Summer Camp Director, La Grange (2027)

Galileo Learning • La Grange, IL

11d

About The Position

Galileo Learning is hiring a Summer Camp Director to lead a Camp Galileo location serving K–8th grade campers and their families. The Director acts as the site General Manager and public face of the organization, leading a seasonal team of educators and entry-level staff to create a joyful, safe, inclusive environment and deliver high-quality programming and customer care.

The Director owns the camp’s launch and operations, from preseason planning through end-of-summer wrap-up. Responsibilities include maintaining safety and program quality, managing daily operations and family communications, building team culture, training and coaching staff, and handling management tasks such as scheduling, payroll, and performance management. The role also involves communicating with a Field Program Manager, families, facilities partners, and cross-functional teams, and using the Galileo Innovation Approach to support creativity, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

This seasonal role is scheduled across three phases. Training and preparation from March through June involves 5–15 hours per week, mostly flexible and remote, with scheduled and in-person commitments. On-site camp operations from June through August typically run Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–6:00 PM, for up to 50 hours per week over 5–8 weeks. The August–September wrap-up involves up to five total remote hours for final administrative tasks and staff reviews. Dates and hours vary by hire date and site.

Year-one compensation includes preseason hourly pay of $22–$24, a camp-season salary of $1,400 per week plus $50 per week for each year of returning tenure in the role, and postseason hourly pay of $22–$24. The posting also describes an additional $1 per camper-week enrollment and potential commission for add-on weeks. Perks include free camp for the employee’s child or two giftable camp weeks, including extended care, a 15% Friends & Family discount, and priority nomination for financial assistance for someone the employee knows.

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, providing ongoing feedback, and coaching staff to improve.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational details such as scheduling, staffing, and payroll.
• Ability to stay 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 starting in February 2026 and full-time on-site work starting in June 2026; dates vary by location.
• Willingness to travel within the region 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 mandated 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 and operate a Camp Galileo site, from preseason planning and launch through end-of-summer wrap-up.
• Create a joyful, creative, inclusive, and safe environment for campers, staff, and families.
• Oversee daily camp operations and maintain program quality and fidelity.
• Prioritize camper safety and family trust; anticipate needs, adapt, and problem-solve during camp operations.
• Train and mentor a team of 7 to 40 educators and entry-level staff, depending on site size.
• Set clear instructional and program expectations; provide ongoing feedback and professional development to staff.
• Manage staff training support, scheduling, payroll, and ongoing performance management.
• Use the Galileo Innovation Approach to encourage curiosity and problem-solving and help the team turn challenges into opportunities.
• Communicate openly with the Field Program Manager, seek feedback, and put it into action.
• Serve as the primary public face of camp in the community and communicate proactively with families, facilities partners, and cross-functional teams.
• Build trust and partnerships with community partners, staff, campers, and families.
• Complete preseason training, preparation, marketing events, on-site setup, and postseason administrative tasks and staff reviews.

Benefits

• Free camp for the employee’s child or two giftable weeks, including extended care.
• 15% Friends & Family discount.
• Priority nomination for financial assistance for someone the employee knows.
• Additional pay of $50 per camp-season week for each year of returning tenure in the role.
• Additional $1 per camper-week enrollment and potential commission for add-on weeks.

What This Job Offers

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