Director, Pathways 3:1 (Special Needs) Program, Camp Grossman, Summer Day Camp

Are you passionate about informal education? Do you enjoy teaching others how to support children with special needs? Would you like to lead a program that helps children with special needs develop a love of summer camp, and see them find success outside of the school classroom? Are you flexible and adaptable, and able to find joy, empathy, patience, and meaning in sometimes challenging situations?  

As the Director of Pathways, you will lead other professionals to create enriching, supportive, and memorable experiences for children enrolled in the Pathways 3:1 program. Pathways is our inclusion program at Camp Grossman that enables children with a broad range of developmental and/or cognitive disabilities and/or mental health challenges to successfully access camp with varying levels of support. Our 3:1 bunks (ratio of campers to staff) are designated to serve our campers needing the highest level of support. Working with the Program Director and your Assistant Pathways Director, this position directly assists the front-line counselors and provides support services to our campers with disabilities to ensure access to our camp program, including lakefront swimming, fishing, boating, arts, drama, sports, games, and more. Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of Special Needs children? Join our growing team and celebrated program serving Special Needs campers from all across Greater Boston.

JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish. 

Primary responsibilities include, and are not limited to:  

• Collaborate closely with Program Director to meet program objectives 
• Train staff to work effectively with all campers, including those with special needs 
• Provide clear, supportive communication with parents, ensuring that the unique needs of Pathways campers are met, and key information is shared effectively 
• Model professionalism and patience in all interactions with campers, parents and staff 
• Offer behind the scenes and/or hands-on support to Pathways campers, enabling them to participate fully in daily activities and meet their individual needs 
• Provide guidance to staff and troubleshoot challenges to ensure successful camper experiences 
• Prioritize the safety and well-being of campers at all times 
• Partner with peers and leadership to foster a joyful and inclusive environment for campers and staff 
• Assist in supervising a team of approximately 20 front-line Pathways counselors and 1 Assistant Pathways Director, as needed  
• Join all staff in the parking lot in the morning and afternoon to welcome the safe arrival and departure of campers
• Act as a part of the camp crisis intervention team, supporting campers who may need acute and immediate support 

 Standard staff expectations include and are not limited to: 

• Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where everyone is valued and respected
• Actively participate as an essential team member and attend all staff meetings during or after camp as required
• Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling
• Enthusiastically represent the organization, modeling excellence and achievement
• Complete all staff payroll and onboarding on time and before Orientation begins
• Complete all pre-camp asynchronous on-line training modules and attend all pre-camp in-person orientation sessions
• Other duties as assigned 
  

This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing!   

JOB DETAILS: We are an outdoor camp, located on beautiful, wooded property in Dover, MA. This is an hourly position, 8:15 - 4:15, Monday - Friday, for the camp season*. In addition, the Pathways Director is expected to attend and help facilitate 3 or 4 staff meetings on Monday afternoons at Camp and /or evenings at JCC Greater Boston. The Pathways Director also works between 4 and 8 additional evenings over the course of the summer, when Units with Pathways 3:1 bunks have Family Nights or Late Night programming. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a compe