Camp Director

JCC Association of North America; Village of Cold Spring (NY); Hybride; USD 135 000 - 150 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Surprise Lake Camp is seeking an experienced Camp Director to lead a Jewish sleepaway camp based in the Hudson Valley. The role combines remote planning from September to May with on-site leadership during the summer season in Cold Spring, NY, including travel for outreach and recruitment.

As a senior leader, you will oversee enrollment growth, safety, programming excellence, and year-round staff supervision while fostering community relations and maintaining a high standard of customer service

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of leadership in overnight camping or youth programs.
• Track record in recruiting campers and staff.
• Strong public speaking and salesmanship.
• Familiarity with Jewish culture and community engagement.
• Proficient with standard office software and online platforms.

Responsabilités

• Drive enrollment growth and retention strategies.
• Oversee day-to-day operations and safety of the summer program.
• Lead year-round staff and seasonal staffing plans.
• Manage budgeting for programs and recruitment.
• Coordinate staff training and orientation.
• Represent camp at events and with health/association partners.

Connaissances

Leadership

Recruitment

Public speaking

Budget management

Operations

Fundraising

Outils

MS Office

Online media platforms

Description du poste

Location and Job Title:

Camp Director
Surprise Lake Camp
382 Lake Surprise Road
Cold Spring, NY 10516

Principal Responsibilities:

Surprise Lake Camp is seeking an experienced Jewish camp professional with a passion for camping to serve as Camp Director. As a member of a small year-round staff, you will be a thoughtful and creative leader as well as a key player in a hard-working team. This position is primarily remote from September to May. Camp is located in Cold Spring, NY where you will live during the season. As the Camp Director, you should expect to travel as a representative of the camp, including local and regional events, professional development conferences, and recruiting trips for both staff and campers. Travel will be on weekdays, weekends and may include international travel.

Minimum Qualifications:

The Camp Director position will report to camp's Executive Director.

Drive enrollment growth, retention, and long-term sustainability. Including but not limited to, creating a robust camper recruitment plan, managing year-round camper recruitment strategies, ensuring effective lead management systems, and monitoring quality camper retention strategies.

Oversee overall day-to-day operations, safety, and performance of the summer camp program.

Oversee all safety reviews, plans, strategies, programs, certifications, and compliance.

Foster a culture of program innovation and operational excellence.

Responsible for developing and overseeing the review and development of plans for outstanding customer service.

Year-round staff supervision. Includes roles such as Assistant Camp Director, Marketing Director, and seasonal staff that support year-round functions.

Oversee hiring and supervision of seasonal staff. Including but not limited to creating a hiring plan for each year, actively managing and participating in the staffing process, working with camp's Executive Director to ensure the proper organizational structure is in place for quality staff support and management, and showing up daily as a forward-facing camp leader.

Budget responsibility for summer camp programs including staff, program, and recruitment of campers and staff.

Develop and oversee summer staff training and orientations.

Supervise the planning and execution of important engagement initiatives, such as Get Your Feet Wet (starter program for young campers), Labor Day (family camping weekend), Camp Reunions, and others related to engaging with new and current families.

Attend, plan and follow-up on board and committee meetings.

Support donor and alumni engagement and stewardship.

Support the execution of the camp's Strategic Plan.

Generate written materials, evaluations, and reports as needed.

Represent Camp with the Putnam County Department of Health and the American Camp Association.

The Essentials:

A minimum of 3-5 years of leadership experience in overnight camping, youth development, education, or related field.

Success leading teams and complex operations.

Strong track record of recruiting campers and staff.

An understanding of Jewish culture.

Highly proficient with standard office software and various online media platforms and ability to learn new systems.

Experience in public speaking and salesmanship.

Ability to work as part of a team and independently. Ability to work long "camp hours" while in season.

Experience navigating growth, change, or organizational transformation.

Salary:

$135,000 - $150,000

Agency Information:

Founded in 1902, Surprise Lake Camp is the longest running Jewish Sleepaway Camp in the United States. A non-profit organization located in the Hudson Valley of New York. We create fun, meaningful, inclusive, and joyful experiences through educational, social, cultural, spiritual, fitness, and wellness programs. Surprise Lake Camp is an overnight camp for children entering grades 1-10.