Perkins School for the Blind
From Perkins School for the Blind's careers page
Status: listed on the employer's own careers page when we last checked (daily). Confirm on their site before applying.
Perkins helps children with disabilities find their place in the world. An international NGO, we are committed to delivering best-in-class education to children, providing immersive training and support to professionals and families, advocating for inclusion, and accelerating innovation for people with disabilities. At Perkins, we think courageously, act collaboratively, and we own our work. Join a supportive community committed to growth where your work makes a difference.
As our Program Support Coordinator you perform a number of essential administrative and operational tasks directly related to the successful operation of school, residential, and expanded core curriculum programming.
Administrative & Operational Support
Provide direct support to the ADSLs and cottage supervisors (CRLs, CSLs, ACRLs) to support the creation, implementation, and maintenance of critical residential systems and tasks, including, but not limited to:
Asleep Overnight Oversight: Manage scheduling, supervision, and operational oversight for asleep overnight staff.
Student Activity & Staff Coverage Planning: Ensure effective activity planning and adequate staff coverage for all shifts, with targeted focus on high-need evening and weekend time frames.
Cottage File & Audit Readiness: Organize and maintain cottage files, logs, and reports to ensure audit readiness and full compliance with licensing regulations.
Operational Leadership & Vacancy Coverage: Provide direct supervision and operational coverage for ACRLs and CRLs as needed during short-term vacancies and long-term leaves, assuming additional supervisory assignments directed by the ADSL to maintain continuous leadership across shifts.
Data Reporting: Assist in the collection and organization of student progress data from residential staff; ensure that data is formatted correctly for inclusion in IEP and Transition portfolios.
Family Liaison Support: Act as an alternative point of contact for families regarding non-clinical, administrative questions (e.g., packing lists, activity schedules, or transportation logistics).
Admissions & Student Transition Logistics: Support the Assistant Directors of Student Life (ADSLs) in coordinating administrative, operational logistics for student transitions including outside admissions, inter-cottage moves, and program transitions (such as Lower School and Deafblind moves into residential living).
Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess cottage and program needs to identify operational or resource gaps, help execute targeted action plans to drive ongoing improvements.
Facilities Coordination
Domestic Service Worker Supervision: Directly supervise Domestic Service Workers (DSWs), ensuring cottage cleanliness and environmental standards meet student needs as well as health and safety regulations.
Operational Communication Hub: Act as a central point of contact for cottage-related operations, proactively streamlining communication between residential staff, Facilities, and Food Services.
Maintenance Request Management: Support CRLs and ADSLs to oversee the submission and tracking of cottage maintenance requests, providing active follow-up to ensure swift resolution and safe living environments.
Food Services & Dining Operations: Support CRLs and ADSLs to partner with Food Services to manage routine student meal planning, accommodate specialized dietary needs, and coordinate catering or logistics for campus events.
Student Empowerment
Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Skill Building: Actively promote student self-advocacy, personal independence, and self-confidence through structured social and organizational activities.
Inclusive Culture & Environment: Provide leadership that fosters a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment; model and reinforce positive social interactions that honor student dignity and empower both students and staff.
Medical and Staff Training Clearances
Vehicle Clearance: Obtain and maintain Perkins Vehicle Driver Clearance, with willingness to drive program vehicles (including chair cars) to support student transportation needs. Maintain willingness to obtain required clearances to train staff on as needed.
Equipment Clearances & Appliance Training: Maintain willingness to obtain required clearances to operate and train staff in areas including student appliances use, mobility equipment, and mechanical lifts (e.g., Hoyer lifts), and driving school vehicles.
Medication Administration Clearance: Maintain clearance to administer medications, help to ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations, and ensure that all student health-related documentation in the cottages is current and accurate.
Compliance Management
Departmental Licensing Compliance: Ensure the entire residential department remains in continuous, full compliance with all external licensing standards and institutional regulations.
Cottage Environmental Walkthroughs & Quality Checks: Conduct monthly cottage environmental walkthroughs—including completing standardized safety, hygiene, and accessibility checklists—and help manage necessary follow-ups to ensure student living spaces remain safe, clean, compliant, and properly structured for student needs (e.g., CVI accommodations and physical mobility access).
Professional Development & Certification Tracking: Maintain and update the department's professional development database, tracking completion dates for all staff mandated trainings and core certifications (e.g., CPR, First Aid, Safety Care).
Training Credential Lifecycle Monitoring: Monitor training credential lifecycles and proactively alert ADSLs and staff when certifications are nearing expiration to prevent compliance gaps.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and written
Ability to maintain confidential information
Ability to lead diverse work groups
Ability to work well in a team and individually
Exhibits sound and accurate judgment
Ability to interact in a consultative professional manner
Demonstrated strong organizational skills
Ability to prioritize and manage several responsibilities concurrently
Ability to utilize available resources and creative problem solving skills in supporting the growth and performance of staff
Knowledgeable about the impact of vision impairment on development, classroom learning and community access
Familiarity with various types of low vision devices (optical and non-optical) and assistive technology
Knowledge of state and federal laws regarding the education of students with visual impairments and other disabilities
Knowledge of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and understanding of how the Expanded Core Curriculum for Students with Visual Impairments is designed to support access to the general education curriculum
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge and practical application of Internet software; Microsoft Office, Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.
Bachelor's degree required
Three (3) years experience working with special needs children or an equivalent combination of education and experience
First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Safety Care training
Sign Language (dependent on program needs)
Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive school vehicles including chair cars
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Generally, the essential functions performed are typical in a school environment and involve work with special needs students requiring lifting or exertion of up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally. Typically, essential functions routinely require stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling. Workers are required to ascend and descend stairs, walk, bend, reach, and handle objects, travel independently, and use hands to operate tools and equipment specific to the discipline, computer and keyboard. Work requires expression or exchange of ideas and the ability to receive detailed information. Work requires ability to compare, compile, analyze, and coordinate data and information; ability to instruct or train others; and ability to utilize effective interpersonal skills and behaviors. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Perkins offers a comprehensive benefits package for part time and full time employees, including:
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Wellness programs available.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employer-Paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
401(k) Plan with employer match
Paid Time Off
Extras: Employee Recognition Programs, EAP, legal services, referral bonuses, credit union access, pre-tax MBTA passes and more!
Perkins is a mission-driven community that supports your well-being at work and beyond. We are located in the heart of Watertown, adjacent to the Charles River and less than 1 mile from food & entertainment at Arsenal Yards.
Perkins is an equal opportunity employer. View the Perkins Notice of non-discrimination.
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