Director of Groups and Community Partnerships

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Groups & Community Partnerships is responsible for coordinating and overseeing a wide range of logistics, programming, and staff management initiatives that enhance the Camp experience year-round. This role manages program partnerships with Pittsburgh Together communities, supervises program spaces, and ensures all facilities are prepared for summer operations. The position also supports staff recruitment, onboarding, and engagement while addressing staff concerns to foster a positive workplace culture. The position leads strategic planning for non-summer events, rental group coordination, and program logistics, including RootOne Grant administration. Collaborating with the Camp Director and other team members, this role ensures compliance with regulatory certifications. This position is based in Pittsburgh with remote work available as approved. Position resides at Camp (housing provided) from May – August.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management and Logistics

• Manages EKC program logistics for Israeli/Warsaw camper program in collaboration with Pittsburgh’s partnership communities of Karmiel/Misgav (Israel) and Warsaw (Poland).
• Assists in creating aspirational arcs in program areas and living units throughout Camp.
• Oversees identified program spaces during non-summer months, ensuring equipment functionality and adequate supplies for summer.
• Directly supervises program spaces without a designated supervisor during the summer.
• Supports logistics for outside vendors, trips, and activities utilized by the EKC Summer Program team, including bookings, payments, and travel coordination.

Staff Recruitment, Engagement, and Management

• Assists with recruiting, hiring, and onboarding all staff, including seasonal summer and head staff.
• Addresses staff concerns, including bunking, time off, complaints, and personal concerns.
• Develops and implements a staff recruitment plan to meet the seasonal needs of rental partnerships and family programs.
• Facilitates staff engagement and retention through off-season events across EKC’s geographic markets.
• ·Tracks and updates staff certifications to comply with the WV Department of Health and American Camp Association (ACA) standards.

Facilities and Operations

• Serves as the liaison for daily communication with EKC support services related to cleaning and facilities.
• Ensures appropriate maintenance and preparation of program spaces and facilities for summer operations.
• Organizes pre-and post-camp setup and breakdown/cleanup, including the hiring of staff for these areas.
• Supports the Director of Administration, Business, and Operations to address camper-related administrative tasks, including maintaining current payment plans.

Jewish Leadership and Grant Management

• Manages the RootOne Grant Program, supporting Staff in Training (SIT) participants in meeting program requirements to receive travel vouchers.
• Assists and supports all efforts to provide meaningful Jewish experiences for the EKC community, including campers, staff, and families.

Non-Camp Season Programming and Rentals

• Coordinates, plans, and implements non-camp season programming.
• Strategically expands and increases rental opportunities with the EKC Director.
• Serves as the primary contact for rental groups, managing inquiries, bookings, and schedules.

Summer Program Oversight

• Manages summer program elements, as needed, related to mail and package procedures, camp store and other components that impact the camper and staff experience.
• Supervises seasonal “Head Staff” and program areas as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

• Fosters a creative and spirited (Ruach) camp culture in collaboration with the Camp Director.
• Supports EKC’s Friends and Alumni Network engagement.
• Maintains certifications as a lifeguard, ropes course/zip line operator, and ski boat driver, as needed.

Organization Wide Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively with other JCC professionals as needed to support a variety of responsibilities related to the broader mission and vision of the organization.
• Ability to drive the implementation of programmatic and organizational development strategies that will support the agency’s mission, goals, and objectives.
• Possesses the ability to consider both the strategic and tactical aspects of decisions.
• Possesses exceptional leadership skills with a track record of cascading important skills to direct reports and building an engaged, dynamic team.
• Possesses knowledge of trends in Jewish overnight camping, Youth Engagement and the American Camp Association.
• Proactively and creatively overcomes obstacles and resource constraints.
• Actively listens and remains open to new ideas and acts decisively once information is gathered.
• Ability to build strong relationships and work with multiple constituents, including EKC staff, community leaders, volunteers, campers, and their families.
• Possesses capabilities to either fundraise or materially support fundraising efforts.
• Possesses a commitment to Jewish life and the broader Jewish community.
• Maintains effective working relationships with program participants.
• Ability to coach, counsel, and train direct reports.
• Works effectively with other key JCC departments to provide effective and efficient service delivery.
• Ability to define problems, develop solutions, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to manage and balance a variety of responsibilities in a fast-paced environment under tight time constraints.
• Ensures adherence to and integration of the agency core values (shared lenses) Masa (reflection, return & renewal), B’Tzelem Elohim (dignity and potential), B’rit (belonging & commitment), Hit’orerut (amazement & gratitude), D’rash (inquiry, dialogue & transmission), K’dushah (intentionality & presence) and Tikkun Olam (responsibility).
• Recognizes that the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh gathers individuals representing diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and practices.
• Creates a warm and welcoming environment.
• Maintains a high degree of organization and attention to details.
• Adheres to Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh policies and procedures.
• Actively supports and participates in continuous intra-departmental and agency-wide quality improvement processes. “Everyone, Every Day, Closer to Better”.
• Actively promotes and maintains agency customer service standards.
• Ensures compliance with all state, federal and local regulating agencies.
• Generates necessary reports and documentation as needed and/or required.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to operate personal computers (hardware and software).
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as required.
• Ability to travel, as needed.
• Ability to perform other related duties, as needed and/or required.

(These responsibilities are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed.)

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Supervises part time and seasonal personnel

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in education, recreation, hospitality, Jewish studies, or social work is required, advanced degree preferred; with at least 5 years of professional experience in camping services.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, to touch, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. Frequently they are required to sit. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 25 pounds and occasionally required to lift up to 40 pounds. The vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. During the summer months the employee is frequently outdoors in a nature type setting.

Must be able to obtain or possess PA Criminal History Clearance, PA Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Clearance, PA Mandated Reporter Training, First Aid/CPR Certification.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to:

JCC of Greater Pittsburgh

Attn: Human Resources

5738 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15217