Youth & Camp Director

The Youth & Camp Director is responsible for the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the JCC’s youth and children’s programs, including Camp JCC, the JLounge after-school program, Vacation Camp, and Snow Days. The Youth & Camp Director plays an integral role in building our growing camp program and being an agent for change and positive growth. The Youth & Camp Director must be capable of “switching gears” – being approachable and fun when working with children and parents, and being organized and professional when in the office.

The Youth & Camp Director is a full-time position, reporting to the Program Director. The position requires expertise in working with children in an informal or experiential environment, such as summer camp or out-of-school programs. The Youth & Camp Director supervises staff and works alongside a team of professional colleagues as part of the JCC’s program team.

This position is an excellent opportunity for a mid-career JCC professional (or someone in a related field) who is looking to take a second or third step in their career. We are looking for someone energetic and motivated, with a positive, can-do attitude. The ideal candidate is a creative problem-solver who can work both independently and as part of a team as the situation dictates. To be successful, the Youth & Camp Director will need to be a self-starter, who can set goals and work toward them and takes an interest in their own personal and professional development.

Benefits include: Free childcare for your children in our award-winning early childhood, afterschool, and summer camp programs, health insurance (employer subsidized), vision insurance, dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, generous PTO, flexible work schedule, free family membership, and program discounts.

Primary Responsibilities

Management

• Provide supervision for part-time and seasonal staff members as assigned.
• Assist in preparing the annual budgets for the youth and camp departments.
• Help develop a plan for each department’s program in line with the organization’s mission and market demand.

 Programming

• Lead Camp JCC, the JCC’s summer camp program (50% of the time during the school year, 100% of time during the summer). This includes:

• Creating a camp culture instilled with spirit, positive energy, and a commitment to the organization’s values.
• Growing program offerings, camper enrollment, and departmental revenue through enhanced marketing, outreach, relationship-building, programming, recruitment, and sales.
• Serving as the camp director during the summer and supervising the camp leadership team consisting of year-round and seasonal employees.
• Overseeing the planning of all programmatic aspects of camp, such as field trips, special days, activity areas, and Shabbat.
• Being responsible for all aspects of camper safety.
• Acting as the primary liaison with parents.
• Maintaining rooms and spaces inside and outside the building utilized by camp and coordinating facility usage with building services staff.

• Plan and execute select programs and events throughout the year (25% of time during the school year), including classes and special events. This includes, but is not limited to Vacation Camp, special events, and family engagement programs 

• Supervise the JCC’s after-school program, called JLounge (25% of time during the school year). This includes:
• Providing direct supervision for staff and serving as the primary backup when help is needed due to staffing shortages or staff time off.
• Helping to promote the program and recruit new students.
• Building relationships with parents, schools, and community leaders.
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, and supervision of staff members.

 Administration

• Ensure compliance with all DHS and Keystone STARS regulations and guidelines for the JLounge and Vacation Camp programs including children and staff files.

• Ensure operations are in compliance with the American Camp Association and all local (City of Allentown) and state regulations pertaining to the operation of a summer day camp. 

Leadership

• Take an active interest in career growth, including learning new skills, staying current on industry trends, and constantly innovating and taking calculated risks.

• Hiring, recruiting, interviewing, and evaluating youth and camp staff. Planning and executing staff orientation and ongoing training, scheduling staff, and leading staff meetings and trainings.

• Participate as a member of the JCC’s program team, providing support to co-workers.

• Conduct personal outreach to JCC members and participants, building relationships and leveraging them to encourage repeat and cross-department business.

• Regularly assess local competition to determine brand positioning and opportunities for growth. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum two years of professional experience working with children, preferably in an informal/experiential environment (such as summer camp or out-of-school programs)
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent computer skills, including the Microsoft Office suite, and the ability to learn new systems quickly
• CPR, AED and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain)
• Knowledge of the JCC field and Jewish culture, traditions, and celebrations, or willingness to learn