Camp Harvest - 2027 Program Director

Cultivate Churches•Newaygo, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Director leads the Camp Harvest summer program team and serves as the primary bridge between Camp Harvest leadership, summer staff, and visiting church groups. This person is responsible for hiring and developing summer staff, ensuring a safe and compliant camp environment, coordinating programming with church groups, and creating a summer culture that is fun, clean, safe, and sacred. This is a highly relational leadership role for someone who can lead people well, communicate clearly, uphold important standards, and bring energy and joy to the camp environment. The Program Director must be able to hold a line when safety, policy, or expectations require it, while still creating a culture that is fun, encouraging, and distinctly Camp Harvest.

Requirements

Must have a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Must be an active, engaged, and accountable member of a local church.
Must demonstrate strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
Must be willing and able to pass a background check.
Must be physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepared to thrive in a demanding summer camp environment.
Must be willing to learn and maintain knowledge of applicable Michigan camp regulations, insurance requirements, and Camp Harvest policies.
Must be available for the full summer season and required pre-season preparation and training.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience leading or supervising young adults is strongly preferred.
Previous camp, youth ministry, church ministry, or program leadership experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard summer staff in partnership with Camp Harvest leadership.
Develop and lead thorough pre-summer training that prepares staff to serve safely, effectively, and in alignment with Camp Harvest's mission and expectations.
Clearly communicate Camp Harvest policies, procedures, expectations, and best practices to the summer team.
Provide ongoing coaching, encouragement, correction, and discipleship throughout the summer.
Establish a healthy team culture characterized by enthusiasm, humility, accountability, excellence, and servant leadership.
Supervise summer staff throughout the season and ensure responsibilities are being carried out consistently and well.
Address performance, relational, or conduct concerns promptly and appropriately.
Help staff understand not only what they are expected to do, but why we do it.
Lead by example in attitude, work ethic, communication, safety, and spiritual maturity.
Become thoroughly familiar with and consistently implement applicable Michigan laws, regulations, and requirements for youth camps, requirements and recommendations from Camp Harvest's insurance provider, Camp Harvest policies, procedures, emergency protocols, and internal safety standards, and role-specific safety requirements for Camp Harvest activities and program areas.
Communicate safety expectations clearly to summer staff and provide ongoing supervision to ensure that standards are followed throughout the summer.
Communicate with church leadership to understand their goals, needs, and expectations for their week at camp.
Ensure church volunteers understand Camp Harvest's policies, procedures, safety expectations, and role within the Camp Harvest program.
Confirm that required volunteer screening, background checks, training, and other documentation are completed.
Work with church leaders to build a programming schedule that reflects both Camp Harvest's best practices and the specific goals and desires of the church group.
Ensure that all parties understand responsibilities, expectations, schedules, and important logistical details before arrival.
Serve as the primary point of contact for the church group's leaders during the week of camp.
Communicate the daily schedule and expectations clearly to both church volunteers and summer staff.
Keep the Camp Harvest team and church leadership on the same page as schedules or circumstances change.
Troubleshoot problems and make adjustments as needed.
Help church leaders and summer staff work together effectively.
Ensure the programming experience remains safe, organized, engaging, and aligned with Camp Harvest's mission.
Coordinate daily programming and activities.
Ensure program areas are properly staffed, prepared, and maintained.
Oversee setup and teardown of program spaces.
Make sure schedules are communicated and executed effectively.
Anticipate problems before they become problems.
Respond calmly and effectively when unexpected situations arise.
Maintain a high standard of excellence while remaining flexible when circumstances require it.
Work closely with Camp Harvest Directors to evaluate and improve the summer program.
Ensure staff understand and consistently maintain Camp Harvest's standards for cleanliness, organization, setup, and teardown.
Be vigilant, proactive, and willing to address unsafe behavior or conditions immediately.