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Academic Specialist, Vogue Summer School

Vogue College of Fashion
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Academic Specialist, Pre-College 2025 – New York 

Department: Vogue Summer School 

Employment Type: Contractor 

Minimum Experience: Mid-level 

 

Context  

BrandEd is a successful group of education businesses, including Sotheby’s Institute of Art, The School of The New York Times, Manchester City Business School and Vogue College of Fashion. Its mission is to build compelling education programs in partnership with the world’s best brands. The Global Pre-College & Collegiate Division (GPCD) supports its expansion and plans for growth, by working across schools on the development and delivery of non-MA programs.  

 

About Vogue Summer School 

Vogue Summer School invites high school students who are curious and passionate about the world of fashion to experience it first-hand in the heart of New York City—one of the most important fashion capitals in the world. Students will explore a range of topics shaping the industry today and can choose from specialized courses in fashion business, fashion styling, and fashion media. 

The program, which consists of four 2-week terms across June and July, will provide students with direct access to fashion-world professionals, and faculty will host daily live sessions. Faculty-guided tours of notable industry sites in NYC will bring a firsthand experience of the fashion world. All courses are taught by fashion industry experts in collaboration with teaching professionals.  

 

Job Summary  
On a daily basis, Academic Specialists observe classes and provide pedagogical feedback to Vogue Summer School academic staff to help strengthen the overall student experience. As additional adults in the classroom alongside each section’s Instructor and industry expert lecturers, Academic Specialists are a crucial organizational support for the teaching team. Academic Specialists provide back-up instructional support for two courses, assisting in tutorial sessions during the morning and afternoon. Academic Specialists chaperone class site visits alongside the Instructor and are responsible for wayfinding and safely and effectively managing class travel. After the end of each term, Academic Specialists review and revise evaluations of students written by faculty to create a common tone and ensure a positive, constructive, student-centered approach. 

 

Qualifications 
A Bachelor of Arts degree in a relevant field is required; a graduate degree (obtained/in progress) or professional experience is recommended. Additionally, Academic Specialists should have at least two years of assistant teaching experience or one year of experience as a lead teacher with some experience teaching or editing writing, ideally within a fashion, arts, or humanities context. Academic Specialists must be CPR certified by the beginning of the program; applicants must either possess CPR certification or be willing to acquire it at their own expense in advance of the program. Three professional references are required. 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Pre-Session: 

  • Complete asynchronous training sessions on diversity and inclusion, use of the Orah app, protection of minors, mental health first aid, de-escalation protocols, and mandated reporting. Obtain CPR/First Aid certificate at own expense. 
  • Attend two orientation sessions via Zoom: one focused on the Academic Specialist role, and one focused on the ethos and teaching practices of Vogue Summer School and Vogue College of Fashion. 
  • About one week prior to the start of the term, connect with their assigned Instructor / Academic Specialist team for introductions and any necessary course preparations. 

During Session: 

  • As scheduled, observe courses and write detailed reports on observations that include pedagogical feedback to strengthen course offerings. 
  • Alert Vogue Summer School staff to challenges that need to be addressed immediately. 
  • Support development of students’ final projects, including preparatory assignments and all creative projects during daily tutorial sections. 
  • Travel with students to and from class field trips, providing supervision and guidance on travel itinerary throughout. Map out subway routes for trips to and from campus and between locations, in collaboration with the Instructor and a fellow Academic Specialist. 
  • Assist Instructors in documenting attendance and student-specific concerns using the Orah app, following app best practices and promptly reporting any issues. 
  • Serve as on-call faculty support as needed, including but not limited to serving as backup instructor in case of faculty absences. 
  • Other duties as assigned, including any requests made by the Programming Team, Lead Instructor and Instructor team that help facilitate the classroom experience for students. 

Post-Session: 

  • Review and revise narrative evaluations of students written by faculty to create a common tone and ensure a positive, constructive, student-centered approach. 
  • Liaise with Vogue Summer School staff to review courses and provide feedback for future planning. 

 

Instructional Dates with Open Positions: 

Term 1: June 9 - 20 

Term 2: June 23 – July 4 

Term 3: July 7 - 18 

Term 4: July 21 – August 1 

NOTE: VSS Academic Specialists work 30 – 40 hours per week, typically scheduled Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.  Applicants are contracted on a term-by-term basis and should specify which of the 4 term(s) that they are available in their cover letter. Those available for more than one term will be given preference. Academic Specialists will be expected to work on Juneteenth (June 19th). Academic Specialists are encouraged, though not required, to attend the program closing ceremony on the second Friday of each term. 

Some tasks may be completed remotely, though all applicants must be available to work in person in New York City. Knowledge of and prior experience in the city, specifically navigating the subway system, is strongly preferred. 

 

Areas of Content Expertise   
Fashion design, fashion styling, fashion media, fashion business, creative direction, fashion history, art history, cultural studies, classroom management, high school student support 

 

Other Requirements 

Academic Specialists must be CPR certified or must be willing to obtain certification at their own expense prior to the start of the program. 
Academic Specialists must bring a personal laptop computer or tablet each day to complete class observation evaluations online. 

 

Language Skills   
While no special language skills are required for the position, applicants must be capable of upholding the highest standards of written and spoken English.  

 

Teaching Experience  
Academic Specialists should have at least two years of assistant teaching experience or one year of experience as a lead instructor, with some experience teaching writing, fashion, and/or media studies. Academic Specialists should also have some experience with high school students, in either formal or informal educational programs. 

 

Physical Demands   
The physical demands listed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of his/her job. Under the ADA, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

  • Ability to sit for long periods of time  
  • Ability to travel extensively within the broader New York City area via walking and the subway system 
  • Ability to sit, stand, walk, travel up and down stairs, crouch, stoop, and reach 
  • Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. 

 

Salary 
$1,750 per term (2 weeks), as an independent contractor.  

 

Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.  

Only qualified candidates should apply (NO RECRUITERS).  

Vogue College of Fashion is an Equal Opportunity Employer.