Assistant Director

Description

About the Role
Camp Wise is seeking an Assistant Director to join our collaborative year-round leadership team and help create life-changing Jewish camp experiences for campers, families, and young adult staff. Reporting to the Camp Director, the Assistant Director plays a central role organizing and tracking camper recruitment and retention strategies, leading the summer programming team, and implementing year-round community camper engagement. This role is ideal for a relational, creative camp professional who enjoys mentoring emerging leaders, building strong family connections, and seeing their committed work turn into joyful summers and growing enrollment.

About Camp Wise
Camp Wise is the Jewish overnight camp of the Mandel JCC of Cleveland, serving nearly 600 campers each summer from Cleveland and across the country. Entering our 120th summer, Camp Wise proudly serves as Cleveland’s “Home of Happiness”—a place where Jewish community and the discovery of purpose, passion, and compassion empower each individual to thrive and enrich the world. As the third-oldest Jewish overnight camp in the United States, Camp Wise is known for exceptional camper care, outstanding staff, and a contagious camp spirit filled with song, creativity, and meaning

What You’ll Do

Camper Recruitment & Retention

• Collaborate on the overall strategy and schedule for camper recruitment with Camp Director
oversight and year-round team input
• Responsible for scheduling camper enrollment and retention events locally, regionally, and
nationally; other year-round team members also represent camp in rotation at events.
• Build authentic, ongoing relationships with camper families through phone/email/text outreach,
in-person events, and personal connections
• Organize and lead information sessions, house gatherings, camp tours, and recruitment events
along with other team members
• Maintain systems to track leads, enrollment data, and family engagement
• Directly oversee and grow an annual Family Camp experience
• Build and sustain relationships with synagogues, schools, JCCs, and community partners to
support year-round camper and family engagement

Programming & Camp Experience

• Oversee mission-aligned summer recreational program areas including sports, creative arts,
outdoor adventure, and waterfront
• Supervise 6–8 program-area supervisors and the Program Director
• Support seasonal staff recruitment, including interviewing direct reports, specialists, and
additional candidates as needed
• Lead and continually strengthen all-camp traditions and events, including Maccabiah, carnivals,
talent shows, and more

Communications and Social Media

• Share Camp Wise’s story through social media platforms by creating posts, reels, and more with
a goal of increasing interactions.
• Coordinate the communications calendar and draft enrollment and engagement related email
messages for collaborative review.
• Advertise and recruit for year-round programs and camper gatherings on a family-friendly
timeline through email, social media, phone calls and texts.
• Partner with the Mandel JCC Marketing & Communications team on branding, outreach, and
digital asset development
• Maintain a warm, welcoming, and engaging online presence for campers, families, alumni, and
the broader community

What You’ll Gain

• Ongoing support for your growth as a Jewish professional through coaching, attending
conferences, and many choices in professional development opportunities throughout the year
• Experience working collaboratively on a supportive team, and within a large JCC agency with
multiple departments and skillsets from which to learn
• Ability to make an enduring and measurable impact on camper experience each year
• Mentorship in excellent communications, camp operations, volunteer organizing, and network
weaving within a strong alumni base
• Access to a robust network of Jewish professional colleagues in Cleveland through the many
Jewish Federation of Cleveland agencies and organizations

Compensation

$50,000-65,000

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3–5+ years of experience in camping, youth development, education, or a related field
• A strong relationship-builder who communicates clearly, leads with care, and thrives on a team
• Comfortable using digital tools and social media platforms
• Connected to Jewish culture, values, and communal life
• Energized by fast-paced, people-centered, joyful work

How to Apply

email resume and cover letter to meisenberg@mandeljcc.org