Camp Director

Camp Director

About The Philadelphia School

The Philadelphia School (TPS) is seeking a full-time Camp Director. We are a Preschool - Grade 8 progressive, independent school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with an enrollment of approximately 420 students. Since our founding in 1972, The Philadelphia School has grown in size, complexity, and diversity. This growth has been rooted firmly in the progressive values with which our founders began: immersive learning, responsive pedagogy, and meaningful engagement with the world. 

At TPS, we value reflection, innovation, and the ongoing professional growth of our faculty and staff. We strive to create joyful learning environments where children feel known, challenged, and inspired.

Position Overview

The Philadelphia School seeks a thoughtful, energetic, innovative Camp Director to lead and grow Camp TPS, a program that serves 100 - 200 campers each week during the summer, along with programs during school breaks.   

Reporting to the Director of Auxiliary Programming, the Camp Director will guide camp strategy, including program design, staffing, and family engagement. The Director position is also operational, involved in overseeing the delivery of high-quality programs, and ensuring alignment with the school’s mission. It is also visionary, as TPS is expanding its idea of “camp” to include all weeks of the year when school is not in session.  The goal is to  provide continuity to TPS families, welcome more non-TPS families, and grow resources that can be re-invested in the mission.

Who you are

The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who brings joy, creativity, and strong organizational skills to their work with children and educators. They are excited by the energy of camp, thrive in a community-centered environment, and believe deeply in creating experiences where children feel engaged, safe, and inspired.

They have an entrepreneurial spirit, excited by the challenge of growing a program, being innovative, and contributing to the strategic growth of the school. They are a natural relationship builder, handling parent concerns with empathy, collaborating with school faculty and administration, mentoring staff, and developing and maintaining connections with vendors. They enjoy being “on the ground”. They are just as comfortable managing administrative efforts behind the scenes, as they are with jumping into activities with campers. 

What you will do

Program Leadership & Growth

• Lead the planning and execution of summer camp and school-break programs.
• Partner with the Director of Auxiliary Programming to expand and strengthen Camp TPS offerings.
• Develop innovative camp experiences that engage campers while responding to family interests and community needs.
• Evaluate program outcomes and enrollment data to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Manage camp budgets and track program financial performance.

Operations & Program Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of camp programs, serving 100–200 campers weekly.
• Establish schedules, routines, and operational procedures that ensure smooth daily programming.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of campers through strong risk management and adherence to school policies.
• Coordinate with faculty, administration, and facilities staff to optimize use of campus spaces.
• Maintain required certifications and ensure all safety standards and ratios are met.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise camp instructors and staff in collaboration with HR.
• Facilitate summer staff orientation and foster a supportive, collaborative team culture.
• Provide regular feedback and support to staff to ensure high-quality programming.
• Maintain an active on-site presence during camp programs to support staff and campers.

Community & Family Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for camp families, addressing questions and concerns with professionalism and care.
   
• Communicate regularly with staff, school leaders, vendors, and families to ensure smooth program operations.
• Support marketing and outreach efforts such as camp fairs, open houses, and tours.
• Help cultivate a welcoming camp community for both TPS and non-TPS families.

Auxiliary Program Support

• Collaborate with auxiliary program leadership to support after-school programming regularly.
• Assist with program logistics, scheduling, and communication to ensure consistency across auxiliary offerings.

You will be an excellent fit if you:

• Have a bachelor’s degree (preferred), and five or more years of camp (or camp-like) leadership experience (required). 
• Are experienced working in independent schools or youth programs (strongly preferred).
• Excited about growing an entrepreneurial program well beyond its current design.
• Can demonstrate success leading teams and managing program operations.
• Possess strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Have successfully managed budgets or program finances (would be a plus!)
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for creating and growing joyful learning environments for children.
• Are culturally competent and have a strong commitment to working with diverse communities.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds and those with experience in cultural competency work are strongly encouraged to apply.

Schedule

This is a ten-month, salaried position with two scheduled months off annually (to be coordinated with the Director of Auxiliary Programming).

Typical hours (but this is an exempt job, so expect some days not to be typical):

• School year: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
   
• Camp weeks (summer and school breaks): 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM and any extended program hours
   

Some evenings and weekends may be required for events and program needs.

The pay range for this position is $60,000 - $65,000 depending on education and applicable experience.

Salary : $60,000 - $65,000