Job Opportunities
Interested in working at SJW for the summer of 2025? Check out our job openings below…
Our seasonal positions provide an opportunity for you to work alongside some of the most talented and experienced artists and educators in the field of jazz, as well as with the most delightful, energetic, and eager young musicians you’ll ever meet. You’ll be a part of one of the world’s top jazz education teams.
Click on each position below to learn more…
Day Camp Counselor
Program Dates
July 7—July 11, 2025
Position Description
Day Camp Counselors will report to the Director of Educational Programming and Head Counselor to ensure that all Day Camp participants (ages 10-14) are appropriately supervised when not in class. Counselors assist the Head Counselor in programs throughout the week. This is a seasonal position that begins July 7th and continues through July 11th. All work is performed on the Stanford University campus.
There is a zero tolerance policy for alcohol/smoking anywhere near the camp participants. You are expected to set a good example for the students you are supervising while on duty.
Responsibilities:
- Attend the Day Camp planning meeting at Stanford University before Day Camp begins, time/date TBD.
- Manage the morning drop-off and late pick-ups.
- Assist with lunch distribution and supervision.
- Organize activities for lunchtime and after-care.
- Engage with students and family members at the Jazz Day Camp Student Showcase on Friday.
Daily Duties:
Early drop-off (8:30 – 9:00 am daily)
- Plan and present an activity to keep students occupied in Campbell Recital Hall.
- One person stays at drop-off point, one in Campbell Courtyard – communicate via radio.
- Keep attendance list – notify the main office if any students haven’t arrived by 9:00.
Morning meetings (9:00 am)
- Be present at morning meetings to address any student issues that come up and help distribute student schedules.
Lunch and outdoor activity led by counselors (11:45am-12:50pm)
- Collect and secure student cell phones during lunch and activities.
- Set up lunch area in courtyard.
- Supervise and help with lunch. Distribute lunches and help students socialize.
- Make sure students clean up after themselves.
- Create and direct all camp lunchtime activities each day.
- Supervise students during the activity and get them back to class on time.
- Clean up lunch area and field as needed.
Late pick-up (3:00 – 5:00 pm daily)
- Keep attendance of students who have signed up for late pick-up.
- Late pick-up group gets two locations: courtyard and one outdoor location (Levin field, Tresidder area, etc.).
- One counselor stays in each location with the students.
- Other staff/faculty member stays at the parking lot loop with SJW sign. When parents arrive, they give him/her the name of the student they’re picking up. Whichever counselor has the student named sends him/her over to parking lot loop.
- Counselors offer one activity for each location – movie, sports, arts/crafts, or just hanging out.
Student relations
- Develop rapport with students.
- Keep an eye out for students who seem overwhelmed or are having a hard time adjusting and report immediately.
- Know the proper channels for students who have questions/problems/disciplinary issues.
- Refer students who have problems with class scheduling, class placement, or any camp-related logistics to the main office.
To Apply
Complete the Seasonal Employee Application form linked below and submit it along with a cover letter and résumé to [email protected]
Camp Counselor
Program Dates
Jazz Camp Week 1: July 13—18
Jazz Camp Week 2: July 20—25
Jazz Institute: July 27—August 1
Position Description
SJW Camp Counselors will report to the Head Counselor and Director of Educational Programming to ensure that all camp youth participants (ages 12-17) are supervised throughout the week-long program, including meetings and activities during the day and evening, and overnight supervision in student dormitories.
This is a full-time seasonal position that begins with a pre-camp Saturday training session and ends the following Saturday at around 11am.
All SJW Camp Counselors must be on site 24 hours a day and be available to help in any situation. If you need to leave the campus, advance arrangements must be made with the Director of Educational Programming and the SJW Head Counselor.
There is a zero tolerance policy for alcohol/smoking anywhere near the camp participants or the dorms. You are expected to set a good example for the students you are supervising while on duty.
Responsibilities:
- Attend the Camp Counselor pre-camp Saturday training session that will be held the Saturday before camp begins. This meeting is usually held at noon in Braun Music Center at Stanford University.
- Assist with Sunday registration. This is when all students arrive. Each counselor will be assigned a special duty for the day and will need to have read all the pre-camp materials. Be prepared to answer questions from parents and students who are arriving.
- Make sure that your assigned students are accounted for at all times. Your most important task is taking attendance and knowing where students are at all times, day and night.
- Monitor and maintain students’ emotional and physical well-being. Be prepared to help students who are dealing with homesickness or need help making new friends. You are also responsible for making sure that there is no bullying and that students treat each other and SJW staff/faculty with respect.
- With oversight from the Head Counselor, organize and participate in after-class/evening activities for students each day. Create a fun and engaging atmosphere for the students when they are not at classes, clinics, or jam sessions. A week at camp usually includes following activities: an ice cream social, evening sports, s’mores night, a talent show, a dorm dance, a Friends and Family dinner and a student showcase. It is the responsibility of the counselor staff to organize and facilitate these events. Normally the duties will involve grocery shopping, decorating, DJ-ing, coaching, leading a morning activity or counselor talent show skit, etc.
- Report any threats, safety issues or concerns to the Director of Educational Programming and Head Counselor. If you observe anything that concerns you, report it to the main office immediately.
- Under the direction of the Faculty Director, facilitate the educational and musical endeavors of the camp and SJW. You may be asked to assist in a class or to lead in a jam session.
To Apply
Complete the Seasonal Employee Application form linked below and submit it along with a cover letter and résumé to [email protected]
Head Counselor
Program Dates
Jazz Camp Week 1: July 13—18
Jazz Camp Week 2: July 20—25
Jazz Institute: July 27—August 1
Position Description
The Head Counselor will report to the Director of Educational Programming to ensure that all camp youth participants (ages 12-17) are supervised throughout the week-long program, including meetings and activities during the day and evening, and overnight supervision in student dormitories.
This is a full-time seasonal position that begins with a pre-camp Saturday training session and ends the following Saturday at around 11am.
All SJW Camp Counselors must be on site 24 hours a day and be available to help in any situation. If you need to leave the campus, advance arrangements must be made with the Director of Educational Programming.
In addition to the duties of Camp Counselors listed below, the Head Counselor will: be in constant communication with the counselor team and address any concerns regarding the students and/or counselors, communicating with the Director of Educational Programming or other admin team member when appropriate. The Head Counselor will also co-lead a daily counselor meeting along with the Director of Educational Programming. This meeting will include discussion of any issues and assignment of the counselors’ duties for that day.
There is a zero tolerance policy for alcohol/smoking anywhere near the camp participants or the dorms. You are expected to set a good example for the students you are supervising while on duty.
Responsibilities:
- Facilitate the success of the Camp Counselor team
- Lead the daily Camp Counselor meeting with the Director of Educational Programming.
- Maintain counselor responsibility calendar and assign Camp Counselors their roles for the day.
- Attend the Camp Counselor pre-camp Saturday training session that will be held the Saturday before camp begins. This meeting is usually held at noon in Braun Music Center at Stanford University.
- Assist with Sunday registration. This is when all students arrive. Each counselor will be assigned a special duty for the day and will need to have read all the pre-camp materials. Be prepared to answer questions from parents and students who are arriving.
- Make sure that SJW students are accounted for at all times. Your most important task is taking attendance and knowing where students are at all times, day and night.
- Monitor and maintain students’ emotional and physical well-being. Be prepared to help students who are dealing with homesickness or need help making new friends. You are also responsible for making sure that there is no bullying and that students treat each other and SJW staff/faculty with respect.
- With oversight from the Director of Educational Programming, organize and participate in after-class/evening activities for students each day. Create a fun and engaging atmosphere for the students when they are not at classes, clinics, or jam sessions. A week at camp usually includes following activities: an ice cream social, evening sports, s’mores night, a talent show, a dorm dance, a Friends and Family dinner and a student showcase. It is the responsibility of the counselor staff to organize and facilitate these events. Normally the duties will involve grocery shopping, decorating, DJ-ing, coaching, leading a morning activity or counselor talent show skit, etc.
- Report any threats, safety issues or concerns to the Registrar and Head Counselor. If you observe anything that concerns you, report it to the main office immediately.
- Under the direction of the Director of Educational Programming, facilitate the educational and musical endeavors of the camp and SJW. You may be asked to assist in a class or to lead in a jam session.
To Apply
Complete the Seasonal Employee Application form linked below and submit it along with a cover letter and résumé to [email protected]
Complete the Seasonal Employee Application form linked above. Please also email a cover letter and résumé to [email protected]
About Stanford Jazz Workshop
Stanford Jazz Workshop (SJW) is a 52-year-old independent nonprofit dedicated to the perpetuation of jazz music through educational programs and concerts of the highest artistic quality. Our mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire a community of artists, students, and audience members through the study, performance, and appreciation of jazz — an original American musical form.
Our summer jazz immersion programs are held on the beautiful campus of Stanford University during July and August each year. We produce the annual Stanford Jazz Festival, featuring many of the world’s greatest jazz artists. Our year-round jazz education programs include the Giant Steps Big Bands for middle school musicians, the Miles Ahead Big Bands for high school musicians, JazzGirls Day, the SJW Fall Jazz Festival, and the Jazz Inside Out series of jazz engagement programs.
