2026 PROGRAM ASSISTANT POSITIONS-HIGH SCHOOL SEMESTER: PROCTOR OCEAN CLASSROOM  Shore and Ship Based - Multiple Openings 

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the High School Program Assistants (HSPAs) plays a key role in supporting students’ academic, social and personal success in SEA’s programs.  Program Assistants are part of a collaborative team focused on cultivating student engagement and community participation to help enrich the student experience throughout the program.

During the program shore components, on the SEA Campus located at 171 Woods Hole Road Falmouth, MA, High School Program Assistants will live in close proximity to the students in the SEA Student Cottages (Two Program Assistants per occupied Student Cottage). 

The primary areas of responsibility include but are not limited to the safety of the students in program, providing onsite health and safety supervision (not medical care), social/emotional support, accompanying students and faculty on program field trips for oversight of students, meal planning, provisioning guidance in some food preparation, especially if dietary accommodations are required during shore component.

 
Other responsibilities may include driving SEA’s 12 passenger van to transport students, prescription and non-prescription medication monitoring, evening/weekend activity planning and execution. If traveling to the ship, High School Program Assistant will travel to/from the ship with the students. Other duties may be assigned.  

Anticipated employment dates: September 1- November 20 

This is a full-time seasonal (defined dates provided in employment agreement), non-benefit eligible position that begins 1-2 weeks before students arrive and ends 1-2 days after the program concludes. For each High School Program that SEA offers, there will be 2 Program Assistants per student cottage.  Most cottages accommodate between 12 – 13 students. 

Safety: Creating a secure environment though supervision, situational awareness, assessing risks to prevent accidents or misconduct; understanding emergency response procedures; identifying, informing and helping to mitigate unsafe conditions; instructing and reminding as needed the safety rules, procedures and reporting process; reporting to management and documenting injuries, unsafe practices and near misses. 

Community Development: Lives with the students and supervises the development of, and compliance with, community norms.  Monitors and oversees the safety and welfare of students.  
Program Logistics- Accompanies group on some field trips, attends planning and debrief meetings, helps to facilitate details such as transportation, mealtimes, and cleaning. 

Academic Support: Supports program faculty as needed by assisting students outside of the classroom with assignments and helping students meet their academic goals. Assists with lab set-up, poster presentations/group discussions, and classroom organization.  

Marketing & Social Media: Documents the experience for students by taking quality photographs for our marketing team and assists students with writing blog posts. 

In addition, each Program Assistant may be assigned one of the following primary areas of responsibility: 
Student Health/Medical Liaison 
Assists with coordinating front-line intervention for student safety and medical/mental health issues on campus.  Serves as a liaison to the SEA Medical Affairs Coordinator.  
Steward 
Assists with food service logistics such as meal planning, ordering, and storing food.  Prepares meals and provides oversight for students who assist with meal prep and clean up.  
Student Activities Coordinator 
Plans, develops, and coordinates implementation of a range of diverse extracurricular leisure and community-building free-time activities in the evenings and on weekends throughout the program.  
Facilities Liaison 
Assists with coordinating cottage check-in and check-out procedures, fire drills, field days, and cottage maintenance and inspections. Serves as a liaison to the SEA Facilities Coordinator. 

About Sea Education Association

About SEA: Sea Education Association (SEA) is a non-profit educational institution and an internationally recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education. Since 1971, SEA has educated undergraduate, high school and gap year students about the world’s oceans through its Boston University accredited study abroad program, SEA Semester® and other programs. SEA is located on Cape Cod in the oceanographic research community of Woods Hole (Falmouth) and owns and operates two sailing research vessels: the SSV Corwith Cramer in the Atlantic Ocean and the SSV Robert C. Seamans in the Pacific. SEA is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates. SEA is committed to the development of a multicultural environment. We value input of multiple viewpoints and perspectives across the organization; our goal is to create an academic and working community that is rich with cultural, social and intellectual diversity.

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