Associate Director, Resident Camping

Job Summary:

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.

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.

JCC Chicago is an equal opportunity agency that offers career opportunities, internships, and volunteer roles for all. Our goal is to foster relationships, build our community, and create connections that will enable our mission to reach a larger impact. We welcome you to join us in building your career, as we build a stronger community.

Key areas of responsibility include:

Leadership & Strategy:

• Work with the Camp Director/COO to create, development 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.
• Maintain and grow JCC’s reputation as a leader in the Resident Camping industry.

Building of Program/Business Operations:

• Oversight and management of daily camp program operations.
• Provide oversight and direction of our staff/camper recruitment strategies.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs; adjust or determine new courses of action as needed in conjunction with the Camp Director
• 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.
• Work family programs, year-round camp events and provide group coverage at camp.
• 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.

Supervision

• Supervise, guide and mentor Assistant Camp Director and other full time team members.
• Supervise Business Manager and ensure business and administrative practices follow best practices as well as agency processes and procedures.
• Lead the development and implementation of staff training for Camp Chi seasonal staff.

Building Partnerships (Internal & External):

• 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, JFMC and 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.

Building Customer Relationships:

• Provide quality and responsive communication to prospective, new, and returning camper families to ensure the highest level of customer service.
• Continuously identify new opportunities for program engagement, both in person and, in partnership with Marking & Communications, through various media outlets.
• 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.

Days/Hours/Location:

September through May: Bernard Weinger JCC (Northbrook), Monday to Friday 9:00am-5:00pm, plus evenings and weekends as needed. Flexible days from home.

June through August: Camp Chi (Lake Delton, WI)

Education Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Business, Education, Social Work or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• 7+ years 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.

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.

• Intermediate proficiency in MS Word, Excel and databases with the ability to learn other technology as needed; proficiency with CampMinder preferred.
• Experience utilizing Social Media on behalf of an organization.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; must have highly developed public speaking/presentation skills.