Camp Director, Agassiz Village

Based in Greater Boston & Maine  |  Year-Round

Compensation: $100,000 to $120,000 plus benefits

About Agassiz Village

Located on Thompson Lake in Poland, Maine, ​​​​Agassiz Village is a nonprofit that provides residential summer camp and year-round programming for children from underserved communities across the Northeast. Since 1935, ​​​​Agassiz has given more than 45,000 children the opportunity to discover new interests, uncover hidden skills, make lifetime friendships, and connect with inspiring mentors to help them thrive in school, college, and the workforce. Each summer, more than 400 children attend camp across three sessions from the end of June to mid-August. ​​​​

Agassiz Village is one of only seven camps in New England to offer free or affordable overnight summer camp experiences for kids from under-resourced communities, many of whom have experienced homelessness, foster care, parental incarceration, or domestic violence. Agassiz’s sliding scale and financial support model allows the vast majority of campers to attend camp at heavily subsidized rates, ensuring that cost is not a barrier for low-income families.   

Position Overview

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Camp Director is the senior leader responsible for camp operations, program quality, camper experience, staff culture, safety, accreditation, and enrollment strategy. The Camp Director sets the vision and direction for camp and year-round youth development programming, and leads a team of year-round and seasonal staff to bring that vision to life. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced, mission-driven camp leader who is passionate about positive youth development, skilled at managing diverse teams, and committed to creating inclusive, enriching environments where campers and staff thrive.

This is a full-time, year-round position. The expectation is for this role to be located at camp in Poland, Maine from late May to mid-August, and to work at either the Framingham, MA headquarters or at the camp offices in Maine throughout the year. The in-office expectation is three days per week outside of the summer months. Compensation starts at  $100,000 to $120,000, plus benefits and summer housing at camp.

Team Structure

The Camp Director reports to the Executive Director and oversees the following team members:

• Program Manager (year-round): Leads camp and year-round programming under the Camp Director’s vision and direction.
• Engagement Coordinator (year-round): Leads camper registration, enrollment and community partnerships.
• Manager of People & Culture (future hire): Leads staff recruitment, training, HR, and compliance.
• Seasonal Staff: 90 summer staff across counselors, seasonal program administrators, food service, and health teams. 

The Camp Director is supported by a year-round professional staff who oversee Development, Facilities, and Communications functions. 

Responsibilities

Program Management, Evolution, and Vision

• Accountable for overall leadership of Agassiz Village’s overnight summer camp and year-round youth development programs. 
• Set the vision and direction for camp programming and curriculum, and ensure the year-round Program Manager executes the day-to-day vision.
• In collaboration with the Program Manager, ensure all camp and year‑round programming is intentionally designed and effectively implemented to improve youth social‑emotional and leadership skills, align with Agassiz Village’s mission and values (Have Fun, Explore, Collaborate, Thrive), and reflect high‑quality outdoor, experiential, and character‑centered practice.
• In partnership with the Program Manager, ensure safe and compliant activity (waterfront, archery, climbing wall, etc) operations, including strict supervision ratios, active headcount procedures, emergency readiness, and adherence to ACA and Maine DHHS licensing and regulations for all activities.
• Build and maintain a positive, inclusive camp culture where all campers and staff feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow.
• Partner with the Program Manager to implement tools that measure program impact and use data to strengthen program quality.

Staff Leadership, Hiring, and Culture

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate the year‑round program team (3 staff), while collaborating with the Manager of People & Culture and Program Manager to support the recruitment, training, and evaluation of approximately 90 seasonal staff.
• Build a staff culture rooted in accountability, professionalism, youth-centered practice, and continuous improvement.
• Provide training, coaching, mentorship, and professional development to ensure staff are prepared to deliver high-quality programming.
• Ensure all hiring, onboarding, background checks, and compliance processes meet state and ACA standards.

Camper Recruitment,  Enrollment, and Retention 

• Develop and oversee strategies to increase camper enrollment and retention.
• Build strong relationships with Boston-area schools, nonprofits, and community partners to strengthen the camper pipeline.
• Oversee camper recruitment in partnership with the Engagement Coordinator, including outreach to schools, other nonprofits, camp fairs, and referral partners.
• Ensure families experience clear communication, strong customer service, and a welcoming, supportive environment.
• Strengthen camper readiness screening processes to ensure appropriate placement, reduce send-homes, and support positive camper outcomes.

Operations, Safety, and Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with ACA accreditation, state licensing, health regulations, and safety standards.
• Oversee camp operations, including scheduling, risk management, emergency procedures, and daily logistics.
• The Director must be comfortable managing crisis situations (behavioral, medical, environmental) and be prepared to handle high-intensity camper needs (trauma, homelessness, foster care, behavioral challenges).
• Manage the camp budget in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Partner with the Facilities Director to ensure housekeeping staff maintain camp cleanliness and summer maintenance issues are addressed.
• Ensure safe operation of the Health Center and support medical staff in delivering appropriate care.
• Ensure the safe operation of the kitchen including maintaining full staffing, optimized food delivery and cleanliness in compliance with all Maine health standards.  
• Ensure all records, materials, and systems are properly stored and closed out at the end of each season.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the camp industry, including 3+ years in a senior leadership role, with a consistent track record of  strong leadership.
• Proven experience working with youth from under-resourced communities; strong commitment to equity and inclusion
• BA/BS in camp administration, youth development, education, social work, or related field preferred.
• Deep familiarity with ACA standards and accreditation processes, and Maine (or similar) DHHS regulations governing overnight youth camps, including health center operations, medical protocols, food service compliance, emergency preparedness, and required documentation/reporting.
• Ability to work long hours during camp season and live onsite late May through mid-August.
• Ability to navigate physical requirements of a camp.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $100,000 to $120,000. Benefits include medical and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered by the employer, a 403(b) retirement plan, and unlimited paid vacation. In addition, the office is closed for one week after camp and one week at the close of the year. Onsite housing is provided during the summer months.

CampHire is a recruitment partner for summer camps and nonprofits. Visit camphire.com for more information.