Job Summary:

The Assistant Director, Resident Camping serves as a leader on the Resident Camping team and helps shape the vision, development, and implementation of teen 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 programming for campers in 7^th-10^th grade 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 their villages and for fostering and developing relationships with campers and staff.

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. JCC Chicago is an equal opportunity agency that offers career opportunities, internships, and volunteer roles for all.

Key Essential Duties:

Summer Months in addition to off season duties (June- August)

• Provide quality and responsive communication to prospective, new, and returning camper families to ensure the highest level of customer service.

• Proactively identify and respond to challenges or questions related to a camper’s experience.

• Provide a community where children, staff, and parents feel they are safe physically, mentally, and emotionally.

• Provide summer and year-round training, direction and leadership development to both full time and seasonal staff.

• Oversee day to day life for 7^th-10^th graders and their staff.

• Provide oversight and direction of our staff/camper recruitment strategies.

• Oversee big programs, such as homecoming and 4^th of July programming.

• Serve as a liaison to various JCC Chicago departments and outside organizations.

• Oversee camp communications to ensure parents on well informed of day-to-day operations at Chi.

• Lead the development and implementation of staff training for Camp Chi seasonal staff.

• Serve as backup and support to the Camp Director, as needed.

• Provide support to Camp Chi leadership peers, as needed.

• Oversee community care for all campers and staff in assigned villages.

Off-Season Months (September- May)

• Work with the Camp Director/CPO to create, develop, and implement the vision of the Resident Camp Department.

• Evaluate staff training and take lead on building the schedule.

• Work with the Camp Director to create a continued forward-thinking plan for year-round engagement with our families.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs; adjust or determine new courses of action as needed in conjunction with the Camp Director.

• Continuously identify new opportunities for program engagement, both in person and, in partnership with Marking & Communications, through various media outlets.

• 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 for both Camp Chi and Perlstein.

• Conduct staff interviews and hiring.

• 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.

• Maintain and grow JCC’s reputation as a leader in the resident camping industry.

• 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, 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 on the importance of engagement.

• Work family programs, year-round camp events and provide group coverage at camp.

Marginal Duties:

• Support students in preparing for their Bar Mitzvah through connecting with home tutors when needed.

• Other duties as assigned to support the success of camp.

Physical Duties:

• Be able to frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

• Demonstrate physical stamina and agility required to be mobile for long periods throughout the day.

• Repetitive movement of arms and hands to operate a computer, keyboard, and mouse.

• Ability to operate equipment such as phone, computer keyboard, calculator and standard office equipment.

• Vision: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

• React with physical and mental alertness in emergency situations and assist in evacuation of building.

• Must be able to rotate head side to side to scan the environment.

• Ability to demonstrate, motivate, and communicate with children and adults.

• Ability to speak clearly and articulately with a loud tone of voice.

• Mental alertness; sustain concentration for long periods of time.

Days/Hours/Location:

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

Mid-May through August: Fulltime at Camp Chi (Lake Delton, WI)

Direct Reports (titles and FTE%):

6 Village Leaders- Chalutzim, Habo and Noar

3 Wellness Advocates

1 Communications Manager- 25% off-season, full-time summer

2 seasonal equipment managers

Indirect Reports (titles and FTE%):

60 Counselors

5 Photographers

3 Interns

Job Category:

Non BU Prof/Management

Education Qualifications:

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

Experience:

• 7+ years of 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.

• Previous hands-on experience with overseeing and creating specialty camp programming, including but not limited to Water Ski/Lakes/Pools, Archery, Horseback Riding, High Ropes Course, Athletics, Performing Arts, Indoor/Outdoor Cooking and more.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to demonstrate and lead 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.

• Experience utilizing social media on behalf of an organization.

• Strong oral and written communication skills; must have highly developed public speaking/presentation skills.

• Previous supervisory experience of full-time, seasonal, or part-time staff preferred.

• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues across an organization preferred.

• Intermediate proficiency in MS Word, Excel and databases with the ability to learn other technology as needed; proficiency with CampMinder and/or Salesforce preferred.

• Experience managing and reporting databases.

• Demonstrated ability to work well with various members of the community in a friendly, courteous manner.

• A strong team player with willingness and ability to go above and beyond.

• Must have a strong ability to follow up and follow through.

• Must be highly organized and detail oriented.

• Ability and willingness to travel to various JCC locations and be at Camp Chi for the summer.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license for at least 24 months, proof of auto insurance (with a minimum $250,000 liability).