Program Director
Ramah Day Camp LA – Los Angeles, CA
Full-Time | Exempt | Year-Round Position
About Ramah Day Camp LA:
Ramah Day Camp LA offers a dynamic, fun, and enriching Jewish summer experience for children entering Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our program combines joyful Jewish experiences, creative learning, and community building. We are seeking a passionate, organized, and visionary Program Director to lead the creation and implementation of an engaging and meaningful camp experience for our campers and families.
Position Overview:
The Ramah Day Camp LA Program Director works closely with the Day Camp Director and the Ramah year-round professional team to lead and implement all aspects of our summer program. The Program Director oversees program planning; summer staff hiring, training, and supervision; camper and staff recruitment; and year-round camp communications. We are looking for a leader who is innovative, collaborative, deeply committed to Jewish education, and thrives in a high-energy, mission-driven environment.
Responsibilities:
Creation, organization, and implementation of the summer programmatic calendar:
Build, execute, and monitor daily calendar and schedule
Develop and implement programming for all special theme days and trips
Ensure all programs and activities are developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and infused with Jewish values and rituals
Continue to advance the arc of experience for campers by adding new programmatic activities and opportunities as camp grows, including but not limited to specialist areas, trips, guest educators, and other national Ramah day camp initiatives
Oversee program supply purchasing and maintain program-related budgets
Manage staff recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision:
Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of summer staff, including counselors, unit heads, specialists, and mishlachat (Israeli emissaries)
Create marketing strategies and materials to be used in staff recruitment
Directly supervise Ramah interns/fellows during the off-season
Directly supervise unit heads, counselors, and summer specialists
Assist the Day Camp Director with supervision of Tikvah (inclusion) staff
Plan and execute Staff Week schedule and training, with year-round team support
Coordinate ongoing staff development throughout the summer
Coordinate end-of-summer staff evaluations and surveys
Manage camper recruitment process including:
Develop and manage a comprehensive camper recruitment calendar and outreach plan
Represent Ramah Day Camp LA at local schools, synagogues, and community camp fairs/open houses/partnership programs
Work with Ramah year round team to maximize cross-departmental recruitment strategies
Create marketing strategies and materials to be used in camper recruitment
Grow organizational partnerships to strengthen enrollment pipelines
Coordinate communications with staff and families in partnership with Ramah year round team
Manage social media channels
Create content for year-round digital communications
Ensure all communications lists are accurate and up to date
Work with year round team to ensure timely delivery of communications to families and staff
Support enrollment efforts in partnership with Day Camp Director and Ramah year round team including forms review and camper intake
Create, implement, and staff innovative year-round family programming (e.g. havdalah, Kabbalat Shabbat, family camp, etc) in collaboration with local partners.
Administrative tasks as necessary
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required; background in education, Jewish studies, outdoor education, nonprofit management, or related fields preferred
Minimum 3-5 years of experience in program development, camp leadership, or youth education
Proven leadership, organizational, and supervisory skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially with young adults and children
Ability to be a self-starter with strong work ethic and excellent multitasking skills
Comfort in working on multiple technology platforms, including social media platforms, as well as ability to quickly learn new technology applications
Passion for Jewish life and Jewish values,
History of participation in the Ramah camping movement and basic Hebrew knowledge is a plus
Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends, and to be present for the full summer season.
Candidates must:
Be fingerprinted and undergo background check once hired
Be certified (or willing to become certified) in CPR Pro and Advanced First Aid
Salary and Benefits:
$68,000-75,000; commensurate with experience
Competitive and comprehensive compensation package, including: 403b, group health coverage, life insurance and LTD, and sick and vacation time.
Warm, mission-driven work environment
To apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter to Jesse Zilberstein, Ramah Day Camp LA Director, at Jesse@ramah.org. Tell us why you’re interested in working with Ramah Day Camp LA, a little about yourself, and the skills you’ll bring to camp. (Video cover letters are also welcome, if that’s more your speed.) Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis; we anticipate a start date no later than September 15, 2025.
Ramah is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
Location
Camp Ramah in California is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA where we have our administrative office, on over 400 acres in Ojai, CA, where our residential summer camp has operated for nearly seventy years, and in West Hills, CA where our day camp operates. Please note that being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.
Camp Ramah is an American Camp Association accredited, coeducational, residential summer camp affiliated with the Conservative Movement and National Ramah Commission and operates under the educational auspices of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University.