Site Athletic Director

Wiz Kids Foundation; Rich Township (IL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Wiz Kids Camps seeks an Athletic Director to oversee the athletic program at the camp site, ensuring high-quality, safe, and engaging sports and physical activities for campers. The role provides on-the-ground support to coaches, fills staffing gaps, and collaborates with the Site Director to deliver a consistent camper experience.

The ideal candidate brings leadership, coaching, and collaboration skills, with a focus on youth development and safety.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in athletics, coaching, physical education, or recreation required; camp experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of youth development, sports instruction, and activity safety.
• Ability to lead by influence and mentor peers.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic camp environment.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Responsibilities

• Provide program oversight to ensure activities align with camp standards, safety guidelines, and goals.
• Observe sessions, give real-time feedback to coaches, and identify improvements.
• Support athletic staff and mentor junior coaches in lesson planning and skill progression.
• Lead staffing or fill gaps when needed, and coordinate with the Site Director for daily operations.
• Enforce safety protocols and manage equipment, spaces, and incident responses.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Youth development

Safety awareness

Job description

Position Description and Candidate Specifications for

Summer Camp Athletic Director

Camp Description, Locations, Website

• Wiz Kids Camps are seasonal youth camps that offer athletic and academic enrichment to participants.
• http://www.wizkidscamps.com

Job Title

Athletic Director

Position Summary

The Athletic Director is responsible for the oversight, quality, and consistency of the athletic program at the camp site. This role serves as a subject-matter expert (SME) for all sports and physical activity programming, ensuring safe, engaging, and age-appropriate instruction. The Athletic Director provides on-the-ground support to athletic staff, fills staffing gaps as needed, and partners closely with the Site Director to deliver a high-quality camper experience. This position does not include direct supervisory responsibilities but requires strong leadership, coaching, and collaboration skills.

Key Responsibilities

Program Oversight & Quality Control

• Ensure athletic activities align with camp standards, safety guidelines, and program goals.
• Maintain high-quality instruction by observing sessions, identifying improvement opportunities, and providing real-time feedback to coaches.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend enhancements or new activities to strengthen the athletic offering.

Staff Support & Subject Matter Expertise

• Serve as a resource and mentor to athletic coaches and less experienced staff.
• Provide guidance on lesson planning, skill progressions, and behavior management within athletic settings.
• Assist with onboarding and skill development for new or junior coaches.

Operational Support

• Step in to lead athletic activities when staffing gaps occur.
• Provide coverage and fill in for absent athletic coaches or junior associates.
• Help manage equipment needs, including inventory, maintenance, and safe setup/breakdown of activities.
• Ensure all athletic spaces are safe, organized, and prepared for daily use.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with the Site Director to support daily operations, address issues, and maintain program consistency.
• Communicate important updates, safety concerns, and performance insights to the Site Director in a timely manner.
• Collaboration with other programs leads to ensure smooth transitions, schedule alignment, and integrated camper experiences.

Risk Management & Safety

• Enforce all safety protocols related to athletic activities, equipment, and camper supervision.
• Promote a positive, inclusive environment where all campers can participate safely and confidently.
• Respond appropriately to injuries, incidents, and emergencies in accordance with camp policies.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in athletics, coaching, physical education, or recreation required; camp experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of youth development, sports instruction, and activity safety.
• Ability to lead by influence rather than authority; comfortable mentoring peers.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic camp environment.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to actively participate in and demonstrate athletic activities.
• Ability to lift, move, and set up sports equipment (up to 30 lbs).
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Why Lead With Wiz Kids?

As a Site Director, you'll gain hands-on leadership experience overseeing staff, campers, programming, safety, performance metrics, and daily camp operations. You'll strengthen your skills in people management, coaching, problem-solving, decision-making, and cross-functional leadership while taking ownership of the success of your assigned site. Site Directors who successfully complete the season may also be eligible for recommendation letter support and future leadership opportunities, along with receiving Wiz Kids gear for the summer.

*Please note these are the tentative dates for the Operation of the Wiz Kids 2027 Camp Season.

Schedule

• Staff Orientation: Homewood-Flossmoor - May 29, 2027; Whitney Young - June 5, 2027; Westmont - May 22, 2027 (TBD)
• Camp Move-In: Homewood-Flossmoor - June 4-6, 2027; Whitney Young - June 11-12, 2027; Westmont - June 4-5, 2027 (TBD)
• Camp Operation Dates: Homewood-Flossmoor - June 7-August 6, 2027; Whitney Young - June 14-August 6, 2027; Westmont - June 7-August 6, 2027 (TBD)

Camp Hours

Monday to Friday from 7:30-3:30pm

Compensation

Starting at $30/hr