Director of Summer Programs - Thayer Academy

Reporting to the Associate Head of School, the Director of Summer Programs is responsible for strategic planning, operations, market development, program design, budgeting, and management of Thayer Summer Programs. Specific responsibilities include:

Strategic Program Development

Build vibrant programs that achieve desired admissions goals, annual and long-term net revenue targets, and support the school's mission and program.

• Assess, enhance, and where appropriate, expand summer program offerings aligned with Thayer's mission to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs of current and prospective participants
• Collaborate with school leadership, administration, and faculty to ensure all summer programs align with the school's mission and educational philosophy
• Annually seek and analyze input from campers/students, families, and staff regarding the quality of their program experience
• Explore opportunities for leveraging the intellectual and physical assets of the school
• Seek to identify partnerships that may enhance program potential

Program Management

Ensure all summer program participants have a safe and positive experience.

• Oversee ongoing curriculum development for all summer programs in coordination with program directors
• Ensure all programs are of the highest quality and provide an appropriately safe, caring, and enriching environment for all participants
• Establish routines, provide positive guidance, and enforce policies and procedures, including disciplinary policies, in accordance with Thayer's stated values
• Provide ongoing supervision and support of all faculty and staff of the summer programs
• Develop and oversee all safety and health protocols in coordination with school risk management plan
• Manage all rentals of school facilities in coordination with school calendar and facility availability

Financial Management

Ensure that the Summer Programs' financial performance meets or exceeds budgeted expectations.

• Prepare annual budget covering all aspects of program expenses and revenues to ensure profitability
• Monitor revenues and expenses in accordance with budgetary restrictions for bottom line performance across all programs
• Continually strive to generate and grow net revenue in support of the school
• Work with individual coaches and teachers to ensure profitability of their programs
• Establish appropriate compensation for all auxiliary program employees in coordination with the Chief Financial and Operations Officer
• Establish and manage contracts with all third party partners and vendors

Marketing and Communications

Effectively promote the programs so as to achieve the enrollment and revenue targets.

• In coordination with the Marketing department, develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy for all summer programs
• Ensure that summer programs have an effective and accurate web presence including the website and social media
• Plan and coordinate the publishing and advertising of marketing documents, both digital and print
• Manage all public relations and marketing initiatives including open houses, mailers, brochures, camp fairs, and ad placement to promote and communicate the programs to prospective and enrolled participants
• Write and distribute regular communications among summer program constituencies that effectively provide updated information and a sense of community

Administration and Operations

Ensure that the administration of summer programs is efficient and effective.

• Coordinate and organize registration processes for summer programs (i.e. rosters, processing of forms and confirmation letters, parent communication, etc.)
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive summer and auxiliary program database
• Prepare reports for and communicate with school leadership to ensure awareness of summer program performance
• Ensure that summer programs are in compliance with all applicable regulations of licensing and governing entities

Human Resources

Hire and manage to build a qualified, effective, and customer-focused team.

• Work collaboratively to recruit, hire, and train all summer program seasonal and part time employees
• Ensure that all necessary and required employment forms, including background checks, are completed and on file
• Design and deliver a thorough onboarding process for all summer employees and provide a comprehensive summer staff training
• Oversee the annual performance evaluation process of all summer programs counselors, coaches, teachers, and staff
• Coordinate and communicate payroll as needed with the Business Office

Other Duties

• Participate in special assignments and projects as needed to improve school operations (i.e. special projects, buildings and grounds, safety, accreditation, committees, etc.)
• Maintain a commitment to student and employee diversity
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Head of School and the Head of School

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 and Operations 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 Thayer enhance its core program through mission-aligned summer offerings.

Leadership Style

• 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 Associate Head of School, Director of Finance and Operations, and other school leaders.
• Comfort stepping into a newly defined 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

Thayer Academy is an equal opportunity employer. The Academy complies with and adheres to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws with respect to its employment practices. Thayer Academy does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin or ancestry, age, or disability, or any other category protected under state or federal law. This policy extends to recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, assignment, working conditions, promotions, transfers, termination, re-employment, education, tuition assistance, employee treatment, and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. All employment-related decisions are made on a nondiscriminatory basis so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.