Campus Program Manager

Summer Discovery•New York, NY

70d•$75,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Manager serves as the primary program leader for one summer program (with rare exceptions managing two related programs), ensuring exceptional experiences that exceed expectations of students, families, and university partners. This role requires 7-12 weeks of on-site campus residency during the summer season, where you'll lead all aspects of program operations while embodying Summer Discovery's vibrant spirit and commitment to excellence. Depending on your campus assignment, you'll work within either our branded program model (which we own and operate end-to-end) or our managed program model (where we provide operational excellence for institutional partners), adapting your approach to deliver consistently outstanding results. This role is hybrid and will work out of our NY City Office 4 days per week and will require occasional travel to training, meetings, recruiting activities during the year. This role will also involve 7+ consecutive weeks on a campus in a summer position between June-August.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, Hospitality Management, or related field
3-5 years operations management experience, preferably in educational or multi-site environments
Proven leadership and team management experience with strong staff development skills
Exceptional communication abilities with diverse stakeholder groups
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with ability to manage multiple priorities
Travel required throughout the year to partner meetings, staff recruitment fairs, and company meetings
Ability and willingness to relocate temporarily for 7-12 weeks during summer season
Availability for hybrid work schedule in New York City office 4 days per week during non-summer periods

Nice To Haves

Experience managing residential, campus-based, or intensive program environments
Background in both direct-consumer services and institutional partnership management
Sales and client services experience with track record of driving satisfaction and growth
Summer program or educational enrichment experience
Experience with budget management and P&L responsibility

Responsibilities

Create an exceptional summer environment by serving as the primary campus leader during the summer season
Live on-site for 7-12 weeks depending on your program assignment
Lead daily operations and troubleshoot challenges in real-time
Ensure every aspect of the program reflects Summer Discovery's high standards
Cultivate a dynamic, engaging campus atmosphere that balances academic rigor with the joy and excitement of Summer Discovery
Oversee comprehensive pre-season preparation and summer execution for your assigned program
Manage budgets and coordinate staffing needs based on enrollment
Create dynamic programming calendars
Ensure all logistics meet program standards and university partner requirements
Maintain strict adherence to all policies, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance requirements
Monitor program activities closely and make real-time adjustments to ensure smooth operations
Serve as the primary point of contact for all program stakeholders, with your approach determined by your specific program assignment
Maintain strong relationships with university partners, internal teams, and seasonal staff
Execute flawless delivery of academic programming through extensive coordination and logistics management
Conduct training with sales and marketing teams and develop resources to ensure marketing and sales messaging aligns with course content
Collaborate with marketing to monitor course webpages for accuracy and update with current information as needed
Serve as primary contact with campus partner through sales cycle to monitor course performance and lead decisions to cancel or continue courses
Coordinate with sales team to support client services outreach regarding canceled courses or other changes to preserve enrollments
Monitor course enrollments and communicate closely with sales team to ensure overall enrollments do not exceed course capacities
Coordinate classroom and lab space allocation according to course-specific requirements
Manage field trip and guest speaker scheduling, transportation, logistics, and budget
Oversee specialized equipment procurement and setup
Facilitate faculty and instructor coordination and training to effectively implement the Summer Discovery Academic Model
Ensure seamless integration of all academic components with the broader campus experience
Lead content capture initiatives throughout the program to document student experiences, capture testimonials, and develop materials for future program enhancement and marketing efforts
Take complete operational ownership of your program during the active summer season
Manage all aspects of daily operations, student welfare, and campus logistics
Oversee student behavioral management and disciplinary procedures
Coordinate crisis response and emergency protocols
Maintain comprehensive documentation of all incidents with timely parent communication
Manage relationships with campus medical staff, counselors, and support services to ensure student wellbeing
Address real-time operational challenges, from facility issues to schedule conflicts, while maintaining program quality and student satisfaction
Coordinate with university partners on campus-specific requirements and protocols
Ensure compliance with all safety regulations
Conduct regular program assessments and implement immediate improvements when needed
Maintain detailed operational records and provide regular updates to Regional Directors on program performance, challenges, and successes
Lead the complete staff lifecycle from recruitment through post-program activities for seasonal campus staff
Recruit qualified candidates and manage contracting and onboarding processes
Provide comprehensive training and supervise daily operations to ensure high-performance standards
Deliver ongoing guidance, feedback, and support throughout the program to maintain excellent service delivery
Oversee post-hire activities and program wrap-up responsibilities
Lead by example in creating a positive, engaging work environment that attracts and retains top talent