Unit Head, Camp Grossman, Summer Day Camp - JCC Greater Boston

Are you looking to make a difference in a child’s life and create unforgettable summer experiences for campers as well as young adult staff? Are you a passionate leader in informal education, ready to teach and support counselors so they can lead campers to an unforgettable summer? Join Camp Grossman and share your passion and skills as a Unit Head! This full-time, on-site summer role is perfect for enthusiastic, compassionate individuals who love working with children and young adults and are passionate about camp, character building, and social emotional learning.  As a Unit Head, you will lead a team of 12-25 counselors as you and they guide 75-100 campers through an extraordinary summer. You will set the tone and orchestrate an inclusive environment where every camper feels valued and confident. Your time throughout the summer will be a mix of administrative tasks (activity scheduling, family communications, programming) and hands-on moments with staff and campers (problem solving, counselor training, group leading). Guided and supported by our Assistant Directors, you will play an instrumental role in making this a summer campers will always remember. Are you ready to make an impact? Join us for an incredible experience. 

JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish. 

Primary responsibilities include, and are not limited to:  

• Ensure the safety and well-being of campers through proactive prevention measures and effective troubleshooting
• Create a schedule for the week which incorporates a good mix of all the activities and camp traditions offered
• Guide, mentor and support Counselors, Junior Counselors and Counselors-In-Training in their roles 
• Foster a fun and joyful atmosphere by creating a positive and enjoyable dynamic among campers and staff
• Collaborate with camp leadership to provide a safe, happy, and memorable experience for campers
• Share observations about camper involvement or concerns with camp leadership, staff and parents
• Foster a unique sense of community within your unit by leading engaging activities and providing consistent support to your campers throughout the day.
• Administrative work, as required 

 
Standard staff expectations include and are not limited to: 

• Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where everyone is valued and respected
• Actively participate as an essential team member and attend all staff meetings during or after camp as required
• Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling
• Enthusiastically represent the organization, modeling excellence and achievement
• Complete all staff payroll and onboarding on time and before Orientation begins
• Complete all pre-camp asynchronous on-line training modules and attend all pre-camp in-person orientation sessions
• Other duties as assigned 

This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing!   
 

JOB DETAILS: We are an outdoor camp, located on beautiful, wooded property in Dover, MA. The regular camp day runs from 8:15 - 4:15, Monday - Friday, for the camp season*. In addition, Unit Heads are expected to attend 3 or 4 staff meetings on Monday evenings at JCC Greater Boston, and may be also be expected to attend additional meetings at camp, before or after the regular day. Unit Heads also work 1 or 2 additional Family Nights, Late Nights or Overnights (depending on their placement in camp) over the course of the summer. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay rate of $20 per hour. The pay rate offered will ultimately be determined by relevant qualifications, experience and JCC's internal equity. 

*The regular camp season begins June 23 and ends August 15 (with the option to work the following “9th Week” as well).  Orientation takes place (in-person and with different hours and no transportation provided) the week of June 16th and ends with Visiting Day (a pre-camp visit for all campers and families to meet staff) on Sunday, June 22. Unit Heads are also considered part of the Leadership Team, who may meet a few times before the start of the summer beginning in May. While we prefer staff who can start Orientation Week and work the entire 8-week regular season, we are happy to consider quality candidates who may have conflicting obligations.

** The hourly rates above apply to regular daytime/evening hours. Overnights will be compensated at a flat rate of $75 - $100 per overnight.

About JCC Greater Boston 

Since opening its doors in 1983, JCC Greater Boston has been committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community by nurturing meaningful, lasting relationships. Through our network of early learning centers, day camps, regional teen and family programs, health and wellness offerings, and adult arts and ideas classes, JCC Greater Boston provides highly valued connections, learning, and experiences for the Jewish community and friends. 

JCC Greater Boston staff enjoy working in an innovative, friendly, and welcoming environment where their talents and contributions are appreciated. In our recent employee survey, staff rated their direct management and organizational alignment experiences close to 90% positive. If you want to upgrade your working experience and have a better work-life balance, we encourage you to explore becoming part of the JCC team! 

To learn more about what makes JCC Greater Boston a wonderful place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.bostonjcc.org/careers/ 

JCC Greater Boston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich a diverse environment, we actively encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups. 

Requirements

Education and Experience:  

• College degree required*, preferably in Education or a related field which emphasizes child development
• Experience working with children, preferably in a camp and/or school setting
• Experience supervising young adults preferred
• Experience working in and/or attending summer camp is a plus 

 *An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.  

 Skills and Abilities:

• Leadership skills and ability to build strong relationships with campers, co-workers, and camp leadership, while managing situations effectively and diplomatically 
• Models maturity, reliability, flexibility, and patience  
• A love of children and a strong desire to make a difference every day  
• Strong organizational, teamwork, and relationship-building skills.
• Possess a proactive mindset, demonstrated by the ability to anticipate needs, identify potential challenges, and take initiative to address them effectively.
• Exhibit forward thinking, adaptability, and a commitment to finding creative solutions that contribute to the team's success.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills - comfortable speaking with parents/guardians - listening, discussing and resolving issues  
• Excellent supervisory and collaborative relationships with direct reports  
• Committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of campers 
  

Physical Requirements:  

• Must be able to work in-person, on-site in Dover, Massachusetts
• Must be able to navigate 70 acres of rugged, uneven and rustic campgrounds independently
• Comfortable working all or most of the day outdoors or inside without air conditioning
• Able to work well in a busy, dynamic and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks etc.)
• Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly. 

 
ADA Statement: Individuals must possess these criteria for knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation and using some other combination of skills and abilities. 

Benefits

In addition to offering rewarding work and great career opportunities within our mission-driven, values-driven, and family-centric environment, JCC Greater Boston proudly offers employees the generous benefits listed below.

JCCGB Perks! Each seasonal employee is eligible for access to JCC Greater Boston's top-class fitness, recreation, and wellness facility in Newton! Seasonal access to the JCC Fitness Center includes: 

• Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman JCC during active seasonal employment
• Free or discounted Camp Grossman enrollment for camp employees' children during the weeks worked.  Discount prorated based on number of regularly scheduled hours. 

 Benefits are subject to review and change by the Organization, and plan documents are the primary determinant. 

 
A Great Place to Work! JCC Greater Boston is consciously evolving as a great place to work! In our recent 2023 employee engagement survey, at least 88% of our staff gave us top ratings on: 

• Supportive colleagues
• Team camaraderie
• How their managers treat them
• Individual autonomy
• Knowing what their work contributes to and how it impacts others
• Pride in working for the JCC
• Program and service quality
• Holding ourselves accountable      

Our staff and leadership bring experience, excellence, and commitment to everything we offer, and we are dedicated to a culture where all our employees may thrive. Our culture is built on our values, driven by our mission, and nurtured through the expert contributions of our professionals.