Associate Director for Summer Camp & Youth Movement

Job Title: Associate Director
Organization: Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reports to: Executive Director
Organization Website: https://www.campgilboa.org/

Who We Are:
Camp Gilboa is more than a summer camp. As part of an international youth movement, we are raising the next generation of progressive Jewish leaders dedicated to the principles of collective responsibility, social justice, equality, peace, and coexistence in Israel/Palestine and North America. Our summer camp and year-round programs seek to spark a passion for social justice, develop critical thinking, and encourage youth to see themselves as creators and active participants in their communities.

Our people are idealists, dreamers, and activists. Campers and staff show up to each activity ready to build something new and explore what it means to live according to our values. To us, living Jewishly means building an inclusive and creative community, with opportunities for identity exploration and deep questioning, and always striving to close the gap between the world as it is and the world as it should be.

Youth empowerment and leadership development is an inherent part of our mission. That means that our teen campers and young adult counselors take on major responsibilities in the organization: programmatic, ideological, and directorial. They engage in significant organizational decision making (see, a movement-wide decision to enhance gender-inclusivity of the Hebrew language spoken at camp); They collectively build each summer’s program; They take on roles such as Rosh Chinuch (Educational Director) and Rosh (Summer Director), and much more. Our year-round staff mentor and support these young leaders’ development and ensure safe, meaningful, and successful camp sessions and year-round programs.

Position Summary
The Associate Director is the Executive Director’s main partner in developing and monitoring the short and long term strategic goals for the growth and development of the organization. As part of the leadership team they implement, evaluate, and adapt programs and operations to provide the best possible programming and services to our campers, families, staff, alumni, and volunteers.

The Associate Director holds core responsibilities in camper recruitment and retention, as well as marketing and communications. As part of this effort, the AD directs Gilboa’s community-facing programs, such as Educational Outreach and Family Camps, as well as manages our Parent Ambassador program and our multiple partnerships with organizations in the community. As a member of the year-round leadership team, the AD provides leadership and support in administration and oversight of summer camp preparations, organizational operations, and program evaluation, and they are part of the core summer camp leadership team that ensures safe and successful experiences for campers and their families.

Responsibilities

Camper Recruitment & Retention
-Work with the ED to evaluate, develop, and implement strategies for recruitment and retention of campers, with the goal of a full camp
-Organize, staff, write program materials, and attend recruitment events such as open houses, and other events in the community
-Direct the Educational Outreach program with an overall responsibility for ensuring successful programs that result in positive community partnerships, leadership development for counselors, and prospective camper pipelines.
-Manage the Parent Ambassador Program and identify opportunities for additional stakeholders’ involvement (ex. Board)
Respond to parents inquiries, questions, and concerns, and escort families through to camp registration

Marketing & Communications
-Oversee production of all camp promotional materials and marketing, including newsletters, brochures, and social media
-Coordinate all general summer communication, including the blog, newsletter, etc
-In coordination with the ED, plan and execute all streamlined individual parent communication during the summer sessions

Family Camps and Day Camps
-Develop new markets and community collaboration opportunities such as day camps, family camps, etc.
-Direct planning and execution and assume overall responsibility for the successful administration of the programs
-Support youth leadership in developing the program, schedule, and counselors’ training

Summer Camp Planning and Administration
-Mentor senior youth leadership in planning for camp
-Provide support on logistics and administration as assigned
-In conjunction with the ED, administer and ensure adherence to ACA standards and other safety and operation best practices
-Work as part of the Camper Wellbeing Team to support counselors with addressing group dynamics, behavior issues, and other social/emotional needs
-Support the work of youth leadership in administrative and managerial functions

Gilboa welcomes candidates who bring their passions and interests to the role, and will support your development and growth. We care most about having the right people on the team and we approach staff roles with flexibility and a desire to help staff develop skills and experience in areas they are curious and excited about. Is facilities management a passion for you? Have you been itching to be involved with fundraising? Tell us about it in your cover letter!

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities
-7 years of experience with youth programs and/or camps in a day or overnight setting, with at least 3 years in a leadership/directorship position
-Knowledge and commitment to best practices in the camping field
-Experience in program development and project management, with a specific understanding of camp programming
-Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, take initiative and work unaided on time-sensitive projects
-Be both process and detail oriented
-Display a safety-oriented mindset
-Hold strong communication skills, both verbal and written
-Be able to support and maintain a high level of customer service to camp families
-Provide warm and dynamic support to staff and lay leadership
-Be committed to youth leadership and mentorship
-Have a personal connection, experience, and knowledge or willingness to learn about progressive Jewish communities and social justice work in the US and Israel/Palestine
-Bachelors degree or Masters degree in relevant field preferred
-Proficiency in Google Drive, Microsoft Excel and Word is a must. Familiarity with database, camp registration systems, donor management systems, Quickbooks, etc. is a plus

Work Conditions:
-This position is based in Los Angeles during the school year, with some travel to cities around California for events. Residents of the Bay area or a Southern California location other than LA may be accommodated in a hybrid remote/in-person position during the school year. Willingness to live at camp (in Big Bear) during the summer session is a must
-Gilboa’s campus is a high-altitude, physically demanding outdoor environment
-Need flexibility to work irregular hours including frequent weekend hours
-Physical ability and emotional wisdom to act swiftly and appropriately in a crisis or emergency

Compensation & Benefits:
$65,000-72,000 commensurate with experience
Health insurance
Major Jewish holidays & all federal holidays off plus three weeks paid time off
This is an exempt position

Equal Opportunity Employer
We deeply value the diversity of insight, perspective, and experience brought by people from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Jewish institutions. The organization provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, national origin, disability condition, marital status, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. In addition, the organization affirmatively seeks to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity as it applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Hiring Timeline and Process
To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter by October 30th to info [at] campgilboa.org with the subject line: Associate Director Position.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews for relevant candidates will be scheduled starting October 7th.
We thank you in advance for the effort in crafting your application. Please note that responses will only be sent to candidates advancing to the initial interview stage.