Summer UACS SFH Coach (Cross-Grade Sports)

Job Description Summary

The UACS Coach for Cross-Grade Sports (CGS) supports a full-day summer program (Monday-Friday, approximately 9:00 AM-4:00 PM) that uses sports as a vehicle for youth development, leadership, and community engagement. This role centers on coaching and developing high school student leaders (grades 9-12) as they mentor and support elementary and middle school students within our University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) in West Philadelphia.

Job Description

Founded in 1992, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is the University's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. It brings together the resources and assets of both the University and the wider community to help solve universal problems such as poverty, health inequities, environmental sustainability, and inadequate, unequal education as they are manifested in the University's local geographic area of West Philadelphia and Philadelphia at large. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia that advance research, teaching, learning, practice, and service and improve the quality of life on campus and in the community. The Netter Center works with and serves as a model for other higher education institutions across the United States and around the world.

The Netter Center's university-assisted community schools (UACS) is a strategy to educate, engage, empower, and serve all members of the community in which the school is located and engage students (K-16+) in real world, community problem-solving. UACS collaborates with partners to advance teaching, research, learning and service, as well as the civic development of their students. The Netter Center UACS implements summer enrichment and youth employment programs for West Philadelphia children and youth.

The CGS Coach operates within a cross-grade leadership model, collaborating closely with Penn student coaches to support a structured pipeline of youth leadership development. In this model, the CGS Coach and Penn student coaches together mentor and prepare high school students to be leaders in the community, and the high school students, in turn, lead and support programming for younger students (K-5). The CGS Coach provides oversight, guidance, and development across all levels, ensuring a cohesive, supportive, and growth-oriented experience for all participants.

The role is PHYSICAL and integrates structured sports programming with intentional development in leadership, social-emotional learning (SEL), and professional skills, fostering a positive, inclusive environment where students grow as leaders, mentors, and teammates.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate daily sports-based programming for K-8 students within a structured summer camp environment
• Coach and develop high school students as mentors and leaders working with younger participants
• Collaborate with Penn student coaches to implement and strengthen the cross-grade leadership model
• Provide oversight, feedback, and support to ensure high-quality coaching across all levels of the program
• Design and lead engaging activities that integrate sports, team-building, and social-emotional learning
• Support leadership development sessions focused on communication, teamwork, accountability, and personal growth
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that promotes positive youth development
• Contribute to programming that incorporates career exploration, professional skills, and leadership identity development

Compliance Requirements

• Act 168 UPENN Misconduct Form
• Mandated Reporter Training - staff can be paid for the time to complete this once hired.
• Signed Confidentiality Statement
• National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR)
• UACS Staff Health Assessment - Please schedule a physical appointment with a medical professional and ask them to complete the form. This also requires a TB test result.
• Signed Netter Center Media Release
• University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) Disclosure Statement

Required Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma required, College degree preferred in early childhood education, education or social service fields
• Experience: minimum of 3 years work experience with elementary-aged children and/or high school youth development programming
• Ability to be excited and actively and constructively engage youth in a variety of activities
• Knowledge of grade-level content, activities and curricula for students
• Completion and passing of funder-required compliance documentation and all Federal and State background checks/clearances
• Experience with working in School District of Philadelphia, urban settings and diverse student populations
• Ability to be flexible and work on a team
• Excellent interpersonal, organization and communication skills
• Punctual and regular attendance

Schedule

• Varies - some average of 35 - 37 hours/week Monday - Friday 9AM-4PM
• ALL STAFF MUST complete background clearances and funder-required compliance documentation by May 22, 2026.
• Required training on Penn's campus and at local West Phila. Public school sites from Monday 6/15/26 - Thursday 6/18/26 from 8:30AM - 4PM (Friday 6/19/26 the University is closed for Juneteenth holiday.)
• There may be a virtual orientation session in early June, as schedules allow
• The 6-week UACS Summer Enrichment Program runs from Monday 6/22/2026 - Friday 7/31/2026
  + Punctual and consistent attendance is required for this program.

Compensation

$18-22 per hour commensurate with experience

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

Typically standing or walking
Intermittently sitting/standing/stooping
Typically bending, crouching, stooping
Occasionally lift 25lbs. or less

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences