What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Summer and Auxiliary Programs position at SPARC?
The Director will provide leadership for a portfolio that includes Summer Programs, After-School Programs, the Midday Program, the Early Morning Program, Saturday Programs, Facility Rentals, and new program development. This role is essential in supporting families, strengthening community partnerships, generating mission-aligned non-tuition revenue, and enhancing Tenacre’s visibility as a dynamic, student-centered school.
Key Responsibilities
Summer Programs
- Design, develop, organize, and oversee all Tenacre summer programs, including academic, athletic, enrichment, and specialty offerings.
- Lead new summer program ideation, leveraging Tenacre’s strengths in teaching, facilities, and community partnerships.
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate summer staff to ensure exceptional program quality and professional growth.
- Develop and maintain program policies, procedures, health/safety protocols, and behavioral expectations that ensure a safe, inclusive, mission-driven experience for all participants.
- Build and maintain relationships with external vendors and partners interested in offering programs on campus.
- Regularly assess program quality through participant feedback, enrollment trends, and financial performance to inform continuous improvement.
- Support day-to-day leadership during summer operations, maintaining a visible and responsive presence for families, students, and staff.
Auxiliary Programs
- Oversee the planning, staffing, and overall quality of:
- After-School Programs
- Midday Program
- Early Morning Program
- Saturday Program
- Ensure these programs operate smoothly, safely, and in alignment with Tenacre’s values and educational philosophy.
- Support direct reports in scheduling, curriculum planning, communication, and behavior management.
- Evaluate current offerings and explore new opportunities that enhance student experience, support families, and align with Tenacre’s mission.
Facility Rentals
- Manage all campus rental inquiries, contracts, and partnerships to ensure that rental activity is both mission-appropriate and operationally feasible.
- Develop a strategic facility use plan that maximizes opportunities without compromising school priorities or campus security.
- Coordinate closely with academic, athletic, maintenance, and operations teams to ensure smooth transitions between school use and rental use.
- Maintain a comprehensive facility rental calendar and tracking system.
- Collaborate with the Director of Finance on rental pricing models, contract terms, and financial goals.
Strategic Leadership and Collaboration
- Serve as a collaborative and entrepreneurial member of the Leadership Team, contributing to school-wide strategic planning.
- Partner with the Admissions Office to ensure that auxiliary and summer programs support family engagement and can serve as potential recruitment pipelines.
- Work closely with Communications and Marketing to design and implement cohesive, targeted marketing strategies for all auxiliary and summer offerings.
- Build partnerships with community organizations, peer schools, and local providers to strengthen program offerings and visibility.
Financial Oversight
- Develop, monitor, and manage budgets for all summer and auxiliary programs, ensuring strong financial performance and responsible stewardship of resources.
- Set revenue goals and establish pricing strategies in partnership with the Director of Finance.
- Track financial outcomes and adjust program operations as needed to optimize results.
- Oversee vendor contracts, staffing models, purchasing, payroll, and supply needs for all related programs.
- Prepare and process the bi-weekly payroll in conjunction with the Business Office
Administration and Compliance
- Oversee registration systems, attendance tracking, and operational workflows to ensure a smooth, family-friendly customer experience.
- Maintain all program records, incident reports, rental agreements, and compliance documentation.
- Provide regular updates to the Head of School and Director of Finance on enrollment, financial performance, staffing, and strategic initiatives.
- Ensure full compliance with ACA standards, all local and state regulations, safety guidelines, and school policies.
Desired Qualifications
Education and Professional Background
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Education, Business, or a related field preferred.
- Significant experience in summer camps, youth programs, auxiliary programs, recreation, or related enterprises; independent school experience is helpful but not required.
- Demonstrated success supervising, coaching, and evaluating staff; proven ability to build cohesive, high-performing seasonal and year-round teams.
Financial and Operational Skills
- A tight, reliable budget manager with proven experience building and managing program budgets, setting clear financial goals, and monitoring revenue and expenses.
- Comfort partnering with a business office/Director of Finance on pricing, forecasting, and scenario planning.
- Strong operational instincts and systems-thinking mindset; enjoys designing efficient, scalable processes (e.g., registration, scheduling, staffing, logistics) that improve both quality and customer experience.
Program Design and Innovation
- Proven ability to design, launch, and grow new programs or initiatives — someone who brings ideas forward, refines them collaboratively, and then leads implementation.
- Entrepreneurial, creative, and forward-thinking; energized by the opportunity to help Tenacre enhance its core program through mission-aligned auxiliary offerings.
Leadership Style
- Genuine affinity for elementary-aged children and enthusiasm for the culture of a Pre-K–6 day school.
- Excellent communication skills - clear, warm, and responsive — with the ability to work effectively with children, families, faculty/staff, and external partners.
- Collaborative and collegial leadership style; eager to partner closely with the Head of School, Director of Finance, and other school leaders, and to serve as a visible member of the Leadership Team.
- Comfort stepping into a newly created role, building relationships, learning school culture, and gradually extending an umbrella of coordination over existing programs.
Personal Qualities and Other Requirements
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Customer-service mindset with high expectations for quality, timeliness, and overall family experience.
- High level of integrity, judgment, and professionalism, with a strong commitment to safety and compliance.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace, Excel, and registration/CRM or camp management systems; comfort learning new platforms and using data to inform decisions.
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings, weekends, and extended summer hours as needed.
- Must successfully complete a background check.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
Tenacre Country Day School considers applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, religion, national origin, creed, veteran or uniformed service status, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, or any non-job-related physical or mental disability. As an inclusive community, we welcome candidates who will increase the diversity of our school.
Salary : $95,000 - $125,000