YMCA Camp Cosby is looking for a Senior Program Director to lead one of the Southeast's signature sleepaway camp experiences. This is more than a job — it's a chance to shape the summers, friendships, and personal growth of hundreds of campers each year, while building and leading a team that shares that mission.
As a senior leader at Camp Cosby, you'll drive the overall direction of our resident camp program: setting the culture, growing enrollment, developing your staff, and ensuring every camper leaves with a safe, memorable, and transformative experience. If you're a camp professional who wants real ownership over a program — not just a role within one — this is your next step.
What You'll Do- Direct and manage all operations of the Camp Cosby sleepaway camp program totalling over 2000 campers per summer..
- Lead, hire, train, and develop a team including an Associate Director, office staff, and 120 seasonal summer staff.
- Build and execute strategies to grow new camper enrollment and strengthen returning-camper rates.
- Design and deliver innovative, high-quality programming that keeps campers safe, engaged, and coming back.
- Own the budget for the sleepaway program, including revenue, expense tracking, and monthly variance reporting.
- Lead marketing and social media efforts for the program in partnership with the Association marketing team.
- Set and enforce safety, risk management, and staffing standards across all programming, in line with YMCA of Greater Birmingham and ACA standards.
- Represent the sleepaway camp program to the Camp Cosby Board and support the annual fundraising campaign.
- Board development - Provide guidance and direct the Health and Wellness Committee of YMCA Camp Cosby Volunteer Board and manage all aspects of the Medical Volunteer team during the summer.
- Some weekend work required.
Housing: Onsite housing provided; live-onsite residency is required
Reports To: Executive Director, YMCA Camp Cosby
- Bachelor's degree in recreation or a related field.
- 3–5 years of sleepaway/resident camp programming and supervisory experience.
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills — with campers, families, staff, and community partners alike.
- A self-directed, organized approach to managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, seasonal environment.
- Proficiency with Camp Management platforms (Campminder, CampBrain etc preferred), Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and general web/social media tools.
- Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain).
- Willingness to live onsite at Camp Cosby; housing is provided as part of this role.
At the Y, we're for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Camp Cosby has been a home away from home for generations of campers, and this role sits at the center of keeping that tradition thriving. You'll get the support of a mission-driven organization, a beautiful lakefront camp setting, and the chance to lead a program that changes lives every summer.
YMCA of Greater Birmingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employees and volunteers are required to follow YMCA child protection and abuse-risk screening, training, and supervision policies.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in recreation or a related field
- 3-5 years of sleepaway or resident camp programming and supervisory experience
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Self-directed and organized approach to managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, seasonal environment
- Proficiency with camp management platforms, Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and web or social media tools
- Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification
- Willingness to live onsite at Camp Cosby
- Campminder or CampBrain experience
What We Do
The YMCA is a worldwide youth organization focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, aiming to put Christian values into practice by developing a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
