Year-Round Posted January 7, 2026

Assistant Director, Teen Programs and Specialty Areas

Camp Tawonga

Description

About Tawonga
Tawonga’s mission is to provide educational and recreational programs for children, adults and families that foster self-esteem, lifelong friendships and community, connections with nature, commitment to justice, and positive Jewish identity and spirituality. We run programs at our residential campsite next to Yosemite National Park and in the Bay Area, serving over 5,000 people a year.

About Camp Tawonga’s Culture
At Camp Tawonga, we are a caring, collaborative, joyous group of professionals who take great pride in fulfilling our mission and having fun while doing it. We have deep respect for our community, the children and the families who participate in our programs; for nature and the physical world; and for the Jewish value of “tikkun olam” – repairing the world. Our team has taken many different paths to arrive at Tawonga, from growing up as campers at Camp to being brand new to working at a summer camp or even a nonprofit. We are a Jewish organization, and we welcome and are inclusive of all staff and community members, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. We are committed to JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) and the ongoing reflection, learning and action required to be aligned with these values and create and sustain a race equity culture.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Camp Tawonga is an Equal Opportunity Employer, values diversity and is committed to being an equitable and inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, and to hiring people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and women. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and organizational need.

Job Purpose and Description
The Assistant Director, Teen Programs and Specialty Areas is a key part of Camp Tawonga’s camp leadership team. This position contributes to the mission of Camp Tawonga by directing all aspects of our Teen Programs including the Teen Leadership Institute, Specialists/Counselors-in-Training program, and year-round teen programs like the Teen Winter Retreat. In addition, during the year this director plans and hires for our speciality department areas at Camp such as Arts & Crafts, Waterfront, Jewish Programming, Sports, Drama, Dance, and Music. The Assistant Director as an at-camp Director during summer season, travels with the teens on the Teen Leadership Institute trip, and partners with other key program staff members to co-direct our weekend family camps and adult retreats and to support our “Down the Mountain” Bay Area programs as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Train and supervise seasonal program staff while at camp and on the road
Recruit, hire, and train summer staff
Help plan and lead supervisor and staff training

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Teen Leadership Institute (TLI) and Specialist and Counselor-in-Training Program (SCIT)
Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate summer programs for teens ensuring high-quality programming
Recruit and select teens for participation, managing processes for applications, interviews and reference checking
Recruit, interview, and hire staff for programs, managing processes for applications, interviews and reference checking
Design and implement staff training
Supervise program staff and manage camper issues within the program
Lead trainings and programming for teens
Travel with the teens during off-site trips as the most senior leader on the trip
Responsible for the day-to-day management and leadership of teen programs
Oversight of Year-Round Tawonga Teen Programs
Design and implement programs to engage teens year-round
Create and oversee year-round programming for teens
Recruit teens to participate in programs
Collaborate with other staff to best integrate teens into existing programs
Participate in grants related to teen engagement and programs
Collaborate with hiring team to recruit teens who have completed our SCIT programs to work as staff for Tawonga programs
Oversee Speciality Departments
Evaluate and innovate the speciality areas at camp
Create vision and resources for strengthening Jewish programming, arts & crafts, waterfront, music, drama, dance and sports programming
Hire and train staff to lead specialty departments
Recruit guest educators to visit Camp during the summer and enhance specialty program offerings
Innovate and add new programs to improve and grow Tawonga’s offerings for children, young adults and families.
Plan staff training and update staff training materials, manuals and handbooks
Order all program supplies for specialty areas
Oversee kiln maintenance
Oversee A/V at Camp for music department, campfire programs, and meals

Summer Camp & Family Camp Hiring
As part of the hiring team with other directors, ensure we recruit and hire outstanding staff:

Source and recruit staff applicants, conduct interviews, and check references
Select and hire seasonal staff
Partner with Human Resources to ensure timely completion of new hire paperwork, contracts, and other required staff forms

At-Camp Director

Spend summers at Camp as a key part of the at-Camp director team, sharing responsibility for camper management, staff management, parent communication, overall tone-setting, and leadership
Serve as a positive and responsible role model for campers and staff at all times
Meet daily during the summer, and bi-weekly during the year, with other directors to manage camper and staff issues, program plans, safety and logistics
Manage Camp logistics as assigned
Co-direct 2-3 weekend programs per year

Other Responsibilities

Bring a justice and equity lens to all the work outlined above
Collaborate with grant writer, communications and development teams to secure funding and thank donors as needed
Communicate with families on a regular basis, with support as needed from the Camp Director
Other projects as assigned, including administrative help to the rest of the At-Camp Team

Professional Development

Research and participate in relevant, ongoing, continuous professional development as it pertains to the role and/or business needs (e.g., training materials, coursework, webinars, etc.)

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt, year-round, and benefited position. The pay range for this position is $75,000 – $80,000, DOE. Camp Tawonga offers a competitive compensation package which includes medical, dental, life insurance, retirement with company match and contribution, and paid sick and vacation leave.

Compensation

$75,000-80,000

Requirements

Training, Experience, Skills, and Qualities

Required

Minimum of 3 years of experience working with teens in a professional setting and related field, including planning and supervising activities based on the developmental needs of young people
Minimum of 2 years of experience supervising staff
Proven ability to work with youth and effectively communicate with parents
Experience supporting, troubleshooting, and managing families and/or other stakeholders
Excellent and demonstrable written and verbal communication skills in English
Excellent and demonstrable interpersonal and customer service skills
Familiarity with best practices for youth and teen development
Commitment to supporting Tawonga’s efforts to promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all programs
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Forms

Preferred

Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail
Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
Ability to receive and implement feedback
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to work independently and make appropriate decisions in routine situations
Experience with social justice education
Experience as a senior leader in a travel program

Supervision

This position reports directly to the Camp Director

Software

This position will heavily use the following types of software:

Microsoft Office and Google Suite
Gmail and Google Calendar
CampMinder (camper and family database)

Physical Demands

The physical demands listed below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

Typing, writing, reading, hearing, and speaking
Use of hands and fingers to operate office equipment, especially a computer
Standing, walking, kneeling, and frequent sitting, with some lifting of up to 30 pounds

Worksite

This role is a hybrid position
The position is expected to relocate to Camp Tawonga’s secondary location in Groveland, CA to work on-site during the summer
Additional on-site work in Groveland may be required at other times of the year as needed (see Special Requirements below)
Camp Tawonga will provide a company laptop, mouse, keyboard, and reasonable accommodations to support working from home during the off-season
Tawonga’s year-round team currently works mostly remotely, with a few days per month in the San Francisco office and frequent trips to the Groveland site
The organization may return to more in-person office days per month in the future
During summer months, when living at camp is required, Tawonga will provide housing, meals, and childcare

Work Environment

Noise level is moderate when working at the camp property in Groveland, CA
Noise level is moderate when working in Tawonga’s Bay Area office

Special Requirements

Must be able to relocate to the Groveland site from June through August
May be required to relocate to the Groveland site for additional weekend programs as needed
Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required

Normal Working Hours

During the off-season, hours are flexible while completing job-related tasks and meeting deadlines; normal office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
During the summer, the camp programmatic day typically runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and sometimes longer

Other Duties

This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this position
Job duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice, based on the needs of Camp Tawonga

How to Apply

To ensure consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter explaining your qualifications for and interest in the position. Send applications to applications@tawonga.org with “Assistant Director, Teen Programs and Specialty Areas” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and Tawonga is seeking to hire for this position as soon as possible.