Summer Camp Administrator
About The Position
The Summer Camp Administrator is responsible for year-round planning, administration, and execution of the Virginia Spaceport Authority STEM Summer Camp program. The camp will begin as a day camp, with the goal of transitioning to an overnight camp. The role provides leadership for a multi-week program serving students in grades 6 through 12, including educational programming, residential life, health and safety compliance, risk management, staffing, stakeholder engagement, and operational oversight. The administrator manages housing, dining, transportation, healthcare services, emergency response procedures, and educational experiences, and is primarily responsible for the welfare of campers and staff while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and organizational standards. The position also leads recruitment, training, supervision, and performance management of seasonal personnel; oversees STEM curriculum and program evaluation; communicates with parents and guardians; and maintains partnerships, budgets, records, and operational documentation. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and substantial leadership and supervisory experience in youth-serving or residential settings. Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certification is required, or must be obtained within established timeframes. The position requires a valid driver’s license when operating an agency vehicle, successful background and drug checks, child abuse registry screening, and eligibility for a NASA credential. Work takes place in office, educational, residential, and outdoor recreation settings, with evenings, weekends, extended hours, overnight responsibilities, and after-hours emergency availability as operational needs require.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Educational Leadership, Youth Development, Recreation Administration, Camp Administration, Outdoor Recreation Management, Education, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
- At least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in youth-serving programs, educational programming, recreation management, or camp administration.
- At least three years of supervisory experience within a residential camp, boarding school, youth development, educational, or similar overnight residential environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing 24-hour youth operations, staff supervision, emergency response, behavioral interventions, and stakeholder communications.
- Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certification, or ability to obtain it within established timeframes.
- Valid driver’s license when operating a vehicle on agency business.
- Ability to pass state and federal criminal background investigations and child abuse registry screening.
- Ability to pass a pre-employment background check and drug test.
- Ability to obtain and maintain eligibility for issuance of a NASA credential.
- Knowledge of residential camp administration, youth development, applicable health and safety requirements, risk management, emergency preparedness, crisis response, personnel management, educational programming, experiential learning, budgeting, contract administration, child protection, mandatory reporting, and behavioral management.
- Skills in leadership, team development, program planning and evaluation, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, crisis management, emergency decision-making, organizational and project management, public speaking, stakeholder engagement, data management, and administrative recordkeeping.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other applicable software systems.
- Ability to oversee complex residential operations requiring continuous supervision and risk management, make sound emergency decisions, supervise and motivate diverse teams, build collaborative relationships, interpret and apply regulations, maintain confidentiality, exercise professional judgment, and manage multiple priorities under pressure.
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, and climb stairs for extended periods; traverse indoor and outdoor camp environments; lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally; and respond quickly to emergencies.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as operational needs require, and respond to after-hours emergencies and operational needs.
Nice To Haves
- Experience managing contracts, vendors, budgets, and operational logistics.
- Experience working with STEM education programs and youth development initiatives.
- Emergency response, wilderness first aid, emergency management, or related certifications.
- American Camp Association (ACA) Camp Director Certification.
Responsibilities
- Direct residential camp operations, including housing assignments, residential life programming, evening activities, supervision schedules, and overnight coverage.
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures for residential life, campus security, facility access, and camper accountability.
- Manage vendors and service providers for housing, dining, transportation, security, and other operational needs.
- Establish and maintain emergency preparedness plans for severe weather, medical emergencies, behavioral incidents, and other risks.
- Coordinate transportation logistics and residential facilities for camp operations.
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing youth residential camps, including Virginia Department of Health requirements.
- Oversee camp health services and coordinate with licensed healthcare personnel regarding camper medical needs, medication management, and health documentation.
- Maintain procedures for communicable disease reporting, allergy management, incident documentation, and emergency medical response.
- Administer risk management programs to protect students, staff, visitors, and organizational assets.
- Monitor and enforce youth protection standards, mandatory reporting requirements, and child safety protocols.
- Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, supervision, and performance management of seasonal camp personnel.
- Conduct pre-camp training on youth development, behavior management, emergency response, child abuse prevention, Title IX awareness, and safety procedures.
- Foster an inclusive residential culture that promotes student engagement, accountability, and leadership development.
- Supervise, coach, and support instructional staff, counselors, residential life personnel, and support staff.
- Oversee STEM educational programming, project-based learning, and experiential activities.
- Collaborate with educators, industry professionals, researchers, and partner organizations to develop instructional and enrichment experiences.
- Evaluate program effectiveness and improve curriculum and participant experiences.
- Coordinate specialized learning opportunities, field experiences, laboratory visits, and industry engagement activities.
- Serve as the primary contact for parents and guardians regarding camper participation, residential concerns, and emergency communications.
- Manage communications about enrollment, medical documentation, housing assignments, behavioral concerns, and program expectations.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with school systems, educational organizations, universities, community partners, and STEM-focused organizations.
- Support camper recruitment, scholarship initiatives, and community outreach.
- Assist with budget planning, expenditure management, vendor negotiations, and resource allocation.
- Prepare required reports, assessments, and operational documentation.
- Maintain records related to staffing, compliance, health and safety, training, and program evaluation.
- Support strategic planning and organizational goals related to youth education and workforce development.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
