introduced to adaptive fitness and sports. The participants living in a supervised dormitory style setting along with trips off campus where they will develop travel skills and participate in specialized career development courses designed to help identify potential career interests. They will also cultivate work readiness skills such as resume preparation, interviewing techniques and workplace etiquette. Activities and excursions occurring during the program must emphasize independence and self-advocacy in a supportive but structured environment. It is expected that students will learn to advocate for themselves within a variety of settings.

The Summer Transition Program Assistant Director serves as the secondary program administrator. They will serve as the primary point person when the Program Director is off duty.  The Assistant Director will work an overlapping schedule with the Program Director to ensure coverage at all times.  The program administrators will collaborate daily to share observations and concerns about the program and participants.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Effectively communicate and operate as a team with the Program Director, CVRT, COMS, program staff, and VCB/VRC staff.
2. Assist the Program Director with the supervision of program staff including training and end of summer staff evaluations.
3. Maintain comprehensive notes and observations about participants to be added to their overall summary report at the end of the program.
4. Coordinate and facilitate parts of staff training in collaboration with the Program Director.
5. As assigned, facilitate weekly small group lessons on hobby development (podcasts, art, music, etc.).
6. Enforce VCB/VRC rules and program policies and procedures to students, parents, and staff and report to the Program Director any disorderly conduct of the students and staff.
7. Report any facility and equipment issues to the Program Director or Facility Manager on duty.
8. Serve as a contact for parents and New York State Commission for the Blind Counselors.
9. Provide general group management and oversight while during off-campus trips.
10. Guide program staff as needed during program activities, trips, and events.
11. With the Program Director, develop a staff schedule and organize participant weekly activity schedule.
12. Assist with the oversight of all on-campus and off-campus financial transactions such as tracking petty cash, logging transactions in spreadsheets, completing expense reports, organizing receipts, and distributing weekly allowances to students.
13. Support with the coordination of confirming transportation, following-up with trip plans, and any ensuring  invoices are received and reconciled.
14. Be familiar with all emergency support procedures and monitor all medical and health matters: monitoring student medication management for students, updating the medication log, responding immediately to emergency situations, accompanying students to the hospital or urgent care when needed, and providing necessary follow-up such as completing incident reports.
15. Carry and unpack deliveries of program supplies and help with setting up program spaces.
16. Help with the setup of the seasonal home base which may include setting up an office space, organizing supplies, and reminding students to maintain overall cleanliness.
17. Aid the Program Director in the preparation, setup, and facilitation of the end of program ceremony.
18. Coordinate with the Program Director the repacking/ boxing and logging of program supplies to be stored upon the end of the program.
19. When interacting with students; provide them with mentorship, empowerment, and social engagement.
20. On call 24/7 when on duty.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Computer literate in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, email communications, and Internet required.  Experience with assistive technologies used by blind persons with impaired vision is a plus. 

1. Desire and ability to work with teens who are blind or visually impaired

1. Willing to be “on duty” up to 24 hours per day at a residential setting for four weeks.

1. Ability to provide guidance and supervision.

1. Good character, integrity, adaptability, enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control.

1. Attention to detail–Ensure that all necessary steps are taken to perform tasks in a safe, effective and quality manner.
   
    
2. Current college student or recent graduate.  Major in the human service field is a plus, but not required.

The salary for this role is $5,550 for the period of July 1 – August 1, 2025. 

This full-time exempt professional residential position is located at VISIONS Center on Blindness (VCB) in Spring Valley, NY.

VISIONS is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit vision rehabilitation and social service agency incorporated in 1926. VISIONS provides service for blind and visually impaired people of all ages in the Greater New York Metropolitan Area.

VISIONS is an equal opportunity employer. All job candidates, consultants, volunteers, and interns 18 years of age and older, must consent to a background investigation after a preliminary job offer, references and education verification.

If interested, please contact Joshua Castillo, STP Director at jcastillo@visionsvcb.org.