Program Lead: Coding for Gaming, Tufts Pre-College Programs

Role Overview

The Tufts University College Pre-College team is seeking a Program Lead for our 1-week gaming program: Coding for Gaming, offered by Tufts' University College to rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors. "Coding for Gaming" is a fast-paced, immersive summer program that introduces high school students to the core principles of game development, interactive storytelling, and coding through the lens of professional game design. Students will gain hands-on experience designing, prototyping, and coding their own playable games. In just one week, students will explore the full game development pipeline-from concept to code-while learning about the collaborative roles of designers, developers, and storytellers in the gaming industry. The goal is for student to learn not just technical skills, but also creative problem-solving, playtesting, and game design. The Program Lead will be responsible for overall program coordination, including schedule creation, program planning, and logistical operations.

Responsibilities

As a Program Lead, your duties include, but are not limited to:

Program Planning and Preparation:

• Admissions: review/manage assigned program staff to review student applications; post admission decisions in the application review portal; correspond with applicants as needed
• Marketing: support the Pre-College Program Administrators related to: review marketing materials, suggest website updates, engage in email and phone outreach to applicants/parents before and during the program, participate in social media campaigns
• Hiring/Payroll: engage in recruiting, payment, and related logistics for program staff, including program instructors, guest speakers, course assistants, and instructional support staff in collaboration with the Pre-College team. Supervise course assistants and instructional support staff or support Instructor related to supervision.
• Program Materials Prep: support course instructor with program logistics such as Canvas, Zoom, resource planning, and other preparation.
• Program Planning: support course instructor with planning sessions, workshops, course schedule, curriculum, field trips, and opening/closing activities. Coordinate with the Pre-College team.

Operations:

• Communications: act as the main point of contact for the program
• Scheduling: schedule all necessary trainings and activities
• Program Implementation: implement and oversee sessions, liaise with participating staff, faculty, and guest speakers. Coordinate and attend opening/closing activities. Coordinate with applicable parties to manage student attendance

Time Commitment Estimation

• Phase 1: Program Planning: The Program Lead can expect to work an average of 8-10 hours per month between February-June for pre-program planning.
• Phase 2: Program Implementation: June 22-26, 2026; Estimated 40 hours on campus

Compensation

The Program Lead will be paid $32/hour for all hours worked during program planning and implementation. (Estimated ~85-90 hours).

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills (written and verbal)
• Adept critical thinking, process development, and operationalization. Strong attention to detail
• Excellent project management skills, prioritization abilities and navigation of tight deadlines
• Proficiency and previous experience with Microsoft Office Suite strongly preferred
• Previous experience in research and/or program management preferred
• Previous experience working with high school aged students preferred
• Applicants with experience in coding or game design will receive priority consideration