Director, Pathways 3:1 (Special Needs) Program, Camp Grossman, Summer Day Camp

Are you passionate about informal education? Do you enjoy teaching others how to support children with special needs? Would you like to lead a program that helps children with special needs develop a love of summer camp, and see them find success outside of the school classroom? Are you flexible and adaptable, and able to find joy, empathy, patience, and meaning in sometimes challenging situations?  

As the Director of Pathways, you will lead other professionals to create enriching, supportive, and memorable experiences for children enrolled in the Pathways 3:1 program. Pathways is our inclusion program at Camp Grossman that enables children with a broad range of developmental and/or cognitive disabilities and/or mental health challenges to successfully access camp with varying levels of support. Our 3:1 bunks (ratio of campers to staff) are designated to serve our campers needing the highest level of support. Working with the Program Director and your Assistant Pathways Director, this position directly assists the front-line counselors and provides support services to our campers with disabilities to ensure access to our camp program, including lakefront swimming, fishing, boating, arts, drama, sports, games, and more. Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of Special Needs children? Join our growing team and celebrated program serving Special Needs campers from all across Greater Boston.

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:  

• Collaborate closely with Program Director to meet program objectives 
• Train staff to work effectively with all campers, including those with special needs 
• Provide clear, supportive communication with parents, ensuring that the unique needs of Pathways campers are met, and key information is shared effectively 
• Model professionalism and patience in all interactions with campers, parents and staff 
• Offer behind the scenes and/or hands-on support to Pathways campers, enabling them to participate fully in daily activities and meet their individual needs 
• Provide guidance to staff and troubleshoot challenges to ensure successful camper experiences 
• Prioritize the safety and well-being of campers at all times 
• Partner with peers and leadership to foster a joyful and inclusive environment for campers and staff 
• Assist in supervising a team of approximately 20 front-line Pathways counselors and 1 Assistant Pathways Director, as needed  
• Join all staff in the parking lot in the morning and afternoon to welcome the safe arrival and departure of campers
• Act as a part of the camp crisis intervention team, supporting campers who may need acute and immediate support 

 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. This is an hourly position, 8:15 - 4:15, Monday - Friday, for the camp season*. In addition, the Pathways Director is expected to attend and help facilitate 3 or 4 staff meetings on Monday afternoons at Camp and /or evenings at JCC Greater Boston. The Pathways Director also works between 4 and 8 additional evenings over the course of the summer, when Units with Pathways 3:1 bunks have Family Nights or Late Night programming. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay rate of $25 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 also 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. 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.  

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. 

Education and Experience:  

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Special Education or related field
• 1-2 years of professional experience working with children with special needs
• Experience supervising a small team of staff
• 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 working with children with special needs 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. 

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.