Camp Director

Diocese; Iowa; Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite summer housing

Job summary

St. Thomas More Center is seeking a Camp Director to lead the Catholic Youth Camp (CYC) season, oversee staff and volunteers, and ensure a faith-filled, safe environment aligned with Gospel values.

The role requires collaboration with the CYC Chaplain and Mission staff, and a focus on youth formation and leadership development. The position includes seasonal on-site duties, remote work during retreat seasons, and housing provided during the summer, with a strong emphasis on mission, safety, and

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in theology or youth ministry or demonstrated equivalent understanding.
• Minimum of two years leading Catholic youth/young adult ministry or faith curriculum in a camp setting.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor young adult leaders and supervise volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the Center's mission and Catholic identity are reflected in daily duties.
• Supervise and mentor CYC staff and volunteers; recruit, hire, train as required.
• Manage Safe Environment program and risk management best practices.
• Coordinate faith curriculum with CYC Chaplain(s) and Evangelization & Mission staff.
• Oversee camper registration, food service, activities, and summer office operations.
• Develop leadership curricula for high school youth and young adults.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's in theology

Job description

Description

Camp Director – Position Description

St. Thomas More Center

Job Title: Camp Director

Position Type: Fulltime

Corporation: St. Thomas More Center

Reports to: Executive Director of the St. Thomas More Center

Specifications:

• 32 hours a week September- April and capacity to work remotely during the retreat season
• 40+ hours a week and officing in Panora required during the months of May-August
• On site residence during June-August

General Responsibilities:

The Camp Director is responsible for proclaiming the gospel by implementing plans that reflect a theological understanding of effective ministry to ensure lifelong formation, and is responsive to the spiritual needs of youth and young adults primarily within the Diocese of Des Moines. As a leader of an affiliated nonprofit corporation, the Camp Director has day-to-day operational leadership of Catholic Youth Camp (CYC), a seasonal operation of the Center. The position will maintain a faith-filled, nurturing, safe and fun community that promotes Gospel values and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Essential Functions:

• Assures that the philosophy and mission of the St. Thomas More Center is apparent in the performance of duties. Communicates and promotes a strong commitment to the Center’s philosophy, mission, strategic plan, and Catholic identity.
• Supervises and mentors CYC young adult staff to ensure competence, evangelical understanding, and skill development. Recruits, hires and trains employees and volunteers to ensure compliance with Diocesan and secular laws, as well as youth ministry and risk management best practices.
• Manages the Safe Environment Program, as required by the Diocese of Des Moines.
• Communicates and interacts effectively and professionally with youth and young adults, parents/guardians, and co-workers, including during challenging or high-stress situations in the camp environment.
• Responds promptly and appropriately to unusual, hazardous, or emergency situations, including situations requiring sustained attention, timely decision-making, and adherence to established safety and emergency procedures.
• Works with CYC Chaplain(s) and staff of the Department of Evangelization & Mission to develop and implement faith curriculum for CYC participants. Provides opportunities for participants at CYC events to experience age-appropriate prayer, personal spiritual development, vocational awareness and communal worship experiences.
• Develops and supervises a structured leadership development curriculum for high school youth and young adults serving in paid and volunteer positions, including volunteer counselors and camp directors at CYC. Models positive leadership.
• Initiates and maintains accurate records and certifications of campers, volunteers and seasonal employees of CYC. Ensures that accurate financial information is maintained for necessary financial operations and employment compensation.
• Coordinates marketing outreach and promotion of CYC events to effectively reach target audiences and achieve budgeted attendance; including maintenance of accurate website, software, and social media content.
• Oversees the daily operation of the summer CYC camp program including camper registration and check-in/out, food service, program areas, first aid, canteen, and summer office operations.

Additional Functions:

• Participates in the Center’s annual budget planning process and monitors spending while coordinating purchasing for CYC throughout the year.
• Coordinates the recruitment, hospitality and honorariums for CYC guest speakers and resident women religious and seminarians.
• Works with Facilities Manager to coordinate summer cleaning, orders consumable supplies, and communicates summer facility maintenance needs.
• Acquires and maintains required certifications and completes other assignments as directed by the Executive Director.

Essential Relationships:

• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises and coordinates the schedules of CYC summer paid staff, summer office staff, and weekly, volunteer directors and youth and young adult counselors; includes staff in programming development and encourages engagement in implementation to develop leadership skills.
• Engages with current and prospective campers and their parents/guardians through regular communication to seek input and respond to inquiries/needs.
• Works closely with the CYC Chaplain(s) for CYC faith formation programming.
• Works closely with youth ministers, Catholic school administrators, directors of religious education and pastors to foster connections and support parish youth and young adult ministry.
• Works with the Diocesan Directors of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and other staff members of the Diocesan Department of Evangelization and Mission.
• Facilitates conflict resolution and fosters problem solving across all essential relationships.

Minimum Knowledge/Skills and Abilities Required:

• Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.
• Earned a bachelor’s degree in theology or youth ministry from an accredited institution or has developed a thorough understanding of Catholic theology and youth ministry best practices.
• Minimum of two years of leadership experience in either Catholic youth and young adult ministry, or faith curriculum development in a camp setting.
• Demonstrated record of success in leading, fostering and mentoring young adult leaders.
• Proven experience and skills in directing and supervising volunteers.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including an ability to problem-solve in difficult conditions.
• Holds a valid/unexpired driver’s license. Must meet organization's driver eligibility and insurance requirements.
• Ability to acquire and maintain any required certifications including ropes course, ServSafe, first and and CPR, and others as necessary.

• Working Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Frequently required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds regularly and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Regularly exposed to outside weather conditions, especially Iowa summer weather.
• Noise levels in the work environment are consistent with activities involving 175-200 youth.
• Ability to facilitate high ropes, climbing wall, crate stacking, and confidence course activities as necessary.

Special Conditions:

• Requires a flexible and variable schedule, including some evenings and weekends during the off season. All weekends and many evenings are expected during the summer camping season.
• Expectation that the position have onsite residence during CYC summer camp season (housing will be provided).
• This position has reduced hours in the off season (32 hrs a week, September- April) to off-set the “on-duty” hours necessary to successfully operate CYC during the summer.
• Capacity to work remotely during the retreat season
• 40+ hrs a week and full time officing in Panora May-August.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.