Summer Camp Director, Placentia (2027)

Camp Galileo; Placentia (CA); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free camp for your child(ren) or two g

15% Friends & Family discount

Priority nomination for financial aid

Job summary

Galileo Learning is seeking an experienced Camp Director to lead our summer camps for K–8th grade, serving as both site General Manager and the public face of the organization.

You will open and operate a Camp Galileo location within your community, leading a seasonal team of educators and entry-level staff to create joyful, safe environments and ensure smooth daily operations with exceptional camper experiences.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience working directly with students in an education setting.
• Minimum 1 year of experience managing or supervising adult staff.
• Proven experience creating safe, inclusive environments for children and building trust with families.
• Proven experience setting clear expectations, giving ongoing feedback, and coaching staff to improve.
• Operational experience with scheduling, staffing, and payroll.
• Calm under pressure with sound decision-making in fast-paced situations, including safety issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication with families, partners, and supervisors.
• Availability for part-time remote work Feb 2026 and on-site from June 2026.
• Willingness to travel regionally for up to 3 events in preseason.
• Ability to complete required training; state background checks.

Responsibilities

• Infuse camp with joy, tradition, and creativity.
• Build an inclusive environment where every camper, staff member, and family feels seen, supported, and inspired.
• Own camp launch, from preseason planning through end-of-summer wrap-up.
• Oversee daily operations and parent communication while delivering an exceptional program.
• Prioritize camper safety, family trust, and program fidelity.
• Anticipate needs, adapt quickly, and problem-solve to keep camp running smoothly.
• Train and mentor a staff of 7 to 40, including educators and entry-level staff.
• Provide clear expectations and ongoing feedback; support professional development.
• Lead training, scheduling, payroll, and performance management.
• Lead team using Galileo Innovation Approach to foster curiosity and problem-solving.
• Communicate openly with Field Program Manager; seek feedback and act on it.
• Travel regionally for in-person marketing events if needed.
• Complete all required training before camp begins.

Skills

Student engagement

Staff supervision

Safety & inclusion

Feedback & coaching

Scheduling & payroll

Decision making

Communication

Hands-on learning

Job description

Galileo Learning’s mission is to develop innovators who envision and create a better world.

We provide out-of-school enrichment programs that build innovation skills, growth mindset, and creative confidence across a variety of offerings. We run neighborhood summer day camps for families, deliver expanded learning programs for school districts, and empower educational institutions and service providers with curriculum and instructional support.

We bring our mission to life through the Galileo Innovation Approach (GIA): combining mindset, process, and knowledge to drive meaningful outcomes for students and for each other. This shows up in how we collaborate, make decisions, and continuously improve our work.

We are:

• Visionary: We think beyond what exists today and work toward what’s possible.
• Courageous: We take ownership, make decisions with imperfect information, and lean into challenges.
• Collaborative: We work across teams and perspectives, assuming positive intent and building strong partnerships.
• Determined: We follow through, hold a high bar for quality, and stay focused on delivering results that matter for our students and partners.
• Reflective: We learn from experience, use data and feedback to improve, and continuously evolve how we work.

We operate with a high level of ownership and care for our work, our partners, and each other.

Job Description

Galileo is looking for an experienced leader to join our team as a Camp Director. Camp Directors lead our dynamic summer camps for K–8th grade, serving as both site General Manager and the public face of the organization.

You will open and operate a Camp Galileo location serving campers and their families within your community! You will lead a dynamic seasonal team of educators as well as enthusiastic entry-level staff to create joyful, safe environments and ensure smooth daily operations. With a focus on exceptional camper and family experiences, you will uphold program quality, foster creativity, and deliver excellence in customer care, curriculum, and team leadership.

Why This Role Matters

Galileo started in 2002 with a single summer camp in Palo Alto, named for Galileo Galilei, one of history’s great innovators. Today we run 90+ sites across eight states, and Camp Directors are still the people who give each camp its own traditions and magic. Our mission is to develop innovators who envision and create a better world, and at camp, you’re the one who makes that real for campers, families, and staff every day.

Galileo is looking for an experienced leader to join our team as a Camp Director. Camp Directors lead our dynamic summer camps for K–8th grade, serving as both site General Manager and the public face of the organization.

You will open and operate a Camp Galileo location serving campers and their families within your community! You will lead a dynamic seasonal team of educators as well as enthusiastic entry-level staff to create joyful, safe environments and ensure smooth daily operations. With a focus on exceptional camper and family experiences, you will uphold program quality, foster creativity, and deliver excellence in customer care, curriculum, and team leadership.

Why This Role Matters

Galileo started in 2002 with a single summer camp in Palo Alto, named for Galileo Galilei, one of history’s great innovators. Today we run 90+ sites across eight states, and Camp Directors are still the people who give each camp its own traditions and magic. Our mission is to develop innovators who envision and create a better world, and at camp, you’re the one who makes that real for campers, families, and staff every day.

You will be Accountable for

Bringing Galileo’s Spirit to Life

• Infuse camp with joy, tradition, and creativity
• Build an inclusive environment where every camper, staff member, and family feels seen, supported, and inspired

Leading with Ownership and Vision

• Own every aspect of your camp’s launch, from preseason planning through end-of-summer wrap-up
• As both operational lead and culture builder, oversee every detail from daily camp operations to parent communication while delivering an exceptional program

Keeping Camp Safe and Running Smoothly

• Prioritize camper safety, family trust, and program fidelity at all times
• Anticipate needs, adapt quickly, and problem-solve on the fly so camp runs seamlessly, even when things don’t go as planned

Developing and Managing Your Team

• Train and mentor a staff of 7 to 40 (depending on site size), including educators and entry-level staff, while actively building your team culture
• Provide clear expectations for instructional and program standards, ongoing feedback, and professional development
• Own core management responsibilities such as training support, scheduling, payroll, and ongoing performance management

Embracing Challenge and Innovation

• Use the Galileo Innovation Approach (GIA) to encourage curiosity and problem-solving
• Lead your team in turning challenges into opportunities, keeping both spirit and operations aligned to Galileo’s mission
• Communicate openly with your Field Program Manager, seek out feedback, and turn it into action
• Take ownership of your own professional development, staying self-motivated to learn, grow, and improve throughout the summer

Building Strong Partnerships

• Serve as the primary face of camp within the community
• Communicate proactively with families, facilities partners, and cross-functional teams
• Collaborate with your Field Program Manager and cultivate trust with community partners, staff, and campers

Location & Work Schedule:

This is a seasonal role running March–September 2027, with a schedule divided into three phases. Exact dates will vary based on hire date and specific site operating dates:

• Phase One: Training & Prep (March–June): 5 to 15 hours per week, depending on tenure and start date — mostly flexible and remote, with some required scheduled and in-person commitments. This phase includes in-person training(s), a Bay Area retreat, scheduled virtual training(s), marketing events, and on-site prep at your camp location during the week leading up to camp. Some events may take place during evenings and weekends.
  
• Phase Two: On-Site (June–August): On-site hours typically range from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (M-F), up to 50 hours per week over 5–8 weeks, depending on camp placement.
  
• Phase Three: Wrap-Up (Aug–Sept): Up to 5 hrs total, remote, for final admin tasks and staff reviews.

Compensation:

(Year 1 estimate):

• Preseason (Feb–June): Earn hourly pay ($23-25/hour) for flexible, part-time prep and training
  
• Camp Season (June–Aug): Transition to a weekly salary ($1,500/week, plus an additional $50/week for each year of returning tenure in this role) as a full-time, exempt Camp Director during summer operations
  
• Postseason (Aug–Sept): Wrap up with light part-time work, paid hourly ($23-25/hour)
  
• Bonus/Commission: Earn an additional $1 per camper-week enrollment, plus potential commission for add-on weeks

Exact compensation may vary and will be based on multiple factors, including geography and Galileo camp director tenure. Our pay practices are guided by a commitment to equity and informed by market benchmarking and internal audits to minimize bias and ensure fairness across all roles.

Perks:

• Free camp for your child(ren) or two giftable weeks (incl. extended care)
• 15% Friends & Family discount
• Priority nomination for financial assistance for someone you know

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience working directly with students in an education setting (out-of-school time, teaching, education administration, camps/recreation, etc.) is required
• Minimum 1 year of experience managing or supervising adult staff is required
• Proven experience creating safe, inclusive environments for children and building trust with families
• Proven experience setting clear expectations, giving ongoing feedback, and coaching staff to improve
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational details like scheduling, staffing, and payroll
• Track record of staying calm and making sound decisions in fast-paced situations, including safety issues and challenging conversations with families
• Strong written and verbal communication with families, partners, and supervisors
• Experience with hands-on, project-based learning (STEAM, art, design, maker programs) is a plus
• Availability for part-time remote work starting Feb 2026, and full-time on-site work starting June 2026 (dates vary by location)
• Willingness to travel in the region to up to 3 in person marketing events, in the preseason
• Ability to complete all required training before camp begins
• Ability to meet state requirements to work with children, including mandated screenings and Adult & Child First Aid/CPR/AED certification

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Additional Information

Additional Information

Please note that our job descriptions are a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job. To request an accommodation, contact our Human Resources team.

During the onboarding process, in accordance with applicable local and state requirements, you may be required to complete a Tuberculosis (TB)