Job Details

About Tawonga
Tawongas mission is to provide educational and recreational programs for children, adults and families that foster self-esteem, lifelong friendships and community, connections with nature, commitment to justice, and positive Jewish identity and spirituality. We run programs at our residential campsite next to Yosemite National Park and in the Bay Area, serving over 5,000 people a year.

About Camp Tawongas Culture

At Camp Tawonga, we are a caring, collaborative, joyous group of professionals who take great pride in fulfilling our mission and having fun while doing it. We have deep respect for our community, the children and the families who participate in our programs; for nature and the physical world; and for Jewish value of tikkun olam repairing the world. Our team has taken many different paths to arrive at Tawonga, from growing up as campers at Camp to others who have never before been involved with a summer camp. We are a Jewish organization, and we welcome and are inclusive of all staff and community members, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. We are committed to JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) and the ongoing reflection, learning and action required to be aligned with these values and create and sustain an equity culture.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Camp Tawonga is an Equal Opportunity Employer, values diversity and is committed to being an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, and to hiring people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and women. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and organizational need.

Job Purpose and Description
The Assistant Director, Wilderness Programs is a key part of Camp Tawongas program team. This position contributes to the mission of Camp Tawonga by managing and overseeing all aspects of our Wilderness Programs (includes our backpacking trips, Teva (nature) or naturalist programs, Farm and Garden programs, Challenge Course (including high elements using belay systems), and Quests (our adventure trips). This position also oversees risk management for all wilderness departments and transportation, serves as an at-camp Director during the summer season and partners with other key program staff members to co-direct our weekend at-Camp programs and Bay Area Programs as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Direct supervision of our wilderness staff and supervisors, at Camp and on the road during Quests
Supervises Backpacking and Quest Supervisors, Challenge Course Manager, Teva Supervisor and Farm and Garden Manager
Help plan and lead supervisor and staff training
Plan and co-facilitate wilderness staff training week with wilderness supervisors
Supervise additional departments and staff as needed

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Wilderness Programs
Responsible for Wilderness Department staff assignments, observation, feedback and evaluation
Manage wilderness staff recruitment and hiring, including conducting interviews and performing reference checks.
Overall responsibility for Wilderness staff training including design, implementation and ongoing evaluation of training programs and materials
Manage relationships between Wilderness Department and other departments at Camp
Manage external agency relationships with National Parks
Supervise Backpacking program, including risk management, staff, logistics, equipment and evaluation
Supervise Quest program, including planning, enrollment, risk management, training Quest leaders, overseeing parent communication regarding Quest and interfacing with outfitters
Oversee and supervise all aspects of the Challenge Course (aka Ropes Course) program, including risk management; course construction and repairs, inspections, and equipment; staff training, certification and supervision; establishing local operating procedures for all elements; and evaluating the program structure.
Supervise Teva (Nature) and Farm and Garden programs at Camp, including staff training and supervision and ensuring high quality programming
Provide leadership, guidance, and ongoing support for the expansion of the farm and garden
Serve on management team with other year-round directors to ensure excellence in all aspects of operations and program delivery
Innovate and evaluate wilderness programs on a yearly basis.

Wilderness Administration
Organize all logistics for adventure travel programs (Quests) with careful attention to detail. This includes creating and updating itineraries, tracking reservations, and compiling day-by-day Quest binders.
Secure reservations for campgrounds, outfitters, flights and other Quest-related needs, occasionally reserving online at 7 a.m. to secure spots as soon as they become available. Track expenses, and organize reservations, receipts and invoices.
Create and update a spreadsheet of wilderness permits needed for Camps backpacking program, securing permits with Yosemite National Park.
Work with vendors to reserve satellite phones and renew contracts. Follow up to ensure charges are accurate and that invoices are paid promptly.
Assist with staff recruitment by maintaining online postings for seasonal positions, creating targeted email campaigns, and recruiting former staff to return for seasonal work.

Summer Camp & Family Camp Hiring
Direct two to three weekend programs per year and lead other year-round programming, such as family hikes in the Bay Area, as needed
As part of the hiring team with other directors, ensure recruitment and hiring of outstanding staff:
Source and recruit staff applicants, conduct interviews, and check references
Select and hire seasonal staff.
Partner with Human Resources to ensure timely completion of new hire paperwork, contracts, and other required staff forms are completed

At-Camp Director
Spend summers at Camp Tawonga as a key part of the at-Camp director team, supervising three to six departments and sharing responsibility for camper management, staff management, parent communication, overall tone-setting, and leadership
Serve as a positive and responsible role model for campers and staff at all times
Meet daily during the summer, and bi-weekly during the year, with other directors to manage camper and staff issues, program plans, and logistics
Manage Camp logistics as assigned and partner with other directors to arrange coverage for one another during time off
Communicate with parents, lead outreach events, and respond to parent questions and feedback about Quest, backpacking trips, and general camper experience

Other Responsibilities
Oversee ordering of all supplies for wilderness department
Oversee annual inspection of challenge course, build new elements and retire old elements and gear as needed
Collaborate with Development Team to secure grants as needed
Make all backpacking reservations and Quest reservations, update trip leader materials

Professional Development
Research and participate in relevant, ongoing, continuous professional development as it pertains to the role and/or business needs (e.g., training materials, coursework, webinars, etc.)

Required

• Minimum three years relevant experience leading wilderness programs or closely related programming.
  Minimum two years experience managing and administering youth programs
  Minimum two years of experience supervising staff
  Risk management experience and good safety judgment
  Proven ability to work with youth and communicate with parents
  Experience supporting and managing families and/or other stakeholders
  Diplomacy, tact and friendliness
  Excellent and demonstrable communication skills
  Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, etc.)
  Required certifications or must be willing to acquire these certifications upon hire:
  CPR
  Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician
  Lifeguard Training
  Challenge Course Advanced Skills and Standards certifications
  California Drivers License

Preferred

• Excellent supervisor/manager
  Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
  Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
  Ability to take and implement feedback
  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  Ability to work independently and make appropriate decisions in routine and emergency situations