Assistant Camp Director

About Pingry
The Pingry School, a prestigious K-12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student-written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,200 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on our social media channels to discover why we love school.

About Pingry Summer: Where Excellence Meets Adventure
Pingry Summer is more than just a camp; it is a vibrant “third semester” where the excellence of The Pingry School’s academic and athletic traditions meets the high-energy spirit of summer exploration. Spanning three picturesque campuses in Basking Ridge, Short Hills, and Pottersville, Pingry Summer offers a diverse portfolio of over 100 programs from signature day camps and elite athletics to transformative arts and academic enrichment.

As an employer, we are committed to fostering a culture of belonging, honor, and intellectual curiosity. We believe the best summers are built by a team that is as dedicated to camper safety and compliance as it is to fun and friendship. Joining Pingry Summer means becoming part of a prestigious educational legacy while working in a dynamic, supportive environment where every staff member, from counselor to coordinator, plays a vital role in creating unforgettable experiences for our community.

Position Description: Assistant Camp Director, Program Experience

Status: Seasonal (June 15th – August 7th)
Location: Basking Ridge, NJ
Compensation: $7,000 – $10,000 (Final compensation will be determined based on experience and education.)
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Includes required June 15 training week)

The Candidate Profile
We are looking for a "Program Architect" and high-energy employee who thrives on the-ground. The ideal candidate is someone who can spot a "flat" activity or a slow transition from across the field and step in with the coaching and creativity needed to fix it. You are a culture-builder who understands that staff morale directly impacts camper joy. You possess the professional maturity to lead adults, the creativity to design epic spirit days, and the operational "backbone" to enforce safety standards when the pace of camp picks up.

Position Summary
The Assistant Camp Director, Program Experience, is the primary driver of execution quality and "Pingry Summer Magic" across the day camp. Reporting to the Summer Camp Director, this role ensures that the training staff receives in June is applied consistently throughout the summer. You serve as the Site Lead and Program Architect, focusing on on-the-ground coaching of staff, curriculum alignment, and spirit-building, allowing the Camp Director to focus on high-level parent relations and site-wide emergencies.

Core Accountabilities

On-the-Ground Coaching & Quality Control

• Spend the majority of the camp day "in the field," observing programming and transitions to identify operational gaps and coordinate immediate fixes.
• Provide real-time coaching to counselors and rotation leads, ensuring they are maintaining high engagement and consistent supervision standards.
• Ensure that safety protocols and positive behavior supports are being used correctly and consistently across all age groups.

Experience Design & Theme Alignment

• Design and lead theme-based activities, spirit days, and special campus-wide events that define the Big Blue Summer experience.
• Collaborate with specialized rotation leads (Art, Sports, Science) to ensure their daily activities align with the weekly camp themes.
• Aid with daily camp setup and breakdown, ensuring all equipment and materials are staged and ready for "Ready-to-Receive" status each morning.

Operational Support & Escalation

• Partner with the Registrar and Operations Coordinator to identify and smooth out "bottlenecks" in the daily schedule (e.g., lunch transitions or busing).
• Assist with behavior support escalation, providing the necessary documentation and intervention for campers needing additional support.
• Step in as the Acting Director when the Camp Director is pulled into administrative meetings, parent conferences, or emergencies.

Communication Rhythms

• Manage daily staff notes, reminders, and schedule changes to ensure the entire team is aligned and informed.
• Proactively monitor camper enjoyment levels across different groups, intervening where morale or engagement appears low.

Required Qualifications

• Leadership Mastery: Prior experience in camp leadership or youth program management is preferred; experience coaching young adults (high school/college age) is highly preferred.
• Operational Agility: The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced indoor and outdoor environment without losing attention to detail.
• Communication Strength: Clear, professional verbal and written communication skills for both staff coaching and internal reporting.
• Sound Judgment: Consistent professionalism and the ability to remain calm and creative under pressure.

Required Clearances & Onboarding

• You will work with the Summer Employment Operations Manager to complete all digital onboarding and payroll setup via ADP.
• Successful completion of background checks, fingerprinting (if applicable), and NJ Sexual Misconduct/Child Abuse Disclosure releases.
• Completion of all required leadership training modules prior to the start of the season.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply online at https://www.pingry.org/careers. 

Final compensation will be determined based on experience and education. 

Pingry offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans with employer matching; life and disability insurance; tuition remission for employees' children; and access to wellness and professional development resources.

A full list of benefits is available at www.pingry.org/careers.