About Keystone Science School
With the outdoors as a backdrop for learning, Keystone Science School inspires curiosity and critical thinking through the lens of science to change lives and strengthen communities. KSS offers a variety of adventure and traditional camp activities within a structured environment designed to allow each camper and participant to understand their potential. In all programs, campers and participants will create lifelong friendships, explore and learn about the natural world, and gain leadership and wilderness skills. For more information, go to keystonescienceschool.org.
With a staff that cares deeply about social and racial justice, we believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds create a rich work environment and enhance our ability to pursue our mission. We are committed to building an organization with raised consciousness to impact how we work with clients and how we work together as a team.
Position Overview
The Program Director oversees the supervision, operation, and strategic development of all summer programs, including Discovery Overnight Camp (on-campus sleepover), Day Camp (on- and off-campus day camps), and Adventure Programs (offsite camping-based). This role also encompasses the management of permitting, safety, licensing, equipment, and logistics related to the summer programs. The Program Director will recruit, train, and supervise the Summer Program Managers while supporting the broader team of seasonal summer program staff.
This role requires the ability to thrive in a dynamic, autonomous, and deadline-driven environment, with both a detail-oriented and big-picture focus. The Program Director ensures program quality by developing curricula that meet or exceed expectations and continually improving offerings to expand KSS's impact and reach. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Program Director will collaborate with other directors and staff to share resources and develop, schedule, market, and implement programs.
Job Duties
Program Development and Delivery
- Successfully facilitate and implement the execution of all summer programs, including session scheduling, calendar, and new program implementation.
- Identify growth opportunities for the expansion and development of KSS programming and curriculum.
- Identify and maintain partnerships with external agencies and organizations.
- Evaluate and improve the quality of existing programs.
- Serve as a person on-call for risk management situations periodically throughout the year.
- Monitor program quality and develop effective evaluation techniques for Program Managers to implement and collect data to continuously improve program impact.
- Ensure all required permits, licenses, and accreditations are maintained in partnership with Program Managers.
- Serve as the expert for childcare licensing and ACA accreditation.
- Responsible for the management, updating, and training of the risk management plan for all summer programs.
- Act as the high-level point of escalation for risk management incidents, both physical and behavioral.
Administration and Financial Management
- Create the summer program's strategic plan with annual impact numbers, pricing, and targets in close collaboration with the Finance Director and Executive Director.
- Measure and analyze results of program initiatives to ensure program goals are accomplished and optimized on an ongoing basis.
- Monitor program enrollment and, in partnership with the marketing department, create strategies to increase enrollment numbers.
- Serve on the Director Team as an active and contributing member, supporting the organization’s mission, vision, values, strategic goals, and objectives; formulating policies; guiding and leading the change process; and evaluating organizational effectiveness as an organizational leader.
- Oversee the creation, management, and reporting of program expense budgets by Program Managers.
- Work closely with the Development Team to set programmatic fundraising targets.
- Co-lead the KSS Safety Team: implement, monitor, and enforce safety standards established by KSS policies and procedures and oversee risk management and Colorado Child Care Licensing rules and regulations. Schedule and facilitate monthly safety team meetings and monthly incident reviews and reports.
Staff Management
- Directly supervise (hire, train, etc.) the Summer Program Manager Team, which includes the Adventure Program Manager, Discovery Overnight Program Manager, Day Camp Programs Manager, and the summer seasonal healthcare team.
- Support Program Managers with staff management.
- Monitor program quality through regular evaluations of counselors and Program Managers, both formally and informally.
- Ensure proper training, feedback, and evaluations are provided to team members.
- Create strategic plans around ways to provide feedback, engage and motivate staff, and create a positive workplace culture.
- Manage employees with a wide range of ages and experience levels.
Professional Performance
- Adhere to all personnel policies and procedures for the organization.
- Maintain professional standards of performance, demeanor, and appearance at all times; act as a role model both at and away from the organization.
- Maintain a creative, team-building approach to job performance and seek to bring a constructive, problem-solving orientation to all tasks.
- Perform all tasks and responsibilities with attention to detail and in a complete and timely manner, complying with organizational policies and standards and conforming to the scheduling requirements of the job and program.
- Maintain an awareness of the organization’s mission and work to promote the positive individual and social change goals it embodies.
- Exercise discretion and professional judgment at all times, keeping with the responsibilities carried personally and by the organization for the care and welfare of clients; act with honesty and integrity in all aspects of the organization's business.
- Actively strive to upgrade professional skills through engaging in appropriate professional training and experience.
- Actively strive to create and maintain a culturally sensitive and appropriate environment through communication and interaction that demonstrate respect for diversity, socio-economic, and cultural differences, fostering a work environment where people from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued.
- Other duties may be assigned.
