Location and Job Title:

Director, Camp Twelve Trails
YM & YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood
54 Nagle Ave
New York, NY 10040

Principal Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer (CPO), the successful candidate will have a deep commitment to high-quality programming and community building, as well as significant experience implementing excellent and safe systems and operations. They will find excitement working with three diverse communities that share one camp, and strategically maximize the expanded capacity of our newly renovated campgrounds with a focus on retention. Given the intensity of the camp season, key to the applicant's success will be their ability to (a) be extremely effective, during the 10-month period between camp seasons, to translate goals into impactful programming and streamlined operations; and (b) to successfully work under pressure managing multiple and simultaneous projects during the summer. Our Camp Director will join a team of high-performing senior program professionals working towards the same goals, and will foster a sense of cohesion and unity among their camp team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Strategic Leadership

• Develop a vision and plan for the next of 5 -8 years of camp.
• Set short and medium-term goals and outputs based on the larger plan.
• Regularly convene and report to Camp's Steering Committee, comprised of Executive Leadership of the 3 agencies.
• Serve as a member of the Y of Washington Heights & Inwood's CPO's Program Leadership Team.
• Represent Camp and the JCCs in external forums.
• Manage Camp's Leadership Team which includes staff members from all 3 agencies.
• Model commitment to the values and goals of the JCCs and champion and articulate the JCCs' culture.

Program Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Continuous Development

• Responsible for the effective planning, execution, and evaluation of all aspect of Camp Twelve Trails' summer program, year-round engagement, and schools-out camps at the Y of Washington Heights & Inwood.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a holistic camp curriculum that engages our campers throughout their entire arch of growth from Kindergarten through CIT/LIT and beyond - as they hopefully become staff members.
• Ensure camp activities align with overall curriculum and that they are impactful, enriching, and age-appropriate.
• Ensure all aspects of camp are welcoming to campers and staff of different backgrounds, identities, and abilities.
• Continue elevating the quality of our Inclusion Program (staffing, training, physical space, accommodations, etc.)
• Continue to shape and strengthen our Teen Adventures program.
• Develop an intentional and high-quality CIT/LIT program aligned with Camp's overall goals and vision.
• Work with the Y's Jewish Life team to strategically raise Jewish presence throughout Camp's program and facilities.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with new and existing content providers.
• Work with program directors from the JCCs to increase alignment in values, content and operations between year-round programs and Camp.

Community Engagement

• Develop and implement a plan for year-round engagement opportunities for campers, families, and staff.
• Create effective and efficient systems for good customer service to support parents/guardians.
• Solicit feedback through camper and parent surveys and identify areas for improvement.
• Ensure prompt responses to participant needs.

Marketing and Recruitment

• Work with the Steering Committee to set recruitment and retention goals for the following summer.
• In collaboration with marketing and camp staff, plan and execute marketing strategies to meet enrollment goals, including participating in recruitment events such as camp fairs, parent meetings, tours, etc.
• In collaboration with marketing professionals, expand Camp's presence in - and enrollment from - existing communities, and strategically expand to relevant nearby areas.
• Along with Marketing staff, develop and implement Camp's branding and craft marketing assets.
• Oversee social media platforms during the year and all external communication content during the summer.
• Partner with internal programs that can serve as feeders for regular exposure opportunities (Nursery Schools, Nursery Camps, Afterschools, communal events at our JCCs, etc.).
• Develop partnerships with external organizations that can serve as feeders for campers and staff such as day schools, Hillels, and organizations with expertise in our specialty areas.

Compliance, Operations and Administration

• Manage all contractual obligations with outside vendors, program partners, trip venues, transportation etc.
• Oversee all camper database information along with Camp's Assistant Director.
• Liaise with the agency responsible for the maintenance of the campgrounds (Henry Kaufman Campgrounds) on all aspects related to facilities, safety, cleanliness, and upgrades as needed.
• Ensure each camp system and operation has a detailed, approved, and rehearsed plan. Examples include busing, rainy days, incident and injury management, parent communication, etc.
• Ensure proper and timely compliance with all DOH and ACA accreditation requirements.

Professional Development

• Represent Camp Twelve Trails in camp conferences and gatherings, including UJA's Day Camp Task Force, JCC Association of North America, JDCN, ACA Association conferences, etc.
• Prepare and conduct pre-summer leadership training, pre-summer general staff training, ongoing training throughout the summer, and mid-summer and end-of-summer evaluations.
• Mentor staff to create a positive culture within the camp community, encouraging mental health best practices.
• Expose and encourage camp staff to participate in learning opportunities relevant to their roles.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Year-round supervision of 5-7 full-time professionals from all three JCCs who have part-time allocations for camp during the year, and full-time during the summer. Such roles include Camp Assistant Director, Program staff, Inclusion staff, and Administrative staff.
• Recruit and manage a summer staff of 180 seasonal employees.
• In coordination with the Y's HR Department, oversee all aspects of onboarding and hiring of seasonal employees.
• Work with the Y's Workforce Development Department to onboard employees who are part of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and ensure all eligible staff members are enrolled in the SYEP program.

Development, Budgets & Grants

• Lead camp-specific fundraising efforts, including fostering a culture of giving within the camp community.
• Actively pursue and oversee camp-related grants with support from the Y's Grants Manager. Ensure timely compliance and responsiveness to funders, including private donors, UJA-Federation of NY, and foundations.
• Responsible for creating and adhering to the approved camp year-round budget.
• Provide appropriate and regular reporting on all budget components.
• Forecast trends and expectations.

Minimum Qualifications:

POSITION TYPE / EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

• Full- time position in a typical JCC and Camp environment.
• Expected availability to work on Sundays on a need-basis during the off-season.
• Regular presence in all 3 agencies expected, with the current model being 3 days a week at the Y of Washington Heights & Inwood, once a week at the Riverdale Y, and once a week at the Shames JCC on the Hudson.
• Ability to commute to the campgrounds during the summer and as needed during the off-season.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred, preferably in a field related to Camp management, Jewish Education, Organizational Management, and related fields.
• At least eight (8) years of experience working for camp, preferably with diverse populations in age, affiliation, and backgrounds; with at least four (4) of those years in a proven senior leadership role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to clearly and appropriately communicate in a variety of settings and styles. English required. Spanish and/or Hebrew, helpful.
• Proficient in the use of Google Suite, Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and social media.

BENEFITS

• Compensation range of $100,000 - $125,000 based on experience, skillset, and education.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and competitive benefits package: Health Insurance; Retirement Plan; Optional 403b Plan; Life Insurance; Flexible Spending Account; Commuter Benefit Plan; Free Y Fitness Center Membership.
• Shared agency car available for professional use.

WORK AUTHORIZATION & CLEARANCE

• Documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Must pass background checks by the Y, Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Education (DOE).
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of hire.

This job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other functions and responsibilities may change or may be assigned.

To apply for this position, you may send your resume and cover letter to myafe@ywhi.org

Visit ywhi.org to know more about the great things that Y is doing for the community.

Salary:

$105,000 - $120,000

Agency Information:

ABOUT US

Established in 1917, the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood (the "Y") is a not-for-profit Jewish Community Center that welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs. We offer a wide range of educational, recreational, and social service programs to enhance the quality of life of the people we serve. From topnotch early childhood education and youth development programs to innovative senior center services, there's always something for everyone at the Y!

ABOUT CAMP TWELVE TRAILS

A shared venture between three JCCs (Y of Washington Heights & Inwood, Shames JCC on the Hudson, and Riverdale Y), Camp Twelve Trails is an exceptional Jewish day camp serving campers 5-16 years old of all backgrounds and abilities, located in Rockland County, NY. On our newly renovated, 16-acre outdoor campgrounds, we provide campers the best of both specialty and classic day camp programming. Camp's structure is comprised of five specialty areas (called "Neighborhoods"): Play (sports & fitness), Create (arts & drama), Explore (outdoor adventure), Discover (science & technology), and Grow (farm to table) that allow campers to strengthen their skills in their favorite specialty while encouraging them to explore new areas. Teen campers spend most days traveling and some days on the campgrounds. Campers explore Jewish values and culture across regular programming, Shabbat activities, and exposure to Israeli culture and staff. For campers of all abilities to fully benefit from each aspect of Camp, we offer an Inclusion Program with two levels of support: 2:1 ratio and 5:1 ratio. Deep friendships and a strong sense of community develop throughout the summer. We aim to provide a high level, individualized, Jewish summer camp experience for all campers in upper Manhattan, The Bronx, and Westchester.