Summer Arts and Music (SAAM) Program Lead Counselor
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.
Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, benefits and time off.
Job Description
Dive into a Summer of Music and Creativity at CMCB! CMCB is seeking two Lead Counselors for our 4-week Summer Arts & Music (SAAM) program for 30-50 participants ages 5-12 and Counselors-in-Training (CITs) ages 12-14.
For over 30 years, our beloved Summer Arts & Music Program has been a place where young artists thrive. Designed for students ages 5–12, this enriching program offers a joyful mix of music and arts experiences led by our talented, world-class faculty.
Our program is designed to create meaningful experiences in just a single week and to provide a deeper experience for students who participate for two or more.
Over four weeks, our program focuses on our Student Pathways and provides students with multiple avenues for connecting with music: as Musical Explorers, Community Musicians, Citizen Musicians, and Performing Musicians.
The Lead Counselor is responsible for supporting the training and management of three to four Program Counselors while performing similar Counselor duties, such as supervising a group of 8-12 students, engaging students in daily activities, and employing classroom management tools, all while developing leadership skills as part of their job training. Lastly, this role will develop and implement an expansive curriculum for CITs.
The ideal Lead Counselor has experience in a similar role (think summer camp counselor, babysitter, classroom teacher, tutor, etc). They are an enthusiastic, empathetic, and motivating mentor who enjoys working with children ages 5-14. Lastly, the Lead Counselor is a detail-oriented and organized collaborator.
- Status: Part-time hourly, non-exempt, temporary (June 2026 - July 2026)
- Start Date: June 22nd, 2026
- Schedule: In person, Monday – Friday, occasional evening and weekend hours with advance notice; approximately 20 - 25 hours a week (June 22nd - July 31st); either a morning shift (8:30-1:30) or afternoon shift (1:00-5:30)
- Reports to: Director of Programming, Community Music School
Responsibilities
- Program Administration
- Co-create, plan, and facilitate a week of training for Counselors prior to the start of the program
- Co-create, plan, and implement four meaningful 50-60 minute classes on community building, mentorship, and agency for Counselors-in-Training (CITs)
- Design and facilitate program activities, executing per the program schedule in a timely manner
- Supervise and lead SAAM program participants (ages 5-14) through group activities and games, snack and lunch breaks, and transitions
- Organize the distribution of snacks and lunches for program participants
Student Support
Model excellent behavior, embody program expectations, and exemplify mutual respect for Counselors, CITs, and program participants
Monitor and ensure the safety of program participants, including during outdoor activities and off-site field trips
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of two years experience as a summer camp counselor, babysitter, classroom teacher, tutor, lifeguard, assistant coach, or similar role
- Availability to work in person from late June through July
- Demonstrated experience working with children (ages 5-14)
- A genuine passion for mentoring children (ages 5-14) and a willingness to learn
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Must be comfortable administering first aid or CPR if necessary (training will be provided)
- Strong organizational skills, with a high level of attention to detail
- Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information
- Motivated and can work independently as well as collaboratively across teams
- A positive attitude and a sense of humor
Preferred
Experience working in multi-week summer or intensive afterschool programs.
Interest in Music/art Education
- Bilingual written and verbal proficiency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Cantonese, and/or French
- Physical Demands
The duties of this position are performed indoors with a possibility of activities outside, weather permitting. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate during active programming hours but can become high on occasion, such as at events.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position 25-50% of the time and actively stand/walk the remainder of the time. The person will need to occasionally pick up and move items up to 10 pounds.
They will need to maintain and operate A/V equipment, specifically during events. The person in this position frequently communicates verbally with internal and external constituents and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Application Instructions
Please apply at cmcb.isolvedhire.com. Please be prepared to submit the below materials (addressed to Jared Field, Director of Programming, Community Music School) as part of your application:
A cover letter which addresses your capabilities, experiences, and interests
A Current Resume or CV
Incomplete applications may not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning April 9th as they are received, so early submission is encouraged. This position will remain open for applications until filled. Please, no phone calls or walk-ins.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Music Education — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 22% have no call, 70% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Summer Arts and Music (SAAM) Program Lead Counselor at Community Music Center of Boston a 8.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Counseling — ranked against 13,751 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.
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