Position: Summer Camp Program Manager 

Status: Part-Time (Temporary/Seasonal) 

Location: San Francisco, CA

The Opportunity

Tinkering School believes that children are more capable than they know. We don’t just "teach"—we curate environments where kids lead their own explorations with real tools.

We are seeking a Program Manager who is a blend of an operational wizard and an empathetic mentor. You are someone who can hold space for a 7-year-old’s wildly imaginative story while managing a complex project budget; someone who can guide a child through using a chop saw and are also fully competent at overseeing the program's development and growth.

What You’ll Do

• Team Leadership: Hire, train, and mentor a diverse team of Collaborators (camp counselors and project mentors), fostering a culture of safety, pluses/deltas" feedback, and professional growth.
• Operational Oversight: Manage camp logistics, scheduling, and project budgets. You will oversee purchasing and inventory in coordination with the Brightworks K-12 school site.
• Storytelling & Outreach: Document the magic. You’ll manage our digital presence (Website, Instagram, and FB) and provide impact reports for the Head of School.
• The "Tinkering" Experience: Ensure every camper feels seen and empowered. You’ll manage the registration pipeline and maintain high-touch communication with families to ensure a seamless experience.

Who You Are

• The Empathetic Expert: You have deep experience in open-ended learning and restorative practices. You treat children as whole people with important things to say.
• The Capable Maker: You are comfortable with drills, miter saws, and woodworking tools. You see a "mistake" as a design opportunity.
• The Organized Builder: You have a background in project management, staff development, and budget tracking.
• The Ring Leader: You can spark a "provocation"—an idea that inspires kids to start building—without handing them a step-by-step instruction guide. 

The Tinkering School Program Manager reports to the Brightworks 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 (September - May), while summer programming is out of session, and becomes full-time during summer programming (June - August). 

Compensation and Benefits: The hourly rate is $32.00 - $39.60, 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:

Apply via our recruitment portal. 

1. Cover letter with answers to the following questions:
1. How did you hear about the position? 
2. What’s the last project that excited you? 
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 level 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 or are working on (not required, and will not be shared outside the interview process)

Qualifications

• Required: Ability to pass background screening and compliance training.
• Required: CPR/First Aid Certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Required: Pass TB testing.
• Required: Must be able to lift 45 pounds. 
• Required: Computer literate with knowledge of Google Suite and experience with POS or registration software. 
• Required: Experience working with school-aged children. 
• Preferred: Bilingual skills, experience with robotics/coding, or a background working with diverse learning styles
• Mindset: You are ready to say, "I don't know the answer—let's see if any of the campers have suggestions? "

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. www.sfbrightworks.org

Connections working at Brightworks School