The Associate Director, Resident Camping serves as a leader on the Resident Camping team and helps shape the vision, development, and implementation of programs that shape and define the Camp Chi experience for children ages 9-17. This person plays a lead role in the identification and development of staff, the development and implementation of camper recruitment, and serves as a key liaison between the Camp Chi/JCC staff and the community as a whole. They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of camp programming and for fostering and developing relationships with campers and staff.
At JCC Chicago, we are focused on growing good kids, building communities, and educating ourselves on the past to make a difference for the future. The largest JCC in North America, JCC Chicago offers a life-affirming journey that builds on the richness and power of Jewish values and continues to reimagine them for a more connected, inspired community. JCC Chicago is an equal opportunity agency that offers career opportunities, internships, and volunteer roles for all.
Key Essential Duties:
Summer Months in addition to off season duties (June- August)
- Provide quality and responsive communication to prospective, new, and returning camper families to ensure the highest level of customer service.
- Proactively identify and respond to challenges or questions related to a camper’s experience.
- Provide a community where children and parents feel they are safe physically, mentally and emotionally.
- Oversight and management of daily high-quality, specialty camp programming, including but not limited to Water Ski/Lakes/Pools, Archery, Horseback Riding, High Ropes Course, Athletics, Performing Arts, Indoor/Outdoor Cooking and more.
- Provide summer and year round training, direction and leadership development to programming and business office staff including: Food Services, Specialty, Teen Coordination, Business Management, Outdoor Adventure management, Village Leaders, and the Specialty Program Coordinator.
- Provide leadership development and 1-1 meetings with the following programming and operations leadership.
- Provide oversight and direction of our staff/camper recruitment strategies.
- Serve as liaison for the Information Technology (IT) concerns before and during camp months.
- Lead the development and implementation of staff training for Camp Chi seasonal staff.
- Serve as backup and support to the Camp Director, as needed.
Off-Season Months (September- May)
- Work with the Camp Director/CPO to create, develop and implement the vision of the Resident Camp Department.
- Work with the Camp Director to create a continued forward-thinking plan for year-round engagement with our families.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs; adjust or determine new courses of action as needed in conjunction with the Camp Director.
- Continuously identify new opportunities for program engagement, both in person and, in partnership with Marking & Communications, through various media outlets.
- Work with Camp Director on assigning team responsibilities regarding department’s year-round programs.
- Work with the Camp Director on budgets and the budget process, ensuring fiscal compliance and growth for both Camp Chi and Perlstein.
- Conduct domestic staff interviews and hiring.
- Lead the development of high-quality programs that represent the department.
- In partnership with the Camp Director work on business planning for Camp Chi and Perlstein.
- Maintain and grow JCC’s reputation as a leader in the resident camping industry.
- Foster and build relationships with colleagues across the agency; determine mutually beneficial ways for various departments to work and program together.
- Work with partner agencies such as American Camping Association, Foundation for Jewish Camping, JCC Association, Jewish Federation, JCRC, JCFS, Keshet, local synagogues and schools to better serve our customers & the community.
- Develop and enhance JCC’s relationship with outside vendors and rental groups.
- Participate in agency-wide programs and events.
- To sustain and build the JCC future, proactively engaging in agency FRD initiatives, modeling for staff the importance of engagement.
- Work family programs, year-round camp events and provide group coverage at camp.
Marginal Duties:
- Support students in preparing for their Bar Mitzvah through guided tutoring and personalized instruction.
- Serve as a point of contact for gazebo-related events, offering supervision and support to participants.
- Other duties as assigned to support the success of camp.
Days/Hours/Location:
September through May: Bernard Weinger JCC (Northbrook) Monday to Friday 9:00am-5:00pm, plus evenings and weekends as needed.
Mid-May through August: 7 days a week at Camp Chi (Lake Delton, WI)
Direct Reports (titles and FTE%):
- 1 Business Manager
- 1 Food Service Director
- 1 Outdoor Adventure Manager
- 2 Village Leaders- Chalutzim
- 1 Teen Coordinator- 25% off-season, full-time summer
- 1 Specialty Program Coordinator- 10% off-season, full-time summer
Indirect Reports (titles and FTE%):
- 1 Logistics Manager
- 1 Business Coordinator
- 1 Communications Coordinator
- 12 Area Leaders
- 14 Village Counselors
Job Category:
Non BU Prof/Management
Salary:
$95,000 - $105,000 annually (commensurate with experience)
Education Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Business, Education, Social Work or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Experience:
- 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Resident Camp or related field
- Previous experience supervising year-round and summer only staff.
- Previous experience developing and managing budgets.
- Previous experience working as a member of a management team.
- Previous hands-on experience with overseeing and creating specialty camp programming, including but not limited to Water Ski/Lakes/Pools, Archery, Horseback Riding, High Ropes Course, Athletics, Performing Arts, Indoor/Outdoor Cooking and more.
Other Requirements:
- Ability to demonstrate and lead with JCC Chicago’s Four Core Values: Self-Leadership and Accountability, Creativity and Innovation, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Customer Service.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Jewish culture and values.
- Conflict management, listening and decision-making skills.
- Experience utilizing social media on behalf of an organization.
- Strong oral and written communication skills; must have highly developed public speaking/presentation skills.
- Previous supervisory experience of full-time, seasonal or part-time staff preferred.
- Intermediate proficiency in MS Word, Excel and databases with the ability to learn other technology as needed; proficiency working in and reporting out of CampMinder, preferred.
- Experience working collaboratively with colleagues across an organization preferred.
- Intermediate proficiency in MS Word, Excel and databases with the ability to learn other technology as needed; proficiency with CampMinder and/or Salesforce preferred.
- Experience managing and reporting out of databases.
- Demonstrated ability to work well with various members of the community in a friendly, courteous manner.
- A strong team player with the willingness and ability to go above and beyond.
- Must have strong ability for follow up and follow through.
- Must be highly organized and detail oriented.
- Ability and willingness to travel to various JCC locations and be at Camp Chi for the summer.
- Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license for at least 24 months, proof of auto insurance (with a minimum $250,000 liability).