Program Director

Department: Year-Round Team

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Camp Greystone

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive camp program that offers a diverse range of high-quality camper activities 
• Continually evaluate Greystone’s program offerings using camper, parent, and staff feedback, program data, industry trends, and best practices
• Research best practices in camp programming and develop relationships with camping professionals and peer camps
• Develop new programs and improve existing programs each year through research, feedback, and creative innovation
• Think strategically about the short- and long-term future of Greystone’s program, anticipating the evolving needs and interests of campers and staff 
• Maintain open and effective communication with camp leadership, staff, and campers regarding program updates, schedule changes, and special events
• Own the development and execution of camper and staff scheduling systems across all camp sessions, ensuring schedules are accurate and classes are appropriately staffed and aligned with program capacity and Greystone’s mission 
• Oversee Greystone's levels, patches, and awards systems, ensuring consistent skill standards while using recognition to reinforce growth, character, effort, and the values of the Greystone Honor Code 

• Own Greystone's program hiring strategy, ensuring staffing levels, expertise, certifications, and session commitments align with program offerings, camper enrollment, and program capacity 
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive activity staffing plan that identifies current and anticipated staffing gaps, hard-to-fill skills, certification needs, and Department Head needs 
• Use historical staffing data, program demand, and enrollment trends to anticipate staffing needs and make sustainable hiring and placement decisions
• Alongside our Staff Director, lead the seasonal staff application and interviewing process, including monitoring the application pipeline, reviewing and commenting on applications, completing staff interviews, and making hiring decisions
• Lead program-related staff Orientation and pre-season training, coordinating schedules, arrivals, housing, skills training, safety training, Department Head preparation, and program readiness 
• Develop and coach Department Heads as leaders, equipping them to independently lead their teams, manage program quality, communicate effectively, and solve problems
• Identify individual leadership strengths, challenges, and development needs among Department Heads and provide appropriate coaching, feedback, and support 
• Give staff regular summer feedback and address staff issues while fostering a positive and supportive camp community
• Lead between-session transitions, ensuring incoming staff are effectively onboarded, program areas and schedules are reset, staffing changes are communicated, and each new session begins with clear expectations and excitement 
• Manage seasonal staff HR functions assigned to the Program Director including tax forms and staff days off 
  
  

• Ensure program areas comply with applicable safety regulations, risk-management practices, and ACA standards
• Conduct regular inspections of program areas and implement necessary safety and operational improvements
• Lead Greystone’s ACA accreditation process during renewal years, including preparing and maintaining required program documentation
• Work with leadership staff during the summer and offseason to document and improve lesson content, helping maintain consistent class quality from year to year
• Prepare program facilities before each camp season and oversee the breakdown and closeout of program areas at the beginning of the offseason
• Manage equipment and supplies related to program areas, including purchasing, inventory, and coordinating runs to town as needed
• Coordinate across departments and with senior leadership to ensure program, staffing, facility, housing, scheduling, safety, and operational needs are aligned and that issues have clear ownership and follow-through
  
  

• Collaborate with Greystone’s leadership team to develop and manage budgets for program areas and forecast program needs and expenses 
• Use quantitative and qualitative information - including camper feedback, staff evaluations, enrollment patterns, program participation, and historical staffing data - to make practical decisions about program offerings, staffing, capacity, and future investment
• Maintain strong institutional memory by documenting significant program, staffing, safety, facility, and operational decisions and ensuring that effective systems, templates, and lessons learned are preserved for future seasons

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; coursework or specialization in Recreation, Outdoor Education, Education, Human Resources, or a related field is preferred
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership role within a summer camp, outdoor education organization, or similar setting
• A committed Christian, as evidenced by personal testimony and regular attendance of a Bible-believing church; someone who wholeheartedly supports Greystone’s mission and statement of faith
• Knowledge of safety regulations, risk management, and best practices in outdoor and recreational activities
• Willingness to travel as needed for staff recruiting

• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a team
• A strategic and visionary thinker who can plan both in the short term and over a 1-5 year horizon
• Exceptional situational awareness and operational judgment, with the ability to anticipate problems, identify dependencies, prioritize competing needs, and remain calm and solutions-oriented in a fast-moving environment 
• Strong systems-thinking ability, with a talent for creating, improving, and maintaining processes that make complex programs easier for staff to execute consistently 
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple detailed projects and competing priorities simultaneously
• Comfortable seeking input, delegating effectively, and drawing on the expertise of others 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including consistent and timely communication with campers, parents, staff, and camp leadership
• High comfort level with collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends, incorporating feedback, and using those insights to make informed decisions
• Strong financial acumen, including an understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and planning
• A creative and innovative mindset with enthusiasm for developing engaging programs and experiences for campers
• Consistency and follow-through; a self-starter who keeps commitments and takes ownership of responsibilities
• Collaborative, approachable, and team-oriented
• Demonstrates humility and a willingness to objectively evaluate programs, staff, and their own performance
• A commitment to fostering a positive, supportive, and mission-aligned camp culture

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience 
• Health insurance, with Greystone paying 75% of monthly premiums and employees paying 25% through paycheck deductions
• Time off
  • 15 vacation days per year (10 standard vacation days plus 5 additional days for Head Staff roles)
  • 6 paid holidays per year
  • Two weeks off at the end of December
  • 5 sick/personal days per year
• 401(k) with profit sharing (eligible after 1 year of employment)
• Use of camp facilities, including workout room, track, tennis courts, and hiking trail
• Work computer provided
• All meals and housing provided during the summer season
• Greystone branded gear, gifted annually