Eagle Lake Overnight Camp Director

Navigators; Colorado; On-site; USD 58,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement options

15 paid holidays per year

Paid time off

Job summary

The Navigators are seeking an Overnight Camp Director to lead Eagle Lake Camp’s summer program in Colorado. You will live on-site for the season, steward camper safety, curriculum, and the family experience, guiding staff, and shaping program quality with a focus on spiritual formation and guest satisfaction.

You will partner with the Day Camps Director to ensure alignment across overnight and day programs, while strengthening camper retention and multi-year engagement with families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated leadership in camp, ministry, or youth settings.
• Strong communication and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Own camper and family experience from arrival to pickup with exceptional hospitality.
• Provide oversight of staff, safety, and program quality for overnight camp.
• Drive family retention, enrollment growth, and long-term engagement.
• Raise ministry partner relationships and participate in fundraising activities.
• Collaborate with Day Camps Director to align curricula across programs.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Team management

Child discipleship

Adaptability

Problem solving

Relational building

Staff development

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CPR/First Aid certification

ACA accreditation knowledge

Job description

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Overnight Camp Director shall serve The Navigators and fulfill the responsibilities listed below in the spirit of The Navigators calling, values and purpose: To advance the Gospel of Jesus and His kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the lost. This role is responsible for the health, quality, and long-term growth of Eagle Lake’s overnight ministry. As the primary relationship owner for camp families, the Director brings hospitality, care, spiritual formation, and program quality into one seamless, mission-driven experience, and owns camper retention, family engagement, and curriculum strategy in direct partnership with the Day Camps Director (as a peer, not a supervisor). This role is required to live on-site at Overnight Camp for the full duration of the summer camping season, serving as the senior leader on-site and the final decision-maker on significant operational, safety, and guest-experience matters while empowering other leaders to make good decisions within their own areas. Success is measured by camper and parent satisfaction, family retention and multi-year engagement, meaningful spiritual formation, and the overall excellence of the overnight camp experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Camper, Family & Program Experience Responsibilities (40%)

Own the holistic camper and family experience at overnight camp, from arrival at the gate through camper pick-up. Build direct, ongoing relationships with parents, owning the parent relationship more than any other position at Eagle Lake, and ensure families experience exceptional communication, hospitality, care, and customer service throughout the on-site camper journey. Provide support for the Associate Overnight Director on escalated parent concerns, and partner with the Registrar/Office Manager to align strategic family communications before each camp season begins. Champion camper safety, spiritual growth, well-being, and joy throughout the overnight camp experience. Own camper curriculum and child-development strategy for overnight camp, in partnership with the Associate Overnight Director, who executes program logistics and leads summer staff. Ensure a clear progression pathway that encourages campers and families to return and deepen their engagement, moving from first-time participation to lifelong involvement and ultimately to serving as future counselors and leaders. Partner directly with the Day Camps Director to ensure curriculum and child-development alignment across both overnight and day camp.

Operational & Team Leadership Responsibilities (35%)

Provide oversight and leadership to functional teams at overnight camp, ensuring mission-aligned and high-quality execution. Partner with the Director of Facilities to ensure the camp property is guest-ready at all times. Partner with the Safety & Equipment Specialist to ensure camper safety and accreditation/licensing compliance for overnight programming. Hold direct oversight of staffing decisions for the kitchen and medical teams (seasonal Kitchen Manager and Medical/Health Coordinator positions run day-to-day operations each summer and report to this role), ensuring food service and medical care meet the standard families expect as part of the holistic camp experience. Supervise and support the Associate Overnight Director. Build and nurture a healthy, mission-driven team environment among seasonal and year-round staff. Ensure clear communication and coordination across all departments, leading daily leadership huddles during the summer to align priorities and troubleshoot challenges. Own the coordination and logistics of staff chapel during the summer, ensuring a rotation of qualified speakers and a spiritually meaningful, consistently well-run experience for the staff community.

Growth, Engagement & Partnerships Responsibilities (20%)

Own family retention and multi-year engagement as a primary outcome, partnering with the Operations Director, Administrative team, and Marketing team to increase enrollment, strengthen family loyalty, and grow long-term participation in Eagle Lake programs. Monitor key performance indicators related to camper retention, satisfaction, progression, and enrollment, and use data to inform strategic decisions. Serve as a welcoming representative of Eagle Lake to alumni, ministry partners, donors, guests, and other key stakeholders. Support efforts to cultivate long-term relationships that strengthen Eagle Lake’s ministry and impact.

Ministry Partner Development Responsibilities (5%)

Raise personal support to meet annual funding requirements. Manage relationships and establish routine communication with ministry partners (at least every other month) to keep them informed of ministry impact. Monitor funding and communicate with supervisor. Additional Responsibilities Participate in Navigators’ on-site learning and development events, Cultural Development and Diversity trainings, or other non-Navigator developmental events as appropriate. Participate in annual processes, such as the organizational Plan and Progress Review (PPR), Engagement Survey, Reaffirmation of the Navigators Code of Conduct, Calling-Core Values-Vision, Statement of Faith, Driver’s Authorization, and other releases as required. Approve time in Workday for all direct reports on a weekly basis. Other job-related duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic thinker and hands-on executor
• Warm, relational, and ministry-minded leader
• Clear communicator and confident decision-maker
• Organized, adaptable, and solution-oriented
• Passionate about kid discipleship and leadership development
• Teachable: open to feedback and growth
• Team-ability: collaborative and mission-minded
• Adaptable: able to pivot with flexibility and creativity
• Driven: goal-oriented and proactive in solving challenges
• Resilient: able to handle pressure and recover from setbacks
• Humble: self-aware and grounded
• Curious: eager to explore new ideas and improve processes
• Emotionally strong: positive, empathetic, and calm under stress

MINIMUM AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Spiritual:

Belief in and adherence to the Statement of Faith and Mission of The Navigators. A deep personal faith and alignment with the mission and values of Eagle Lake Camps. Commitment to Eagle Lake’s Purpose, Core Values, and Brand Promise, and willingness to abide by Eagle Lake’s Relational Covenant.

Experience:

Demonstrated leadership experience in a camp, ministry, or youth-focused environment. Strong organizational and team-management skills; able to handle complexity and lead under pressure. Relational maturity and strong interpersonal skills.

Technical Knowledge & Skills:

General awareness of camp safety standards, ACA accreditation, and licensing requirements. CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Communication & Leadership:

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, verbal & written; a clear communicator and confident decision-maker who builds strong, trusting relationships with families, staff, and ministry partners.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Location:

Must live on location at Eagle Lake Camp for the summer season. Eagle Lake is located in Woodlake Park, CO.

Compensation Range:

$57,784.00 - $88,247.25 per year

Benefits:

High-Deductible Health Plan: Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, FSA, Life Insurance, Disability, EAP, 401a and 403b retirement options. Up to 15 paid holidays per year, accumulating PTO (vacation, sick, personal). For detailed information, visit navbenefits.org.

The Navigators is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Navigators does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law or regulation.

If you share this passion for Life-to-Life discipleship and you’re searching for a career where your own calling echoes the voices of the people around you, we would love for you to join our team!