Camp Young Judaea Midwest
Camp Director
Chicago, IL
Your Role as Camp Director
As Camp Director of Camp Young Judaea Midwest (CYJM), you will serve as the Chief Executive. You will have the responsibility of running camp, camper recruitment, program development and operations, hiring & supervising staff, fundraising, and being an ambassador to the broader community. You report to the Board of Directors, primarily through the President of the Board. You will lead a team of professionals, including 2-3 year-round employees, part time camp Ambassadors and a significantly larger team of summer staff. With your leadership, innovation, and creativity, you will build upon the traditions, values, and history of CYJM to guide us into our second half-century. You will strengthen it for the next generation of campers who represent diverse Jewish backgrounds,both those from multi-generational CYJM families and those new to the CYJM experience. Your dedication will be matched and supported by a collaborative Board of Directors and an engaged global alumni network.
Specific Responsibilities
People & Operations
- Manage, support, and empower the organization’s year-round team (currently 2 full time employees).
- Provide vision for camp operations, organizational structure, staff recruitment & retention, and outcomes-based programming & evaluation.
- Oversee and implement employment policies for all staff including performance and development, compensation, benefits & compliance, and HR best practices in service of attracting, developing, and retaining great talent.
Camper Recruitment
- Develop and implement camp’s recruitment and retention plan, focused on the Young Judaea Midwest region
- Recruit nationally and internationally as opportunities allow.
Fundraising
- Coordinate with the Board of Directors to develop and implement annual fundraising
- Build and cultivate individual donor relationships
Financial
- Develop and implement an annual operating budget with the Board Treasurer
- Work with the staff and outside bookkeepers on the day-to-day financial operations of camp
- Collaborate with the Board on a capital improvement plan for camp
Strategy & Planning
- In collaboration with the Board, lead strategic planning to envision and accomplish the organization’s priorities.
- Proactively identify and implement trends that enable CYJM to evolve and grow.
Partner Relationships
- Establish close working relationships with Young Judaea Global, other Young Judaea camp directors, Midwest Jewish camp directors, and stakeholders regionally, nationally and in Israel.
- Nurture trusted relationships with parents, alumni, Hadassah leaders and community
- Network with, and serve as, a key resource for philanthropic organizations including Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Foundation for Jewish Camp and local Jewish Federations.
- Ensure CYJM uses best practices from and aligns broader programmatic experiences with these outside organizations.
Qualifications
- People-Oriented/Charismatic: Has a strong track record of hiring, developing, and retaining staff (preferably in the overnight and/or Jewish camp sector). Enables staff to do their best work. Loves parents and campers. Recruiter: Motivated to attract both returning and new campers & summer staff through cultivation of relationships with parents, families, staff, and campers themselves.
- Highly Organized: Thrives in the day-to-day intensity of camp each summer! Leads by example. Can effectively manage and grow a multi-million-dollar budget, with complex priorities and accountabilities.
- Visionary: Imagines an expanding future for camp and works with the Board to develop a strategic plan towards that future.
- Skillful Fundraiser: Understands the connections between gifts from our community and ensuring CYJM’s livelihood and effectively conveys that message to our supporters.
Additional requirements
- Spend ~12 weeks each summer in residence on Wisconsin camp
- Travel and work some weekends, evenings for recruitment and events
- Employment is contingent upon a safe driving record and successful completion of a background check.
- Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
Compensation/Benefits
CYJM offers a salary of $100,000 to $120,000, based on qualifications and experience. We offer generous benefits to full-time employees including 100% covered medical insurance, 401(k), cell phone allowance, PTO (vacation, sick and major Jewish/US secular holidays), professional development stipend, flexible work hours during the off-season. Role is based in the Chicago area w/ability to work from home. Free camp tuition for eligible-age children and discounted tuition for other Young Judaea programs.
About Camp Young Judaea Midwest
Camp Young Judaea Midwest (CYJM) inspires Jewish children of diverse backgrounds to thrive in a joyful, tight-knit community that is passionate about Israel and Judaism. Located in central Wisconsin (with a year-round office in Chicago), CYJM has offered over 50 years of exceptional Jewish overnight camp experiences. At CYJM, we focus on an individualized approach while teaching campers to work in a group setting that fosters mutual respect, friendship, leadership and development. Our pluralistic approach allows campers and staff to learn, grow and play together and to make informed choices about their Judaism and connection to Israel. More information: https://www.cyjmid.org/.
To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to: [email protected] no later than January 3, 2025.
Camp Young Judaea Midwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer, values diversity and is committed to being an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. All hiring is based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need.
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, or have other questions, please contact [email protected].