Executive Director, Camp Collins
Description:Mission
To put the Christian principles of love, respect, honesty, responsibility, and service into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Position Summary
The Executive Director, Camp Collins provides strategic and operational leadership for YMCA Camp Collins, a premier resident camp and outdoor education center of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role carries full accountability for program excellence, financial sustainability, property stewardship, safety oversight, philanthropic growth, and long-term asset strategy.
Camp Collins is one of the associations most significant physical and brand assets. The Executive Director is responsible not only for annual performance, but for developing and advancing a long-term site and revenue vision that expands year-round utilization, strengthens retreat and rental growth, scales outdoor education partnerships, and sequences capital modernization responsibly.
As a member of the Association Leadership Team, the Executive Director balances strong site-level ownership with system-wide alignment, collaborates closely with peer Executive Directors, and contributes to enterprise-wide strategy and performance.
This position performs all other duties as assigned in support of the YMCAs mission, strategic priorities, and operational needs.
Our Culture
The YMCA of Columbia-Willamette is grounded in love, integrity, and humility. We operate as one association, committed to accountability, creativity, and shared stewardship.
The Executive Director models the associations Five Operating Tenets: Love in Unity, Honesty in Insight, Responsibility in Action, Respect in Practice, and Service in Stewardship. Decisions are data-informed, equity-centered, risk-aware, and aligned with mission. This leader ensures consistent adherence to policies, safety standards, financial controls, and approved processes that protect campers, staff, volunteers, and the organization.
Three-Year Camp Growth and Asset Strategy Expectations
Within the first three years, the Executive Director is expected to:
Increase resident camp enrollment and year-round program participation
Expand retreat, rental, and conference center utilization to maximize year-round revenue
Scale outdoor education partnerships with school districts and community organizations
Develop and implement a long-term site and facility modernization plan aligned with association capital strategy
Strengthen financial sustainability through disciplined revenue growth and expense management
Grow philanthropic investment in camp programs, scholarships, endowment, and capital improvements
Enhance camper experience, safety outcomes, and program quality
Develop a strong leadership bench and seasonal talent pipeline
This role owns both the annual operating plan and the long-term strategic positioning of Camp Collins as a mission-driven and financially strong association asset.
Business Model Accountability and Operating Framework
The Executive Director operates within a clearly defined association operating framework that balances site-level ownership with system-wide alignment. In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and peer Executive Directors, this leader ensures disciplined strategy execution and responsible stewardship of resources and facilities.
Operational, Financial, and Asset Leadership
Leads annual budgeting and long-range financial planning
Develops multi-year revenue growth strategies across resident camp, outdoor education, retreats, rentals, and specialty programming
Partners with the COO and CFO on financial reporting, forecasting, and capital planning
Ensures consistent use of business case and pro forma processes for new initiatives and facility investments
Evaluates program and revenue line performance using participation, margin, and mission impact data
Oversees property stewardship, maintenance prioritization, and phased capital modernization planning
Ensures compliance with safety regulations, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and youth protection policies
Collaborates with peer Executive Directors to align staffing strategies and share best practices
Decision Authority
Within approved budget parameters and association standards, the Executive Director:
Approves camp programs and revenue initiatives that meet established business and safety criteria
Allocates seasonal and year-round staffing resources in partnership with Human Resources
Recommends pricing adjustments in collaboration with the COO and finance leadership
Develops partnership agreements and school contracts in alignment with senior leadership
Advances capital improvement recommendations in coordination with association leadership
Strategic decisions affecting enterprise risk, major capital investments, or long-term contractual commitments are advanced in partnership with the COO.
Association Collaboration andColabLeadership
The YMCA of Columbia-Willamette operates through cross-functional Colabs that drive alignment, innovation, and shared standards across the association.
The Executive Director serves as an Executive Liaison to one assigned Colab and actively participates in others as appropriate. In this role, the Executive Director:
Represents enterprise priorities while bringing forward camp-specific insight
Ensures camp leadership and appropriate staff actively participate in relevant Colabs
Supports alignment of Colab initiatives with association strategy and operating standards
Shares innovation and best practices across regions and program areas
Reinforces One Association consistency in policy implementation, safety, and brand standards
Participation in Colabs is an expectation of association leadership and contributes to system-wide effectiveness and collaboration.
Crisis, Risk, and Safety Leadership
Camp leadership carries significant operational and reputational risk. The Executive Director serves as the senior accountable leader for crisis management and emergency decision-making during resident camp sessions.
Responsibilities include:
Establishing and reinforcing emergency preparedness protocols and staff training
Leading incident response coordination and documentation
Serving as primary on-site decision-maker during critical incidents
Partnering with association leadership on risk assessment and mitigation planning
Coordinating communication and media response in collaboration with designated association leaders
Ensuring full compliance with youth protection training, reporting standards, and regulatory requirements
On-Site Leadership and Supervision Requirement
The Executive Director is expected to be physically present on site during all operational hours when YMCA resident campers are in session, including evenings and overnight periods, unless prior approval is granted by the Chief Operating Officer.
The Executive Director ensures qualified senior leadership coverage is designated and clearly documented at all times. During resident camp sessions, this role serves as the senior accountable leader for safety, emergency response, and operational decision-making.
This position requires extended hours during peak summer and resident camp seasons and the ability to respond immediately to emergencies or critical incidents.
Housing Requirement
This position requires the Executive Director to reside on or near camp property during resident camp operations to support on-site leadership expectations.
If on-site housing is provided, occupancy is a condition of employment and will be governed by a separate housing agreement outlining terms of use, responsibilities, and expectations. Occupancy of YMCA-provided housing, if applicable, is contingent upon continued employment and compliance with the terms of the housing agreement.
Philanthropic Leadership
Camp Collins carries strong emotional and alumni connection within the community. The Executive Director serves as a visible philanthropic leader for camp-specific priorities.
Responsibilities include:
Driving the camp portion of the associations annual philanthropy plan
Cultivating and stewarding major donors and scholarship supporters
Activating alumni engagement and volunteer ambassador networks
Partnering on capital and endowment strategy for long-term sustainability
Representing camp priorities in donor meetings and campaign planning
Ensuring philanthropic investment advances access, modernization, and asset strength
Equity and Access Leadership
Equity is a measurable leadership responsibility of this role.
The Executive Director will:
Use participation and scholarship data to expand access for historically underserved communities
Build school and community partnerships that increase scholarship-supported enrollment
Align pricing, scholarship strategy, and outreach efforts to improve affordability and access
Ensure camp culture and staffing reflect the diversity of the communities served
Apply the associations equity lens to program design and partnership development
Track and report progress toward access and inclusion goals
Access, affordability, and belonging are operational expectations tied to camp performance.
Staff and Leadership Development
Leads a diverse team of year-round professionals and seasonal staff with clarity, relational strength, and accountability.
Key expectations include:
Establishing clear performance standards
Conducting weekly leadership team meetings during peak seasons and maintaining consistent cadence year-round
Holding weekly one-on-one meetings with direct reports
Building trust-based relationships that foster collaboration and healthy feedback
Developing seasonal leaders and advancement pathways
Strengthening the associations leadership pipeline through camp-based talent
Reinforcing compliance with required training and youth protection standards
Leadership bench development and relational leadership effectiveness are measurable expectations.
Volunteer and Advisory Leadership
Partners with volunteer leaders and alumni to strengthen camp visibility and impact.
Camp Collins maintains an Advisory Board that supports advocacy, community connection, and philanthropic growth. The Advisory Board serves in a non-governing capacity and does not hold fiduciary or governance authority.
Responsibilities include:
Recruiting and developing advisory volunteers reflective of community diversity
Clarifying the advisory role in alignment with association governance structure
Strengthening engagement, accountability, and fundraising partnership
Building alignment between advisory leadership and association priorities
Representing camp priorities within appropriate association leadership channels
Requirements:Bachelors degree required; Masters degree preferred
5 to 7 years of progressive leadership experience in camp management, outdoor education, youth development, or nonprofit operations
Demonstrated P and L responsibility including budgeting, forecasting, and revenue growth
Experience leading seasonal workforce models and high-volume youth programming
Demonstrated experience in crisis leadership, risk management, and emergency response coordination
Minimum two years of direct experience working with and leading a volunteer board or advisory council
Demonstrated success strengthening volunteer engagement and driving philanthropic partnership
Proven ability to build high-performing teams and develop emerging leaders
Strong financial acumen and sound risk judgment
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and expanding access in outdoor and youth programming
YMCA camp experience preferred. Relevant camp leadership or accreditation experience preferred.
CPR, First Aid, AED, and required YMCA compliance trainings must be completed upon hire.
Success Indicators
Enrollment and year-round utilization targets are achieved or exceeded
Camp operates within budget and demonstrates sustainable margin performance
Capital modernization milestones advance responsibly
Philanthropic goals for camp programs, scholarships, and capital priorities are achieved
Safety and compliance standards are consistently met
Access and scholarship participation increase over time
Staff retention and leadership development improve
Advisory engagement strengthens without governance confusion
Equity and Inclusion Statement
Ensures Camp Collins programs, staffing, partnerships, and access strategies reflect the YMCAs commitment to equity, inclusion, affordability, and belonging for all communities.
Overall Impact
The Executive Director, Camp Collins ensures the camp remains a safe, strategically positioned, and financially strong asset of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette. Through long-term asset stewardship, philanthropic leadership, disciplined operations, and effective crisis management, this role secures the camps relevance, accessibility, and sustainability for generations to come.
Compensation details:80000-95000 Yearly Salary
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