Executive Director

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Overnight Camp Executive Director of Camp Kanata serves as the strategic and operational leader of a premier YMCA overnight camp, driving community engagement, staff development, and program excellence. This role is responsible for cultivating strong community partnerships, leading high-performing teams, and ensuring alignment with the YMCA of the Triangle’s mission and strategic goals.

The Executive Director oversees camp year-round operations, summer overnight programming, staff development, financial performance, philanthropic growth, and facility management while fostering a culture of innovation, inclusion, and impact. As a visible ambassador of the YMCA, the Executive Director champions the organization’s values and advances its presence and influence within the community.

They are responsible for managing the functions of the program in accordance with the stated mission, goals, and policies established by the administrative staff, governing committees, and Board of Directors of the YMCA.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Drives Strategic Community Engagement 
  Serves as a leading and public-facing voice and presence in the community, cultivating strategic partnerships with local organizations, chambers of commerce, businesses, schools, and governments, strengthening the Y’s community connection, mission advancement, and alignment with regional needs in close collaboration with the Association Resource Center.  
  
  
• Leads and Empowers High-Performing Teams 
  Provides and executes visionary strategic and tactical leadership to the Overnight Camp Leadership Team and broader camp staff, modeling and fostering a collaborative approach to our work through inclusive and proactive decision-making, consistent communication, evaluation and evolution, and high-impact team development strategies that drive quality, relevancy, and excellence across programs. 
  
  
• Stewards an Engaged and Diverse Advisory Board 
  Leads the development and engagement of the Overnight Camp Advisory Board, recruiting and onboarding diverse and inclusive, mission-aligned board members—partners with the Association Resource Center to provide strategic guidance for advisory board-driven initiatives that strengthen the branch’s community impact in alignment with the YMCA of the Triangle’s goals and objectives. 
  
  
• Champions Talent Development and Growth 
  Recruits, develops, and retains exceptional, diverse staff teams. Builds a strong leadership pipeline through intentional onboarding, strategic coaching, and performance development that cultivates a mission-driven, quality-focused branch workforce and culture. 
  
  
• Ensures Operational Collaboration and Alignment 
  In partnership with the YMCA of the Triangle, subject matter experts, enterprise-wide departments, and other branches actively seek and collaborate on the design, delivery, evaluation, and innovation of overnight camp and association programs and community initiatives. 
   
• Leads Philanthropic Growth and Volunteer Engagement 
  Partners with the Philanthropy Department to drive all aspects of overnight camp fundraising, including leadership of the Annual Campaign, identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major donors, stewardship of key relationships, and oversight of all branch philanthropic efforts. 
  
  
• Drives Fiscal Stewardship and Performance 
  Oversees the camp’s financial planning, leadership, management, and critical decision-making with strategic and tactical discipline, ensuring budget alignment, strong financial health, and achievement of key performance indicators in support of sustainable growth and the YMCA of the Triangle’s overall financial position. 
  
  
• Ensures Effective and High-Quality Programs and Engagement 
  Supports the collaboration, design, and execution of high-quality, innovative, and constituent-driven initiatives that are high quality and advance association-wide priorities, enhance engagement and retention, and address emerging community needs. 
  
  
• Guides Annual Planning and Execution 
  Directs the development and implementation of the camp’s annual operating plan, ensuring alignment with association strategies, data-informed decision-making, and measurable outcomes. 
  
  
• Fosters a Culture of Innovation and Impact 
  Cultivates a forward-thinking culture that encourages creativity, embraces continuous improvement, and centers the member experience in all programming and service delivery.
  
  
• Ensures Operational Excellence in Programs and Facilities 
  Ensures a fun, safe, engaging and impactful camper experience in alignment with the standards of overnight camping and the YMCA of the Triangle by partnering with the Association on oversight of all overnight camp facilities, assets, and equipment, ensuring safety, cleanliness, and functionality to deliver a best-in-class YMCA experience and maintain strong brand integrity. 
  
  
• Stewards, Protects and Champions the YMCA’s Brand 
  Strategically advances and tactically stewards, protects, and champions the YMCA of the Triangle’s brand, ensuring alignment with national standards and reinforcing brand standards across all operations, programs, and community engagement efforts. Acts as a visible and credible ambassador of the Y’s mission, purpose, values, and impact. 
  
  
• Contributes to Enterprise-Wide Leadership 
  Actively participates in association-wide leadership initiatives, fostering cross-functional collaboration, sharing best practices, and advancing the YMCA’s strategic direction, mission, and business objectives. 
  
  
• Exemplifies Mission-Driven Leadership 
  Serves as the face of overnight camp to ensure the appropriate tone, voice and professionalism of all communications, including communications to stakeholder groups such as parents, campers, staff, alumni, volunteers, board members and doners. Performs other leadership responsibilities and duties as required by the VP of ONC, COO, and/or CEO, demonstrating agility, service, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the YMCA’s mission and community impact. 
  
  
• Professional Engagement
  Maintain accreditation through the American Camp Association (ACA) and engage in broader industry networks, including participation in ACA and Y-USA conferences and committees.
  

  Completion of all required annual trainings related to safety, compliance, and child protection as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, human services, or a related field required. 
• Minimum of eight years of progressive management experience, preferably in the nonprofit sector, with a strong background in strategic planning, board and volunteer engagement, fundraising, and overseeing multi-site operations. Experience in overnight camping programs a plus.
• Proven ability to lead complex operations in collaboration with the corporate office and subject matter experts through staff and community engagement and supervision, volunteer development, philanthropy and fundraising, branch operations management, and program delivery.  
• Strong financial acumen and management skills, with the ability to develop, implement, and manage complex budgets, evaluate financial performance, and take proactive and decisive action when needed.  
• Strong understanding of business drivers, strategic priorities, and funding opportunities, with the ability to lead local efforts in support of and connected to broader organizational goals and objectives.  
• Skilled in building and sustaining strong, collaborative relationships with high-level community volunteers and leaders. 
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including public speaking, meeting facilitation (in person and virtual), and written communication. 
• Demonstrated ability to relate effectively and work in partnership with diverse groups of people from all backgrounds; multilingual ability is a plus. 
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, lead, and develop staff through change, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture. 
• Ability to provide essential feedback to key leaders and staff with the goal of continued professional growth, development, and success. 
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure while maintaining excellence. 
• An outstanding commitment to the YMCA Mission and Purpose—with the proven ability to model and teach unifying behavior to support Y culture and develop high-performing and collaborative teams. 

CAMP SPECIFICS:

Camp Name: Camp Kanata

Budget Size: $5.7MM

Extended Season Camp Program Size: $590,000

Overnight Summer Camp Program Size: $4.9MM

Number of Full-Time Staff: 10

Number of Part-Time Staff: 100+

Annual Campaign/Capital Campaign Goal: $350,000+ for annual and $1.5M for capital

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Office and program settings with frequent interaction in various camp spaces including extended time in nature and exposure to varied terrain, wildlife, and changing weather conditions. 
• Moderate noise levels; may be louder during youth or community activities.  
• Regular use of computer, phone, and other office technology. 
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and reaching; occasional lifting or moving up to 40 lbs.   
• Flexible schedule required — will include early mornings, evenings, weekends. This includes living onsite during the summer season. 
• Must be able to provide valid identification for employment eligibility verification.   
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation.   
• A clean driving record is required to meet YMCA insurance standards.   
• Travel between site locations, and to off-site meetings and events is required.  
• Must reside in the Camp Sea Gull/Camp Seafarer/Camp Kanata service area. 
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.  

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time exempt position with a salary starting at $92,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. The YMCA of the Triangle offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; an annual YMCA membership; and participation in the YMCA Retirement Fund, including a 12% employer contribution once eligibility requirements are met.