Executive Director, Camp Gilboa 

Big Bear, CA | Los Angeles (Hybrid)
Compensation: $100,000 to $150,000 + Benefits

About Camp Gilboa

Camp Gilboa is a progressive Jewish overnight summer camp and year-round community based in California. Gilboa creates vibrant Jewish life for campers through programs that ignite passion for justice, foster critical thinking, and empower youth to be active in their communities. Gilboa’s youth-led model mirrors the kibbutz environment, where both campers and counselors take ownership of camp activities and nurture an inclusive, social-justice-oriented community. This unique model is brought to life through experiential learning, thoughtful mentorship, and the trust and support of alumni, parents, and the greater community.

Gilboa’s campsite is located up in the mountains near Big Bear Lake and its year-round community is active in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. Gilboa serves children ages 7-18 and is home to 200 campers and 60 staff each summer. Gilboa is one of six summer camps in the U.S. and Canada that are part of Habonim Dror North America, a youth movement with a legacy in the progressive labor Zionist community.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) serves as the strategic and community leader of Camp Gilboa, guiding its year-round and summer community with vision, passion, and care. This role blends mentorship, nonprofit management, and movement-building, while balancing Gilboa’s unique model with the realities of running a modern summer camp.

The ED nurtures a culture of youth mentorship, safety, and belonging while strengthening the systems that sustain camp for the future. With the help of two full-time Assistant Directors, a year-round part-time staff, and ~60 summer staff, the Executive Director oversees all operational and administrative functions of the organization, including budgeting, compliance, facilities, and strategic planning. 

In addition, the ED leads Gilboa’s fundraising and development strategy in collaboration with the Board, building meaningful relationships with alumni, families, and donors to sustain and grow Gilboa’s impact for years to come.

This position requires living onsite at camp in Big Bear, CA during the summer and is hybrid (3 days / week) in the offseason at the J Los Angeles (Formerly Westside JCC). Compensation is $100,000 to $150,000 plus healthcare and retirement benefits. 

Position Details

Mentorship, Vision, and Community Leadership

The Executive Director serves as a mentor, guide, and steady presence for Camp Gilboa, working in close partnership with youth leaders to shape programs, strengthen community, and bring Gilboa’s values to life. 

• Partner with youth leaders to co-create programs, manage camp operations, and create experiences that infuse joy, community, and justice into the camp and year-round life. 
• Mentor staff and campers through reflection and meaningful connection. Coach youth leadership by setting expectations, providing feedback, and supporting their decision-making and leadership development.  
• Build a culture of accountability that is firm yet kind, balancing structure with the freedom youth people need to lead, learn, and grow.
• Hold space for dialogue and lean into difficult conversations, using challenges as opportunities to learn and strengthen community.
• Be a storyteller by connecting the community to Gilboa’s history, purpose, and direction in ways that inspire action and belonging.

Development and Fundraising

The Executive Director drives Gilboa’s fundraising and development strategy, leading efforts to grow annual giving, strengthen donor relationships, and secure the long-term financial sustainability of camp. 

• Design and execute annual fundraising goal of $200k and oversee raising $1.6M of the current $3.8M capital campaign, which is Phase 1 of a multi-phase Master Plan.
• Expand Gilboa’s donor base to new mission-aligned donors and build a consistent donor engagement strategy that includes regular updates, inclusive touchpoints, and routine communication. 
• Be a storyteller to inspire a culture of giving, helping the community see themselves as investors in Gilboa’s future.
• Oversee grants, and initiate new partnerships, programs, and other opportunities in Jewish and social justice-oriented communities in California to support Gilboa’s growth and impact.

Camp Operations & Planning

As a youth-led community, Gilboa runs on shared ownership and trust. The Executive Director’s role is to build sound administrative systems to manage planning, budgeting, logistics, and compliance to keep camp running. Working closely with Assistant Directors, this operational focus must be balanced with what makes Gilboa special - allowing enough space for young leaders to build, experiment, and lead.

• Oversee year-round operations, including HR, payroll, vendors, contracts, taxes, and compliance.
• Lead annual planning and budgeting in partnership with the bookkeeper, Finance Committee, and Board.
• Hire, train, supervise, and retain year-round and summer staff; mentor Assistant Directors and youth leaders in their areas of responsibility.
• Manage facilities, logistics, and day-to-day operations across the Big Bear camp and year-round program sites.
• Support strategic planning, Board governance, and long-term organizational growth.
• Balance accountability and autonomy. Set clear expectations around operational needs, then empower young staff to take ownership and learn by doing.

Safety and Risk Management

Gilboa’s remote setting demands a clear, consistent approach to safety. Together with seasonal medical professionals, the Executive Director must ensure that every camper and staff member understands expectations, and that systems are in place to keep everyone physically and emotionally safe. 

• Set clear expectations for camper and staff safety before the season begins, and reinforce them through staff training and daily supervision.
• Create structures that empower staff to make thoughtful choices while maintaining a culture of safety, care, and trust.
• Oversee health, medical, and emergency response systems for a remote mountain environment.
• Train staff on supervision, boundaries, and crisis response; provide real-time coaching throughout the summer.
• Model calm, sound judgment, and accountability during unexpected or high-pressure moments.
• Partner with assistant directors and youth leaders to ensure safety protocols are practiced and understood.

Qualifications

• Ability to live on-site at camp in Big Bear, CA, during the summer months in a  high-altitude, physically demanding outdoor environment.
• 5-7+ years in camp, nonprofit, or educational leadership with staff supervision (adults+youth), Board/volunteer coordination, budgeting, and fundraising.  
• Knowledge, or willingness to learn about progressive Jewish communities in the US and Israel/Palestine; commitment to youth leadership and social justice. 
• Experience working with children and teens, preferably in a summer camp setting.
• Able to act decisively in emergencies. 
• Exposure to donor management systems, registration platforms, Google Workspace, and QuickBooks preferred.
• Ability to travel periodically throughout California for community events as well as travel out of state to attend 3 camp conferences annually. 
• Flexibility to work irregular hours, including frequent weekend hours.
• A relevant master's degree is preferred.

Compensation, Benefits, Hybrid Work Schedule

• Compensation: $100,000 to $150,000
• Benefits: Healthcare (dental and vision), paid time off, flexible off-season hours, 401(k) retirement plan, and free camp tuition for eligible-age children
• Work Schedule: 
• Summer: Requires living on-site at camp in Big Bear, CA
• Offseason: Hybrid at 3x per week at J Los Angeles (Formerly Westside JCC)