Summer Camp Director, Mercer Island (2027)

Galileo Learning • Mercer Island, WA

8d

About The Position

Galileo Learning is seeking an experienced leader to direct a Camp Galileo summer location serving K–8th grade campers and their families. The Camp Director serves as the site’s General Manager and public face, leading a seasonal team of educators and entry-level staff to create joyful, safe, inclusive environments and deliver strong daily operations, curriculum, customer care, and team leadership.

The Director owns the camp launch from preseason planning through postseason wrap-up, builds camp culture, prioritizes camper safety and program quality, and communicates with families, facilities partners, community partners, and internal teams. They train, mentor, schedule, and manage staff, provide ongoing feedback and professional development, and handle responsibilities including payroll and performance management. The role uses Galileo’s Innovation Approach to foster curiosity, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

This seasonal role is described as running March–September 2027, with three phases. Training and preparation generally involve 5–15 hours per week from March through June, mostly flexible and remote with scheduled and in-person commitments. Some events may occur evenings or weekends. On-site camp operations generally run Monday–Friday, with hours typically between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., for up to 50 hours per week over 5–8 weeks during June–August. Postseason wrap-up involves up to five total remote hours for administrative tasks and staff reviews. Compensation includes hourly preseason and postseason pay, a weekly salary during summer operations, and potential enrollment-related compensation. The posting also describes camp-related perks.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience working directly with students in an education setting, such as out-of-school time, teaching, education administration, camps, or recreation.
• At least 1 year of experience managing or supervising adult staff.
• Experience creating safe, inclusive environments for children and building trust with families.
• Experience setting clear expectations, giving ongoing feedback, and coaching staff to improve.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational details such as scheduling, staffing, and payroll.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in fast-paced situations, including safety issues and challenging conversations with families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with families, partners, and supervisors.
• Availability for part-time remote work beginning February 2026 and full-time on-site work beginning June 2026; dates vary by location.
• Willingness to travel regionally to up to three in-person preseason marketing events.
• Ability to complete all required training before camp begins.
• Ability to meet state requirements for working with children, including required screenings and Adult & Child First Aid/CPR/AED certification.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hands-on, project-based learning, such as STEAM, art, design, or maker programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the launch and operation of a Camp Galileo location, from preseason planning through end-of-summer wrap-up.
• Create a joyful, creative, inclusive camp environment where campers, staff, and families feel supported.
• Oversee daily camp operations, parent communication, program quality, and curriculum delivery.
• Prioritize camper safety, family trust, and adherence to program standards; anticipate and resolve operational challenges.
• Train and mentor a staff of 7 to 40, including educators and entry-level staff, and build team culture.
• Set clear instructional and program expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and support staff professional development.
• Manage staff training support, scheduling, payroll, and performance management.
• Use the Galileo Innovation Approach to encourage curiosity and problem-solving and help the team respond constructively to challenges.
• Communicate with the Field Program Manager, seek feedback, and put feedback into action.
• Take ownership of professional development and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary public representative of the camp in the community.
• Communicate proactively and build partnerships with families, facilities partners, community partners, staff, and cross-functional teams.
• Participate in required training, marketing events, on-site preparation, and postseason administrative work.

Benefits

• Free camp for the employee’s child or children, or two giftable camp weeks, including extended care.
• 15% Friends & Family discount.
• Priority nomination for financial assistance for someone the employee knows.
• Additional compensation of $1 per camper-week enrollment, plus potential commission for add-on weeks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed