Summer Jobs North America

We run 13 summer schools across the UK, 1 in Dublin, 4 in North America & 2 in Canada.

We offer award-winning summer programmes, recognised with the ST Star award for juniors in 2015, the silver award for Best Educational Product in the British Youth Travel awards 2018 and short-listed for the ST Star award 2019.

We are proud to hold 6 accreditations/memberships: including the British Council and Younger Learners English UK.

We offer staff the opportunity to work in close-knit teams with people from different backgrounds. Every day presents new challenges, ensuring our teams remain engaged and motivated throughout the summer!

We value all of our staff and believe strongly in investing in staff training and personal development. Prior to the commencement of employment, we provide pre-arrival online training, activity leader training days, teacher webinars and a weekend management training event. Staff have access to all our company policies through our staff onboarding portal.

Upon arrival at the centre, the staff will be given a full centre specific induction. This combined with in-centre observations and workshops ensure all of our staff members are fully prepared for the summer ahead.

We value all of our staff and believe strongly in investing in staff training and personal development. Prior to starting work with Embassy Summer, we provide pre-arrival online training, activity leader training days, teacher webinars and a weekend management training event.

You will have access to all our company policies through our staff on-boarding portal.

Upon arrival at centre, staff will be given a full centre specific induction. This combined with in-centre observations and workshops ensure all of our staff members are fully prepared for the summer ahead.

There are four stages to our recruitment process:

1. You submit your application via the Embassy Summer website
2. We shortlist applicationsand invite suitable candidates for a Skype/phone interview.
3. Following a successful interview, candidates will be made a provisional offer of employment and the on boarding process is commenced whilst all background checks and references are completed. In North America, candidates that advance through the initial interview will be invited to a second in-person interview.
4.  Job is confirmed and pre-arrival online and onsite training is offered.

Although working in a summer school and having experience of dealing with international students or possessing sporting and leadership skills is extremely desirable, we will consider all applicants that meet our application criteria.

Managers – Management experience in junior education/learning - Managing multiple departments and teams (Desirable) Management experience in a summer school environment (Desirable)

Activity Leader – No formal qualifications required but an interest or experience working with young people is desirable. We find a specialism in sports coaching, drama or dance to be particularly useful.  In North America, some experience working with young students is mandatory.  We are interested in staff with an interest in leading tours and activities with the ability to engage students.

House Parents – Experience in a summer school environment or boarding school (Desirable)

Night Supervisors - SIA licence and valid First Aid (Desirable)

EFL Teachers - As a British Council accredited summer school, we require our EFL Teachers to have a University Degree & a CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL (or Accreditation-UK recognised equivalent) (or) PGCE in English or MFL. 

Applicants with the DELTA, QTS (Primary or Secondary) or CELTYL, are particularly welcomed.

Newly qualified EFL teachers will also be welcomed.

In Canada, all candidates must have completed a TESL-Canada approved program or TESOL certificates that are approved by a provincial accrediting body (e.g. TESL Ontario) or Cambridge University (CELTA & DELTA) or Trinity College (CertTESOL, DipTESOL, and FTCL) certifications.

In the USA,  teachers must have at least: (1) a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three months of full-time equivalent ESL or foreign language classroom teaching experience or (2) a bachelor’s degree along with a certificate in teaching ESL or a foreign language that includes a practice teaching component. 

Each centre will have a Directors of Studies who will be responsible for their academic staff management, delivering developmental workshops and carrying out observations with guidance from our very experienced Academic Leadership Team.

Previous experience of working in a summer school and dealing with international students or possessing sporting and leadership skills is extremely desirable.  We always welcome new applicants that meet our application criteria

Here are some examples:

Managers – Management experience in junior education/learning - Managing multiple departments and teams (Desirable). Management experience in a summer school environment (Desirable)

Activity Leader – Activity Leaders are expected to demonstrate experience and/or interest in working with young people. No formal qualifications are required however, having experience and an interest in for example sports coaching, drama or dance is desirable. Our activities leaders must have an interest in leading tours and activities with the ability to engage students

House Parents – Experience in a summer school environment or boarding school (Desirable)

Night Supervisors - SIA licence and valid First Aid (Desirable)

EFL Teachers - As a British Council accredited summer school, we require our EFL Teachers to have a University Degree & a CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL (or Accreditation-UK recognised equivalent) (or) PGCE in English or MFL. Applicants with the DELTA, QTS (Primary or Secondary) or CELTYL, are particularly welcomed. Newly qualified EFL teachers will also be welcom

In North America, all staff must be citizens or legally able to work in either the USA or Canada.  We can not sponsor J1 or other work visas into the USA or Canada. 

Our schools run from mid-June through until early-August.  

We offer fixed-term contracts from 2 – 9 weeks to meet centre needs. Our peak summer weeks traditionally run throughout July. We would particularly welcome staff members who are available to work from the end of June to early-August.  

Contracts generally run from Saturday to Friday, with the exception of new Activity Leaders who will start their contract on a Friday.  Activity Leader contracts end on a Saturday.

All staff will be entitled to at least 1 day off per week.

Managers – 50 – 70hrs over 6 days (dependent on role)

Activity Leaders – Part-time: 15-20 hours weekly.   Full time, approx. 35 hrs over 6 days (incl. weekends)

Teachers – 15-30 hrs over up to 6 days.  Planning time will be an additional 2.75 per 15 teaching hours

Transfer Representatives - 44hrs over 6 days (incl. weekends)

Night Supervisors – 30hrs (11pm – 4am) over 6 days.

House Parents – 45hrs over 6 days in Embassy Summer Centres. 60hrs over 6 days in Embassy Academy Centres.

Compensation is dependent on the role and the location within North America.

We use a time and attendance system at centre to record your weekly hours. We will pay you overtime, over and above your contracted hours.

Embassy Summer will pay staff to attend training events.  The total hours attended will be paid in the first fortnightly pay run upon commencement of contract. In addition, Embassy Summer in the UK, will pay the cost of travel from the training centre to the host centre.  In North America, cost of travel to your training or centre is not covered by Embassy Summer. 

During peak weeks, there is likelihood that we may ask staff to temporarily move to another centre to meet operational needs.  This provides staff with a good opportunity to see another centre in operation, and teachers will be able to experience different age ranges and levels. Embassy Summer will reimburse the cost of transfer between centres.

We don't pay staff travel costs to the host centre. Should you be required to move centre mid-contract, the company will reimburse you the cost of travel to the next centre.  You will be required to present your travel receipt on arrival.

We will organise rooming to meet a number of strict welfare guidelines.  Staff members will be accommodated on student floors for supervisory reasons. Staff will be required to room with another staff member and meal plan may not include breakfast.

In some cases staff might be required to move rooms to accommodate groups, but you will be given ample notice.

Allergies

Embassy Summer is happy to try to accommodate all dietary requirements

Celiac diets are commonly catered for. Please speak to your Centre Manager on arrival.

Vegetarian Meals

All our centres provide a vegetarian option every mealtime.

Lunch on Full Day excursions

Packed lunch will be provided

Staff will be provided with t-shirts and rain jackets which must be worn on all sessions worked.

Teachers will be expected to wear long trousers or skirts and Activity Leaders will require sports shoes and shorts.

Respecting the dress code is important as student’s security will often depend on it.

Wi-Fi is available throughout our summer school centres.

Embassy Summer encourages you to download our app to learn more about the company. You will be enrolled into the staff section once the summer commences and you can also download the course for your Embassy Summer centre.

We encourage the professional use of Social Media within restricted channels, such as building your staff professional profile and contributing to positive engagement with colleagues, and following our organisational posts.  From a child and student protection perspective, you must not socially connect with students or via email or telephone.

In the event that a family member or friend you have recommended to work for us is successfully employed by Embassy Summer, we will be happy to consider placing you both at the same centre. Offers of employment will always be strictly subject to availability.

Due to our strict welfare and safeguarding policy, visitors are not permitted on site.

Washing machines and dryers are available in each residence building or boarding house. The cost of washing/drying will be detailed in the centre guides.

Not all our summer school centres will provide towels. We recommend you bring your own.

We will not accept liability for any damage or loss to personal belongings. Please ensure your personal items, especially laptops and mobile phones are insured prior to arrival.

Parking may not be automatically available to our summer staff. We are to request a parking permit for you but this will not be guaranteed and may be subject to availability.