Assistant Director, Programs & OperationsAt Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa
Description
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 North America and Israel/Palestine. 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 (Summer Camp Director) and Rosh Chinuch (Educational 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 Assistant Director (AD) of Programs & Operations is a key position on the year-round director team. Together, the team is responsible for 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.
As the position responsible for all year-round youth movement programming, the AD of Programs & Operations holds core responsibilities in camper and staff recruitment and retention. As a member of the year-round leadership team, the AD provides leadership and support in administration and oversight of summer camp preparations (program and physical campsite), 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
Year-Round Programming
Work with the Executive Director (ED) to evaluate, develop, and implement strategies for year-round programming that serves the purposes of meaningful community connection, social action engagement, camper retention, and camper recruitment.
Support youth leadership to bring their vision for youth movement programming into reality, through mentorship and guidance of program visioning, planning, recruitment, and implementation. Including:
2-4 community events + Tzedek (teen social action programming) events per semester in each of our program geographies: Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diego
Weekend Seminar for campers over Presidents’ Day Weekend
West Coast Seminar for teens in April, in collaboration with Habonim Dror Camp Miriam
Ma’agal (staff retention program) programming & January weekend seminar
Family Camp in May over Memorial Day Weekend
Work with youth leaders to ensure that all programs are safe, staffed, and high quality.
Respond to parent inquiries, questions, and concerns, and support families through the year to camp registration.
Support outreach programming in collaboration with the AD of Outreach & Recruitment as needed (presence at events, program planning, youth staff recruitment, etc).
Camp Facilities and Rentals
Serve as a member of committees responsible for site management (Facilities Committee, Master Plan Committee), taking on tasks to move committee work and vision forward in collaboration with lay leadership and the Executive Director.
Partner with the ED & youth leadership to plan and lead volunteer work weekends in the fall and spring.
Coordinate vendors and contractors to maintain our camp site.
Partner with the ED and lay leadership to explore opportunities to bring in extra revenue through camp site rentals.
Summer Camp Planning and Administration
In conjunction with the ED, administer and ensure adherence to ACA (American Camp Association) standards and other safety and operations best practices.
Mentor senior youth leadership in planning for camp.
Bottomline all camp logistics and operations, primarily working with the Techni Team (youth leadership position focused on logistics), including all group transportation, specialty certifications (such as lifeguarding and archery certifications), tiyulim (hiking) planning, program supplies systems, laundry, trash collection, and basic campsite maintenance.
Compensation & Benefits:
$55,000-65,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience
This is a full time, exempt position
Camp Gilboa is piloting a 4-day work week during the school year to balance out a busy summer season
Major Jewish holidays & all federal holidays off, plus three weeks paid time off
In addition to vacation days, the office will be closed for one week at the end of summer session
Health insurance (with dental and vision coverage coming soon)
Enrollment in a 403(b) retirement plan coming soon
Compensation
$55,000-65,000Requirements
Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities
Minimum 3-5 years of experience with youth programs and/or camps in a day or overnight setting, ideally with experience supervising youth staff (high school & college age)
Knowledge and commitment to best practices in the camping field
Experience in program development and project management, with a specific understanding of camp programming
Experience with or an eagerness to learn campsite management and maintenance
Ability to plan and manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, take initiative and work with minimal supervision 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, and have patience to lead meaningful leadership development processes
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 required, Masters degree in relevant field preferred
Driver’s license required, owning a car strongly preferred
Proficiency in Google Drive, Microsoft Excel and Word
Familiarity with databases, camp registration systems, donor management systems, Quickbooks, etc. is a plus
Research suggests that women and structurally marginalized and/or underrepresented groups of people believe they need to meet 100% of the requirements in job postings to even apply. Camp Gilboa encourages anyone who believes they have the skills and motivation necessary to succeed here to apply for this role, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, as no one applicant ever does. We welcome 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!
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) in a high-altitude, physically demanding outdoor environment during the summer camp session is a must.
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.
How to Apply
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 1st to info@campgilboa.org with the subject line: Assistant Director Position
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews for relevant candidates will be scheduled starting September 15th
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.
Contact Information
Camp Name
Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa
Job Title
Assistant Director, Programs & Operations
Website
Phone
Camp Address
5870 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90036, United States