Program Director
Department: Year-Round Team
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Camp Greystone
Description:
Camp Greystone is a 100+ year-old Christian summer camp for girls located near Hendersonville, NC. Our mission is “to delight and inspire for the Glory of God,” and we are searching for a strategic and relational Program Director to join our year-round leadership team.
The Program Director leads Greystone’s summer program, overseeing the people, activities, systems, and facilities that make an exceptional camper experience possible. This position is responsible for developing and continually improving Greystone’s class offerings, hiring seasonal staff, supporting leadership staff, and ensuring that all activity areas are safe, fun, growth-filled, and aligned with Greystone’s mission.
This is a significant leadership role for a dynamic camp professional who is gifted in both long-term vision and excellent in-the-moment execution. The ideal Program Director will be just as comfortable imagining what a Greystone program area could look like five years from now as making sure equipment is ordered, staff are hired, schedules are ready, and Department Heads have what they need for tomorrow.
This is a highly cyclical role, and the Program Director should be able to shift effectively between strategic planning, detailed preparation, people leadership, and operational logistics throughout the year. The Program Director anticipates needs and stays several steps ahead, proactively identifying upcoming staffing, scheduling, facility, communication, and program needs rather than relying on reactive problem‑solving.
The ideal Program Director is a relational leader, a creative thinker, and a highly organized operator. This person is self‑motivated, collaborative, humble, and committed to making Greystone’s program better for both campers and staff.
The Program Director stays ahead on their work in order to put people first and isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they come alongside our hardworking team to make camp magic happen. The right candidate will enjoy developing people, working with a team, solving complex problems, and analyzing feedback and trends as they use their creativity to make Greystone’s program the best it can be for the glory of God.
Work Environment
During the offseason, this position will generally work from the Greystone office from 9AM-4PM M-Th and 9AM-12PM on Fridays. Flexing hours and occasional working from home are possible as long as performance is not impacted.
During the camp season, the Program Director will be based on‑site and will work irregular hours, including weekends and evenings. Some travel may be required during the offseason for staff recruiting.
Hiring Timeline
Filling this role before the holidays will be important. We are looking for an incoming Program Director who can start in November. If you have concerns with that timeline, feel free to reach out, and we can share more.
Key Responsibilities: Program Development and Strategy
Design and implement a comprehensive camp program that offers a diverse range of high quality camper activities
Continually evaluate Greystone’s program offerings using camper, parent, and staff feedback, program data, industry trends, and best practices
Research best practices in camp programming and develop relationships with camping professionals and peer camps
Develop new programs and improve existing programs each year through research, feedback, and creative innovation
Think strategically about the short- and long-term future of Greystone’s program, anticipating the evolving needs and interests of campers and staff
Maintain open and effective communication with camp leadership, staff, and campers regarding program updates, schedule changes, and special events
Own the development and execution of camper and staff scheduling systems across all camp sessions, ensuring schedules are accurate and classes are appropriately staffed and aligned with program capacity and Greystone’s mission
Oversee Greystone's levels, patches, and awards systems, ensuring consistent skill standards while using recognition to reinforce growth, character, effort, and the values of the Greystone Honor Code
Staff Planning, Hiring, and Development
Own Greystone's program hiring strategy, ensuring staffing levels, expertise, certifications, and session commitments align with program offerings, camper enrollment, and program capacity
Develop and maintain a comprehensive activity staffing plan that identifies current and anticipated staffing gaps, hard‑to‑fill skills, certification needs, and Department Head needs
Use historical staffing data, program demand, and enrollment trends to anticipate staffing needs and make sustainable hiring and placement decisions
Alongside our Staff Director, lead the seasonal staff application and interviewing process, including monitoring the application pipeline, reviewing and commenting on applications, completing staff interviews, and making hiring decisions
Lead program‑related staff Orientation and pre‑season training, coordinating schedules, arrivals, housing, skills training, safety training, Department Head preparation, and program readiness
Develop and coach Department Heads as leaders, equipping them to independently lead their teams, manage program quality, communicate effectively, and solve problems
Identify individual leadership strengths, challenges, and development needs among Department Heads and provide appropriate coaching, feedback, and support
Give staff regular summer feedback and address staff issues while fostering a positive and supportive camp community
Lead between‑session transitions, ensuring incoming staff are effectively onboarded, program areas and schedules are reset, staffing changes are communicated, and each new session begins with clear expectations and excitement
Manage seasonal staff HR functions assigned to the Program Director including tax forms and staff days off
Program Operations and Safety
Ensure program areas comply with applicable safety regulations, risk‑management practices, and ACA standards
Conduct regular inspections of program areas and implement necessary safety and operational improvements
Lead Greystone’s ACA accreditation process during renewal years, including preparing and maintaining required program documentation
Work with leadership staff during the summer and offseason to document and improve lesson content, helping maintain consistent class quality from year to year
Prepare program facilities before each camp season and oversee the breakdown and closeout of program areas at the beginning of the offseason
Manage equipment and supplies related to program areas, including purchasing, inventory, and coordinating runs to town as needed
Coordinate across departments and with senior leadership to ensure program, staffing, facility, housing, scheduling, safety, and operational needs are aligned and that issues have clear ownership and follow‑through
Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis
Collaborate with Greystone’s leadership team to develop and manage budgets for program areas and forecast program needs and expenses
Use quantitative and qualitative information - including camper feedback, staff evaluations, enrollment patterns, program participation, and historical staffing data - to make practical decisions about program offerings, staffing, capacity, and future investment
Maintain strong institutional memory by documenting significant program, staffing, safety, facility, and operational decisions and ensuring that effective systems, templates, and lessons learned are preserved for future seasons
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; coursework or specialization in Recreation, Outdoor Education, Education, Human Resources, or a related field is preferred
A minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership role within a summer camp, outdoor education organization, or similar setting
A committed Christian, as evidenced by personal testimony and regular attendance of a Bible-believing church; someone who wholeheartedly supports Greystone’s mission and statement of faith
Knowledge of safety regulations, risk management, and best practices in outdoor and recreational activities
Willingness to travel as needed for staff recruiting
Skills and Qualities
Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a team
A strategic and visionary thinker who can plan both in the short term and over a 1-5 year horizon
Exceptional situational awareness and operational judgment, with the ability to anticipate problems, identify dependencies, prioritize competing needs, and remain calm and solutions-oriented in a fast-moving environment
Strong systems-thinking ability, with a talent for creating, improving, and maintaining processes that make complex programs easier for staff to execute consistently
Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple detailed projects and competing priorities simultaneously
Comfortable seeking input, delegating effectively, and drawing on the expertise of others
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including consistent and timely communication with campers, parents, staff, and camp leadership
High comfort level with collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends, incorporating feedback, and using those insights to make informed decisions
Strong financial acumen, including an understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and planning
A creative and innovative mindset with enthusiasm for developing engaging programs and experiences for campers
Consistency and follow-through; a self-starter who keeps commitments and takes ownership of responsibilities
Collaborative, approachable, and team-oriented
Demonstrates humility and a willingness to objectively evaluate programs, staff, and their own performance
A commitment to fostering a positive, supportive, and mission-aligned camp culture
Benefits: Competitive salary based on experience
Health insurance, with Greystone paying 75% of monthly premiums and employees paying 25% through paycheck deductions
Time off
15 vacation days per year (10 standard vacation days plus 5 additional days for Head Staff roles)
6 paid holidays per year
Two weeks off at the end of December
5 sick/personal days per year
401(k) with profit sharing (eligible after 1 year of employment)
Use of camp facilities, including workout room, track, tennis courts, and hiking trail
Work computer provided
All meals and housing provided during the summer season
Greystone branded gear, gifted annually
