SUMMARY

Camp Mountain Chai (CMC) has been inspiring a love of Jewish living through immersive and innovative residential summer camp experiences for children and teens since 2006.

More than just a dynamic summer camp, CMC is located on spectacular national forest acreage in the San Bernadino Mountains, and, serves San Diego and surrounding communities as a home for year-round retreats, conferences, and various gatherings.

CMC seeks a leader who possesses excellent business acumen to mentor, motivate, and empower an experienced staff leadership team. While helping the agency to sustain and grow it’s $2.7 million annual budget through retreat sales and camper recruitment/retention, this individual will also oversee CMC’s 16.5 acres/facilities in Angelus Oaks. With a proven track record of engaging strategic board leadership, this leader will be charged with positioning the agency to successfully serve its second-generation of campers and staff.

ABOUT CAMP MOUNTAIN CHAI

As a realization of a dream of a number of committed leaders in the San Diego Jewish community, the current CMC facility was purchased in 2004 by the Jewish Community Camp and Retreat Center, Inc. CMC officially opened its doors to the Jewish community in 2006.

At CMC, campers develop a real sense of community in a warm and caring family atmosphere. While challenged to learn new skills through a dynamic and well-rounded program of group and individual elective activities, campers find Judaism woven into the fabric of everyday life at CMC. With each week culminating in a beautiful all-camp Shabbat celebration, campers also learn about Israel through informal, educational experiences led by a large delegation of Israeli staff.

ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO JEWISH COMMUNITY

The Jewish population in San Diego is estimated to be 70,000+. The Jewish community provides its residents with a rich array of services through vibrant, caring, and inclusive institutions including the Jewish Federation of San Diego, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, multiple early childhood centers and day schools, reform, conservative, orthodox, reconstructionist, and non-denominational congregations, as well as Jewish Family Service, Hillel of San Diego, and so much more.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO

San Diego is the second largest city in California with 1.37 million residents. The backbone of the San Diego economy is supported through international trade, manufacturing, military services, and tourism. The city is home to numerous cutting-edge businesses in life-sciences, biotechnology, telecommunications, electronics, and other innovative industries.

With its excellent year-round climate and its diverse surroundings of mountains, desert, and the ocean, San Diego is a major tourist destination. With world-famous attractions including Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, San Diego is home to multiple colleges and universities including San Diego State and the University of California at San Diego (ranked #3 public university in the United States).

San Diego’s cultural life features dozens of museums and art galleries, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Opera, LaJolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theater, and many annual music and stage festivals. Home to professional and college sports, including the major league baseball Padres, San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego also field several NCAA division I teams.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPETENCIES

Demonstrates Skill in Operational Management

In charge of day-to-day management, the executive director will establish short- and long-range goals which are strategic, fiscally responsible, and align with CMC’s mission. The executive director must have an understanding of the various businesses of CMC, including the year-round retreat center, physical plant, programming, and marketing. The executive director will be decisive in action, adaptable, and accountable.

Provides Exemplary Executive Leadership

The executive director will be a warm and engaging leader who builds trusting and caring relationships with all agency stakeholders and community partners. Genuine and transparent, the executive director will promote a culture of innovation and inclusion, positioning CMC to address important emerging tactical and strategic issues.

Displays Sound Staff Management Skills

The executive director will attract and retain, mentor, lead and coach a high-performing senior management team. By promoting open communications, clear expectations, collaborative teamwork and accountability, the executive director will advance best professional practices and continuous improvement in every aspect of the agency. The executive director will evaluate supervisory models for CMC and identify professional growth opportunities for valued team members.

Displays Financial Acumen

The executive director will oversee all financial matters including annual and long-term budgeting, financial performance, and financial strategy. The executive director will closely monitor progress on a monthly basis and report results to the board of directors to ensure that the agency is adequately financed to meet its current and emerging operational obligations. The executive director will also ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place.

Presents Visionary and Strategic Leadership

The executive director must see the big picture, effectively managing current issues, while thinking about evolving business models to best serve CMC constituents in both the near- and long-term. While promoting a compelling vision that captures the energy and vibrancy of CMC, the executive director will work with board leadership to build an effective pipeline of talented lay leadership to support CMC’s priorities.

Creates a Culture of Philanthropy

Highly visible in the community, the executive director will build CMC’s engagement of major donors, seeking gifts of significance. The executive director will be attuned to donor interests and concerns to enhance and secure CMC’s optimum development potential.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

· Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of strategic leadership and management experience in Jewish camps, other Jewish communal organizations, business, and/or not-for-profit sector. An advanced degree is preferred.

· Knowledge and understanding of Jewish culture, practice and tradition, as well as an appreciation of CMC’s close ties with the State of Israel.

· Ability to be an approachable, empathetic, and inspirational leader to staff, lay leadership, and other stakeholders.

· Proven experience in developing a high-performance team which exceeds expectations.

· Strong analytical skills with demonstrated success in excellent fiscal and organizational management.

· Ability to develop and drive tactical and long-term strategies for CMC which are fiscally responsible and align with CMC’s mission.

· Proven results in past fundraising efforts, especially with major donors.

Compensation

A competitive compensation package, including relocation, is available for the successful candidate.

To Apply

Qualified candidates can apply for this position at executivesearch@jcca.org

Please include a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements.