Camp Otter Director

MERRIMACK VALLEY YMCA•Salem, NH

29d•$50,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Camp Otter Director provides safe, motivational, and knowledgeable leadership to members, volunteers, and program participants under the supervision of the Senior Executive Director of Camping Services. This role is responsible for the overall management of Camp Otter, including its facility, staff, campers, parent relations, budget, and on-site operations. Key goals include expanding outdoor education, adventure-based programming, and rentals, while ensuring the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and quality in camp operations. Seasonal responsibilities may require some evenings and weekends for staff training, camp tours, family nights, and special events. During the off-season, the Director will support YMCA association programs beyond camp, including childcare and other youth programs. The Director will also assist with registration, promotion, marketing, and philanthropic initiatives for the Camping Services Branch. Off-season responsibilities may require evening and weekend hours for programs, events, marketing initiatives, and board meetings. All Merrimack Valley YMCA staff will help champion a culture of service excellence and support and advocate the mission and values of the YMCA. The Y and our team are committed to expanding our diversity and inclusion efforts and ensuring equity in all we do and to all we serve.

Requirements

BA/BS degree in education, sociology, psychology, physical education, recreation, human services or related field (preferred).
Minimum 3 years of experience working with youth, teens and adults in a recreation setting and/or camp experience.
Preferred minimum age of 25 years, in accordance with American Camp Association accreditation standards.
Experience in program planning and development.
Proven decision-making abilities, managerial skills, and financial comprehension, including purchasing and budget management.
Knowledge of staff supervision techniques and ability to implement them effectively.
Exemplary behavior as a role model and team member.
Strong human relations skills to foster positive relationships with community agencies, staff, volunteers, parents, members, and program participants.
Enjoys working outdoors and can adapt to a rustic camp setting.
Broad knowledge of camp activities, camp goals and objectives, risk management concepts, and contemporary trends in the camping industry.
Knowledge of the YMCA Movement and trends in youth development and camp programs.
Familiarity with and ability to ensure compliance with State of New Hampshire regulations for summer youth camps, American Camp Association standards, and New Hampshire Labor Department guidelines.
Appropriate training and experience in ropes courses, climbing walls, and adventure-based programming, including safety training, facilitative techniques, and technical/physical aptitude.
YMCA Team Leader Certification (or obtained within first two years in position)
Effective conflict resolution skills.
Ability to work autonomously while upholding the YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
Working knowledge of computers and experience with various software applications.
Certification in CPR/First Aid/AED required within 60 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops, organizes, and implements high-quality YMCA summer camp and outdoor education programming.
Recruits, hires, trains, develops, schedules, and directs personnel and volunteers as needed. Reviews and evaluates staff performance and develops strategies to motivate and engage staff to achieve goals.
Develops and provides oversight for the annual budget.
Establishes and monitors program quality standards with the highest level of service in mind. Sets and tracks annual quality and enrollment goals for programs.
Ensures compliance with state and local regulations, program standards, and safety procedures.
Manages camp facilities to maintain safety standards.
Facilitates communication and provides leadership, modeling strong relationship-building skills in all interactions.
Maintains strong relationships and open communication with the Executive Director of Camping Services and the camp staff team.
Plans and implements off-season communication and engagement opportunities with Camp Otter families, including newsletters, calendars, birthday cards, open houses, and camp tours.
Develops new or expanded program opportunities, including outdoor education, rentals, and adventure-based programming.
Oversees marketing and distribution of camp brochures, newsletters, registration materials, flyers, parent emails, and manuals.
Assists with website marketing, including updating photo galleries, keeping information current, and ensuring the site is easy to navigate.
Assists in the registration process for all Merrimack Valley YMCA camps, including collecting enrollment forms, physicals, immunizations, transportation preferences, and payments.
Conducts annual parent surveys and initiates program improvements based on feedback.
Assists with YMCA fundraising activities and special events.
Performs additional duties as assigned by management to best serve the needs of the community.