Teen Programs Department Director

Job Title: Teen Programs Department Director

Classification: Full-Time

Reports to: President/CEO

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation Range: $66,900 – $87,000

Our Commitment to Equity

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are interested in finding the best qualified candidate for the job, and candidate may be from a less traditional background. If you feel this is you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed. Please contact us if you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position.

We strive to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Organization Overview:
At Camp Fire Columbia, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to find and pursue their spark – a passion that inspires and drives them to set and achieve goals for their future. Founded in 1910, our comprehensive program starts with early intervention at the elementary level, bridges the learning gap for middle school, and helps students thrive and plan for bright futures during middle school. During the school year, Camp Fire works in partnership with dozens of schools in the Metro Area. During the summer months, we offer summer camps in the Portland metro area and at our beautiful 552-acre camp, Camp Namanu, bordered by the vibrant Sandy River and presided over by century old trees. Our programs directly serve over 4,000 kids ages 5-18 each year across an eight-county area, including the greater Portland metro region. Camp Fire Columbia helps serve an additional 11,000 children and families annually through partnerships and special projects. For more information, please visit: http://campfirecolumbia.org/

Position Overview:
This position is responsible for working in partnership with Portland Public, David Douglas, and Reynold’s School Districts, staff, students, and families to provide program vision, direction and management, ensuring culturally relevant pedagogy, educational equity, healing centered practice, and developmental relationships are integral components in all facets of programs for all aspects of school-based programs serving middle and high school students. Leads the department in creating frameworks for program operations and expansion, and systems to ensure program goals and metrics are met.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Equity: This role will come in contact with students, visitors, vendors and employees. Each of these persons may have visible and invisible qualities that make that person unique. This includes race, gender, age, sexuality, ability, religion, national origin, gender identity, and other identities. This role requires sustaining an inclusive and equitable learning and working environments by having respectful and considerate behavior, thoughtful and constructive speech to all.

Relationships: In a culturally-responsive, collaborative form, builds and sustains connections with each team member and supports relationships across the department, including students, coworkers, families, school-based staff, community members, and funders in order to foster ongoing program development.

Programming: Plays a key leadership role in the direction of Camp Fire’s Teen Program’s based on best practices and applying knowledge of youth development, culturally relevant pedagogy, educational equity, healing centered practice, developmental relationships, transformative justice, and other emerging practices in education and social justice fields. Assesses community needs and develops programs in coordination with students, families, community partners, and Camp Fire staff.

Logistics: Develops and manages budget and annual program plans to ensure organizational success, stewardship of resources, and mission impact. Ensure that policies and practices are implemented and followed for safe and successful program experiences for youth and staff.

Job Duties:
Leadership:
Lead the on-going development of school-based middle and high school programs towards a pipeline of opportunities responsive to community needs.

Acts as district point of contact for contracts and MOU’s, funding, and program alignment.

Responsible, in partnership with other management staff, to re-launch agency wide Youth Advisory Committee including establishing procedures for recruitment, development, and support of youth leaders.

Acts as a role model for positive youth development practices, youth-adult partnerships and mentoring.

Through leading and supporting external relations and community outreach, creates opportunities, develops, and sustains partnerships to further Camp Fire’s mission, strategic plans, and/or program objectives.

Actively engages in community initiatives related to youth/families and/or education to ensure that Camp Fire is engaged and connected.

Supports the mission and purpose of Camp Fire and projects a positive image of Camp Fire.

Program:
Leads program evaluations to assess program impact and outcomes; ensures highest program quality through frequent program observation and assessment, and local & national research and best practices, ensures a culture of continuous improvement within program team.

Existing knowledge or ability to develop expertise in the Developmental Relationships framework as described by our national partner, the Search Institute.

Establishes and maintains strong partnership relationships with school and district staff, parents, and community members.

Drives program expansion efforts within the greater community.

Acts as a liaison and advocate for Camp Fire in community relationships.

Build strong relationships with partners, principals, and SUN managers at all Teen Programs schools.

Staff:
Work with staff to create an organizational culture that embodies the organization’s values of diversity and inclusion and provides culturally responsive programming.

Recruit, train, develop, supervise and retain staff members.

Develop and sustain high staff satisfaction and morale through individual coaching and team building.

Budget:
Creates program budgets and identifies funding streams in collaboration with the Development & Communications team.

Carefully monitors and oversees program financial activities to ensure mission-alignment, appropriate usage, efficiency, and sustainability.

Communication:
Works closely with the Development & Communications team to create and execute plans for fundraising, grants management, communications and marketing.

Primary person cultivating and holding philanthropic and corporate relationships.

Provides regular communication and information to the Management Team related to program successes & challenges.

Displays excellent communication skills including presentation, persuasion, and negotiation skills required in working with coworkers, volunteers, families, and contractors; including the ability to communicate effectively and remain calm and focused on customer service under pressure.

Collaboration:
Works closely with school district, partners, and Camp Fire staff to connect youth and families to opportunities during and after the school day.

Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation.

Attends Camp Fire events as necessary.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
Directly supervises the Assistant Director of Teen Programs. Provides high-level support to all Teen Programs staff. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; holding employees accountable; ensuring professional development opportunities for continual learning and development; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Relational Skills:
Firm commitment to equity, social justice, self-reflection, and self-development as a supervisor in order to supervise across difference.

Experience using an equity lens to make changes in program and policy to drive more equitable outcomes.

Highly relational and enjoys working with diverse groups of students and staff.

Strong ability to quickly establish rapport and camaraderie with youth and site staff.

Strong ability to use reframing, connection, and questions to foster growth, relationship-building, and positive change.

Strong ability to create connection and cohesion among groups of staff and students.

Open to receiving feedback and making ongoing programmatic adjustments.

Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, manage time and stress levels of self and others, and proactively solve problems.

Culturally responsive with a passion for developing youth to achieve their full potential.

Ability to lead and motivate others.

Strong ability to collaborate with people of all different ages and backgrounds.

High level of creativity, energy, organization, self-motivation, empathy, and patience.

Strong ability to model, coach, and meet others where they are, in order to express care, challenge growth, and expand possibilities

Ability to use conflict or discomfort as fertile ground for connection and growth.

Ability to maintain integrity by following through on responsibilities and by accepting and abiding by decisions regarding program and policy in a positive manner.

Commitment to consistent follow through or communication regarding changes in plans.

Commitment to social justice and mitigating social inequalities.

Qualifications:
Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct risk to safety or health of employee or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work or a related field; OR three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Has who has lived or learned experience understanding the impact of racism and systems of oppression as it relates to work with youth and communities, and utilizing an equity lens and trauma-informed approach to developing and managing youth-centered programs.
• Must have working knowledge of youth development and programming, including best practices in mentoring.
• Must have previous experience classroom teaching and/or mentoring underrepresented youth.
• Must have a minimum of three years of supervisory experience is required.

Language Skills:
We strive to serve youth in the most culturally responsive ways and prefer proficiency in Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Somali.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from partners, regulatory agencies, or members of the community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to management, public groups, and/or board of directors.

Mathematical Skills:
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, and percentages. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Computer Skills:
Computer skills using database, report writing, project management, Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, communication by email and use of scheduling software.

Reasoning Ability:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
Needs reliable transportation to attend meetings or events, and for transporting supplies to events, sites, etc. A current CPR/First Aid certification is also required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; traverse and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; ascend or balance; move; kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell.

Work Environment

Camp Fire Columbia values a culture of teamwork and co-creation, collaborative decision making, and power sharing. The physical environment is both an office and home space for flexibility to meet individual needs.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Our Commitment:
Camp Fire welcomes and embraces all youth of diverse cultures, beliefs, experiences, and identities. We are committed to creating a culturally-responsive, inclusive, and safe environment for all children, families and staff.

Camp Fire Columbia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, age, religion, color, gender, gender expression and identification, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.