Program Director

Camp Greystone; Zirconia (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vacation & holidays

401(k)

Housing during summer

Meals provided

Job summary

Camp Greystone seeks a strategic, relational Program Director to lead the year-round leadership team and oversee a dynamic, safety‑minded summer program for girls near Hendersonville, NC.

The role requires building staff, shaping program offerings, maintaining safety standards, and ensuring excellent camper experiences aligned with Greystone’s mission. Expect a cyclical, hands‑on leadership position with opportunities to influence the program for years ahead.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required or preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years in a leadership role within a summer camp, outdoor education, or similar setting.
• Committed Christian, aligned with Greystone’s mission and faith statement.
• Knowledge of safety regulations, risk management, and best practices in outdoor activities.
• Willingness to travel as needed for staff recruiting.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead the camp program across sessions and years, ensuring high quality camper experiences.
• Oversee staffing planning, hiring, and development for program areas and department heads.
• Ensure program operations, safety compliance, and ACA accreditation readiness.
• Collaborate on budgeting, forecasting, and long-term program planning.
• Provide strategic guidance and hands-on support for program readiness and staff development.
• Foster a positive, mission-aligned camp culture and organizational memory.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Safety knowledge

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Program Director

Department: Year-Round Team

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Camp Greystone

Description

Camp Greystone is a 100+ year-old Christian summer camp for girls located near Hendersonville, NC. Our mission is “to delight and inspire for the Glory of God,” and we are searching for a strategic and relational Program Director to join our year-round leadership team.

The Program Director leads Greystone’s summer program, overseeing the people, activities, systems, and facilities that make an exceptional camper experience possible. This position is responsible for developing and continually improving Greystone’s class offerings, hiring seasonal staff, supporting leadership staff, and ensuring that all activity areas are safe, fun, growth-filled, and aligned with Greystone’s mission.

This is a significant leadership role for a dynamic camp professional who is gifted in both long-term vision and excellent in-the-moment execution. The ideal Program Director will be just as comfortable imagining what a Greystone program area could look like five years from now as making sure equipment is ordered, staff are hired, schedules are ready, and Department Heads have what they need for tomorrow.

This is a highly cyclical role, and the Program Director should be able to shift effectively between strategic planning, detailed preparation, people leadership, and operational logistics throughout the year. The Program Director anticipates needs and stays several steps ahead, proactively identifying upcoming staffing, scheduling, facility, communication, and program needs rather than relying on reactive problem‑solving.

The ideal Program Director is a relational leader, a creative thinker, and a highly organized operator. This person is self‑motivated, collaborative, humble, and committed to making Greystone’s program better for both campers and staff.

The Program Director stays ahead on their work in order to put people first and isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they come alongside our hardworking team to make camp magic happen. The right candidate will enjoy developing people, working with a team, solving complex problems, and analyzing feedback and trends as they use their creativity to make Greystone’s program the best it can be for the glory of God.

Work Environment

During the offseason, this position will generally work from the Greystone office from 9AM-4PM M-Th and 9AM-12PM on Fridays. Flexing hours and occasional working from home are possible as long as performance is not impacted.

During the camp season, the Program Director will be based on‑site and will work irregular hours, including weekends and evenings. Some travel may be required during the offseason for staff recruiting.

Hiring Timeline

Filling this role before the holidays will be important. We are looking for an incoming Program Director who can start in November. If you have concerns with that timeline, feel free to reach out, and we can share more.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development and Strategy

• Design and implement a comprehensive camp program that offers a diverse range of high quality camper activities
• Continually evaluate Greystone’s program offerings using camper, parent, and staff feedback, program data, industry trends, and best practices
• Research best practices in camp programming and develop relationships with camping professionals and peer camps
• Develop new programs and improve existing programs each year through research, feedback, and creative innovation
• Think strategically about the short- and long-term future of Greystone’s program, anticipating the evolving needs and interests of campers and staff
• Maintain open and effective communication with camp leadership, staff, and campers regarding program updates, schedule changes, and special events
• Own the development and execution of camper and staff scheduling systems across all camp sessions, ensuring schedules are accurate and classes are appropriately staffed and aligned with program capacity and Greystone’s mission
• Oversee Greystone's levels, patches, and awards systems, ensuring consistent skill standards while using recognition to reinforce growth, character, effort, and the values of the Greystone Honor Code

Staff Planning, Hiring, and Development

• Own Greystone's program hiring strategy, ensuring staffing levels, expertise, certifications, and session commitments align with program offerings, camper enrollment, and program capacity
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive activity staffing plan that identifies current and anticipated staffing gaps, hard‑to‑fill skills, certification needs, and Department Head needs
• Use historical staffing data, program demand, and enrollment trends to anticipate staffing needs and make sustainable hiring and placement decisions
• Alongside our Staff Director, lead the seasonal staff application and interviewing process, including monitoring the application pipeline, reviewing and commenting on applications, completing staff interviews, and making hiring decisions
• Lead program‑related staff Orientation and pre‑season training, coordinating schedules, arrivals, housing, skills training, safety training, Department Head preparation, and program readiness
• Develop and coach Department Heads as leaders, equipping them to independently lead their teams, manage program quality, communicate effectively, and solve problems
• Identify individual leadership strengths, challenges, and development needs among Department Heads and provide appropriate coaching, feedback, and support
• Give staff regular summer feedback and address staff issues while fostering a positive and supportive camp community
• Lead between‑session transitions, ensuring incoming staff are effectively onboarded, program areas and schedules are reset, staffing changes are communicated, and each new session begins with clear expectations and excitement
• Manage seasonal staff HR functions assigned to the Program Director including tax forms and staff days off

Program Operations and Safety

• Ensure program areas comply with applicable safety regulations, risk‑management practices, and ACA standards
• Conduct regular inspections of program areas and implement necessary safety and operational improvements
• Lead Greystone’s ACA accreditation process during renewal years, including preparing and maintaining required program documentation
• Work with leadership staff during the summer and offseason to document and improve lesson content, helping maintain consistent class quality from year to year
• Prepare program facilities before each camp season and oversee the breakdown and closeout of program areas at the beginning of the offseason
• Manage equipment and supplies related to program areas, including purchasing, inventory, and coordinating runs to town as needed
• Coordinate across departments and with senior leadership to ensure program, staffing, facility, housing, scheduling, safety, and operational needs are aligned and that issues have clear ownership and follow‑through

Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis

• Collaborate with Greystone’s leadership team to develop and manage budgets for program areas and forecast program needs and expenses
• Use quantitative and qualitative information - including camper feedback, staff evaluations, enrollment patterns, program participation, and historical staffing data - to make practical decisions about program offerings, staffing, capacity, and future investment
• Maintain strong institutional memory by documenting significant program, staffing, safety, facility, and operational decisions and ensuring that effective systems, templates, and lessons learned are preserved for future seasons

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; coursework or specialization in Recreation, Outdoor Education, Education, Human Resources, or a related field is preferred
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership role within a summer camp, outdoor education organization, or similar setting
• A committed Christian, as evidenced by personal testimony and regular attendance of a Bible-believing church; someone who wholeheartedly supports Greystone’s mission and statement of faith
• Knowledge of safety regulations, risk management, and best practices in outdoor and recreational activities
• Willingness to travel as needed for staff recruiting

Skills and Qualities

• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a team
• A strategic and visionary thinker who can plan both in the short term and over a 1-5 year horizon
• Exceptional situational awareness and operational judgment, with the ability to anticipate problems, identify dependencies, prioritize competing needs, and remain calm and solutions-oriented in a fast-moving environment
• Strong systems-thinking ability, with a talent for creating, improving, and maintaining processes that make complex programs easier for staff to execute consistently
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple detailed projects and competing priorities simultaneously
• Comfortable seeking input, delegating effectively, and drawing on the expertise of others
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including consistent and timely communication with campers, parents, staff, and camp leadership
• High comfort level with collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends, incorporating feedback, and using those insights to make informed decisions
• Strong financial acumen, including an understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and planning
• A creative and innovative mindset with enthusiasm for developing engaging programs and experiences for campers
• Consistency and follow-through; a self-starter who keeps commitments and takes ownership of responsibilities
• Collaborative, approachable, and team-oriented
• Demonstrates humility and a willingness to objectively evaluate programs, staff, and their own performance
• A commitment to fostering a positive, supportive, and mission-aligned camp culture

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Health insurance, with Greystone paying 75% of monthly premiums and employees paying 25% through paycheck deductions
• Time off
  • 15 vacation days per year (10 standard vacation days plus 5 additional days for Head Staff roles)
  • 6 paid holidays per year
  • Two weeks off at the end of December
  • 5 sick/personal days per year
• 401(k) with profit sharing (eligible after 1 year of employment)
• Use of camp facilities, including workout room, track, tennis courts, and hiking trail
• Work computer provided
• All meals and housing provided during the summer season
• Greystone branded gear, gifted annually