Find & Apply For Higher Education Administrator Jobs in Zirconia, North Carolina

Description:

We are seeking a Program Director leads client's summer program, overseeing the people, activities, systems, and facilities that make an exceptional camper experience possible. This position is responsible for developing and continually improving client's class offerings, hiring seasonal staff, supporting leadership staff, and ensuring that all activity areas are safe, fun, growth-filled, and aligned with client's mission.

This is a significant leadership role for a dynamic camp professional who is gifted in both long-term vision and excellent in-the-moment execution. The ideal Program Director will be just as comfortable imagining what a client program area could look like five years from now as making sure equipment is ordered, staff are hired, schedules are ready, and Department Heads have what they need for tomorrow.

This is a highly cyclical role, and the Program Director should be able to shift effectively between strategic planning, detailed preparation, people leadership, and operational logistics throughout the year. The Program Director anticipates needs and stays several steps ahead, proactively identifying upcoming staffing, scheduling, facility, communication, and program needs rather than relying on reactive problem-solving.

The ideal Program Director is a relational leader, a creative thinker, and a highly organized operator. This person is self-motivated, collaborative, humble, and committed to making client's program better for both campers and staff.

The Program Director stays ahead on their work in order to put people first and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty as they come alongside our hardworking team to make camp magic happen. The right candidate will enjoy developing people, working with a team, solving complex problems, and analyzing feedback and trends as they use their creativity to make client's program the best it can be for the glory of God.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Development and Strategy:

Design and implement a comprehensive camp program that offers a diverse range of high-quality camper activitiesContinually evaluate client's program offerings using camper, parent, and staff feedback, program data, industry trends, and best practicesResearch best practices in camp programming and develop relationships with camping professionals and peer campsDevelop new programs and improve existing programs each year through research, feedback, and creative innovationThink strategically about the short- and long-term future of client's program, anticipating the evolving needs and interests of campers and staffMaintain open and effective communication with camp leadership, staff, and campers regarding program updates, schedule changes, and special eventsOwn 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 client's missionOversee client's levels, patches, and awards systems, ensuring consistent skill standards while using recognition to reinforce growth, character, effort, and the values of the client Honor Code.

Staff Planning, Hiring, and Development:

Own client's program hiring strategy, ensuring staffing levels, expertise, certifications, and session commitments align with program offerings, camper enrollment, and program capacityDevelop and maintain a comprehensive activity staffing plan that identifies current and anticipated staffing gaps, hard-to-fill skills, certification needs, and Department Head needsUse historical staffing data, program demand, and enrollment trends to anticipate staffing needs and make sustainable hiring and placement decisionsAlongside 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 decisionsLead program-related staff Orientation and pre-season training, coordinating schedules, arrivals, housing, skills training, safety training, Department Head preparation, and program readinessDevelop and coach Department Heads as leaders, equipping them to independently lead their teams, manage program quality, communicate effectively, and solve problemsIdentify individual leadership strengths, challenges, and development needs among Department Heads and provide appropriate coaching, feedback, and supportGive staff regular summer feedback and address staff issues while fostering a positive and supportive camp communityLead 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 excitementManage seasonal staff HR functions assigned to the Program Director including tax forms and staff days off.

Program Operations and Safety:

Ensure program areas comply with applicable safety regulations, risk-management practices, and ACA standardsConduct regular inspections of program areas and implement necessary safety and operational improvementsLead client's ACA accreditation process during renewal years, including preparing and maintaining required program documentationWork with leadership staff during the summer and offseason to document and improve lesson content, helping maintain consistent class quality from year to yearPrepare program facilities before each camp season and oversee the breakdown and closeout of program areas at the beginning of the offseasonManage equipment and supplies related to program areas, including purchasing, inventory, and coordinating runs to town as neededCoordinate 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.

Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis:

Collaborate with client's leadership team to develop and manage budgets for program areas and forecast program needs and expensesUse 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 investmentMaintain 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.

Qualifications:

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 preferredA minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership role within a summer camp, outdoor education organization, or similar settingA committed Christian, as evidenced by personal testimony and regular attendance of a Bible-believing church; someone who wholeheartedly supports client's mission and statement of faithKnowledge of safety regulations, risk management, and best practices in outdoor and recreational activitiesWillingness to travel as needed for staff recruiting

Skills and Qualities:

Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a teamA strategic and visionary thinker who can plan both in the short term and over a 1-5 year horizonExceptional 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 environmentStrong systems-thinking ability, with a talent for creating, improving, and maintaining processes that make complex programs easier for staff to execute consistentlyExcellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple detailed projects and competing priorities simultaneouslyComfortable seeking input, delegating effectively, and drawing on the expertise of othersExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including consistent and timely communication with campers, parents, staff, and camp leadershipHigh comfort level with collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends, incorporating feedback, and using those insights to make informed decisionsStrong financial acumen, including an understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and planningA creative and innovative mindset with enthusiasm for developing engaging programs and experiences for campersConsistency and follow-through; a self-starter who keeps commitments and takes ownership of responsibilitiesCollaborative, approachable, and team-orientedDemonstrates humility and a willingness to objectively evaluate programs, staff, and their own performanceA commitment to fostering a positive, supportive, and mission-aligned camp culture.