Assistant Coordinator Middle School Competitive Robotics (ECA)

Position: Assistant Coordinator - Middle School Competitive Robotics (ECA)

Location: Fort Couch

Dates of Assignment: 2026-2027 School Year

Summary:

This position is for an Extra Curricular Activity (ECA) for the 2026/2027 school year in the Upper St Clair School District.  The position requires approximately 3 days a week of hands-on work in the evening/weekend with a combination of working with the Coordinator of the Middle School Competitive Robotics Program, middle school students (grades 5-8), and volunteer parent coaches. 

The USC Robotics Middle School Program competes in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge program.  Knowledge of this program is not necessary to start but will be helpful moving forward. The main focus of this role is helping to coordinate a program with 15 teams, over 30 volunteer parent coaches (2 per team), and approximately 90 students.  

Responsibilities:

Communication

• Maintain a spreadsheet of team schedule
• Interact with volunteer parents to help keep them on task

Training

• Give presentations during orientation for coaches
• Show coaches the robotics space and explain process to reserve a practice time
• Manage access to Basecamp project management software and assist coaches on how to use it

Practice

• Attend 2 practice sessions per week (each session is 2 hours in the evening)
• Guide coaches to help keep students on track
• Maintain the shared equipment in the robotics space
• Report any behavior or roster concerns - coaches having unreasonable expectations, disruptive students, anyone not demonstrating FIRST Core Values
• If everything is running smoothly - sort robot parts into proper bins

Scrimmages

• Plan on attending 5 weekend scrimmages during the first semester
• cheerlead/socratic dialogue with teams during the event
• Offer assistance as needed
• Keep order on the bus and enforce bus policy

USC/Facility/Program

• Attend USC Robotics Boosters board meetings when appropriate
• Meet with program coordinators virtually or in person
• Help with annual events such as season kickoff, end of year celebration, etc.
• Help with shipments, distribution of materials/information, building and LEGO sorting
• Learn about the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge program and how to guide students and coaches during the competition season

Qualifications:

• No prior experience with robotics or programming is necessary, but any such experience is a strong plus.
• Background in coaching youth sports or team activities, teaching, or facilitating camps or workshops.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Additionally the following must be completed prior to being employed:

• Background clearances
• 3 hour online (free) Mandated Reporter Training
• Drug Test
• Physical/TB Test