ABOUT THE ROLE 

As Director of Camp Hale, you’ll lead the Camp Hale program with seasonal programming on Squam Lake in New  Hampshire, and year-round programming and engagement in Boston. The residential camping experience provides boys and girls, ages 6-14, unique opportunities for personal growth and development in a natural environment not found in typical urban living. The Director of Camp Hale, would be able to recruit in Boston for the majority of the year, and reside at Camp Hale in New Hampshire from June through August, oversees all aspects of management of Camp Hale, including recruitment, enrollment, curriculum development that promotes child development and environmental learning, supervision of staff, ensuring campers’ safety, maintaining American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation and NH licensure, family and event rentals, and physical property. In addition, the Director is responsible for the financial health of the camp and is a critical partner, along with the Development team, in leading fundraising efforts.  

The Camp Hale Director will manage the whole Camp Hale team, including a year-round Assistant Director and Caretaker, seasonal staff, including the Camp Chef, Nurse, and all program staff, and vendors. The Director will work across the organization with program directors, managers, and staff of Early Childhood Education, club48, and Family Mobility, as well as integral functions across the Executive Team, Development, Operations, Human Resources, and Finance. This position will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. 

ABOUT UNITED SOUTH END SETTLEMENTS (USES) 

United South End Settlements believes that children with access to high-quality programming, supportive family resources, and safe and enriching environments are well-positioned to thrive in school, and home, and in their communities. Through its new strategic plan, launched in 2024, USES delivers each of these, engaging whole families to support children’s growth and learning through critical periods of development. Our aim is to create a community that protects children from the harmful effects of generational poverty and institutional racism while working directly with families to support their overall wellbeing. 

USES’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, the club48 afterschool program, and Camp Hale, our sleepaway summer camp, utilize a shared curriculum built upon STEAM concepts and social-emotional learning. From the age of three months to 13 years, children gain practical skills through our hands-on approach to learning, discover new passions and curiosities, and develop a healthy sense of self and of community. 

Over these critical years, USES also works closely with parents and caregivers to ensure they have the resources and support they need to see their family thrive. This includes parenting workshops where they can learn new skills while developing supportive relationships with their fellow parents, as well as warm referrals to USES partner organizations who are able to deliver additional services based on each families’ unique needs and goals. USES also delivers a guaranteed income program, called STEP, which offers qualifying parents of enrolled youth $850 monthly payments for a period of 18 months. STEP participants also have access to a one-on-one coaching program, allowing them to work towards individualized goals in partnership with a trained coach. This program offers participants financial freedom and flexibility, which not only mitigates the persistent strain of poverty, it creates new pathways for pursuing long-term goals that can help lift families out of poverty for good. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO   

The key responsibilities of this position include: 

Organizational Leadership and Program Stewardship  

• Uphold and help further the mission of the organization  
• Work closely with senior staff to facilitate departmental goals and ensure program activities are aligned with USES’ strategic direction  
• Develop funding strategies with the Chief Executive Officer and Development team, drawing from local NH and Boston resources for short and long-term sustainability  
• Be a liaison between Camp Hale and the Town of Sandwich, NH, and Boston’s USES campus  
• Support the collection and use of data about Camp Hale campers for continuous program improvement, including entering information into Camp Site, Salesforce, and other databases as needed  
• Responsible for cultivation and stewardship of the New Hampshire fundraising base in partnership with the Chief Development Officer 
• Present as the content expert on summer residential camps and ensure Senior Leadership and Board are updated on trends in camping and youth development   
• Serve as a thought partner in expanding and marketing Camp Hale and other USES youth programs to attract families from diverse communities   
• Seek out and promote opportunities to support families across USES programs 

Management & Program Responsibilities  

• Responsible for the overall pre-planning and implementation of camp program activities  
• Align the structure, including length and target audience, of camp sessions for maximum programmatic and financial impact  
• Recruit, hire, train, evaluate, and supervise all camp staff (including chef and nurse)   
• Develop and implement a summer and year-round curriculum for off-season that promotes positive youth development and environmental learning  
• Ensure the safe and secure operation of the camp, including safety drills and procedures  
• Develop and maintain program goals, activities, policies, and procedures that reflect current best practices in both youth development and environmental learning  
• Work with the data and evaluation team to develop and implement tools to measure program impact annually  
• Assess growth potential and use data to determine pace and quality of programming  
• Develop annual timeline for overall Camp Hale program activities and events  
• Oversee and manage event opportunities, outreach, promotion, and contract negotiation  
• Maintain ACA accreditation and utilize standards to inform best practices for program management and delivery 

Outreach & Relationship Building Responsibilities  

• Cultivate strong relationships with Camp Hale campers and families  
• Build and maintain relationships with Camp Hale neighbors and Camp Hale Alumni Association.   
• Conduct outreach to schools, community-based organizations, camp fairs, and other groups for the purpose of facilitating enrollment  
• Develop partnerships with community-based, educational, or other organizations to enhance program activities at camp  

 Fiscal/Financial Responsibilities   

• Enrollment of campers and meet revenue goals  
• Ensure accuracy and efficiency in billing and collection of parent fees  
• Develop program budget and manage expenses to both operational and maintenance budget 
• Conduct periodic market analysis that includes rate comparisons  
• Coordinate off-season rental use of camp property to maximize revenue opportunities  
• Play an active role in fundraising for Camp Hale by participating in stewardship and cultivation events and activities with donors and prospects 
• Partner with the Development team on grant applications and reports, ensuring that grant proposals/reports are timely, accurate, and compelling   
• Partner with the Development team to produce marketing materials that highlight the impact of Camp Hale  

Regulatory/Physical Planning Responsibilities  

• Operation of facilities, including both grounds and buildings. Coordinate subcontractors and other repairs as needed  
• Maintain required records, permits, and licenses in accordance with both MA and NH regulations and standards, including ACA accreditation 
• Ensure contract compliance with and maintain accurate records for NH summer food program. 
• Comply with all regulatory procedures including water testing, worker’s comp, and hiring and labors standards   

Other duties as assigned   

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR 

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below. 

• At least 5-7 years experience working in diverse environments in youth development or in the camping arena, with at least 3 years experience in program coordination or management. Extensive leadership experience in a camp or youth program required  
• At least 3 years experience supervising staff required  
• Must have facility and excitement in working with underserved youth, staff, agency personnel, and families. Must be familiar with best practices in child development and astute at implementing environmental and recreational education curriculum 
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams 
• Strong organizational and communication skills, including familiarity with Camp Site, Salesforce, and other related databases preferred 
• Demonstrated timely problem-solving skills and flexibility  
• Familiarity and experience with American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation standards strongly preferred 
• USES is an equal opportunity employer, and candidates of all backgrounds and identities are encouraged to apply. We particularly encourage applications from candidates that identify with the population we serve. 

WHAT WE OFFER 

The salary range for this role is $75,000-$85,000 and is commensurate with experience. We’ll promote your professional growth and development by providing access to a benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, paid vacation, and more.    

WORK EXPECTATIONS AT USES 

This role is based at Camp Hale on Squam Lake in Sandwich, NH, from June through August. Our preference is for candidates to reside in the greater Boston area during the off-season and be available to travel occasionally within the region to support ongoing relationship management with Camp Hale and USES stakeholders.    

While based in our Boston office, our standard administrative work schedule is 9-5, but there will be occasional early morning, evening, and weekend needs dependent on Executive Team needs, Board and community meetings, etc.   

While at camp, the Director works six days per week, and time off is scheduled based on the needs of the camp. This position requires you to be on call 24/7 while camp is in session, and you must be available in the event of an emergency. There is an administrative team to support the Director while the Director is off-site managing public relations, fundraising, and scheduled time off. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Interested candidates are encouraged to promptly submit their application through the online portal. All applicants will receive a response to their application within two weeks of submission. Candidates can expect a comprehensive interview process with USES team members, including a final interview onsite at Camp Hale.  Expected start date for the role is as soon as possible.  

------------------------------EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER------------------------------ 

USES is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, disability or protected veteran status, genetics, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. USES is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team.