Mission
To put the Christian principles of love, respect, honesty, responsibility, and service into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Position Summary
The Executive Director, Camp Collins provides strategic and operational leadership for YMCA Camp Collins, a premier resident camp and outdoor education center of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role carries full accountability for program excellence, financial sustainability, property stewardship, safety oversight, philanthropic growth, and long-term asset strategy.
Camp Collins is one of the association's most significant physical and brand assets. The Executive Director is responsible not only for annual performance, but for developing and advancing a long-term site and revenue vision that expands year-round utilization, strengthens retreat and rental growth, scales outdoor education partnerships, and sequences capital modernization responsibly.
As a member of the Association Leadership Team, the Executive Director balances strong site-level ownership with system-wide alignment, collaborates closely with peer Executive Directors, and contributes to enterprise-wide strategy and performance.
This position performs all other duties as assigned in support of the YMCA's mission, strategic priorities, and operational needs.
Our Culture
The YMCA of Columbia-Willamette is grounded in love, integrity, and humility. We operate as one association, committed to accountability, creativity, and shared stewardship.
The Executive Director models the association's Five Operating Tenets: Love in Unity, Honesty in Insight, Responsibility in Action, Respect in Practice, and Service in Stewardship. Decisions are data-informed, equity-centered, risk-aware, and aligned with mission. This leader ensures consistent adherence to policies, safety standards, financial controls, and approved processes that protect campers, staff, volunteers, and the organization.
Three-Year Camp Growth and Asset Strategy Expectations
Within the first three years, the Executive Director is expected to:
- Increase resident camp enrollment and year-round program participation
- Expand retreat, rental, and conference center utilization to maximize year-round revenue
- Scale outdoor education partnerships with school districts and community organizations
- Develop and implement a long-term site and facility modernization plan aligned with association capital strategy
- Strengthen financial sustainability through disciplined revenue growth and expense management
- Grow philanthropic investment in camp programs, scholarships, endowment, and capital improvements
- Enhance camper experience, safety outcomes, and program quality
- Develop a strong leadership bench and seasonal talent pipeline
This role owns both the annual operating plan and the long-term strategic positioning of Camp Collins as a mission-driven and financially strong association asset.
Business Model Accountability and Operating Framework
The Executive Director operates within a clearly defined association operating framework that balances site-level ownership with system-wide alignment. In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and peer Executive Directors, this leader ensures disciplined strategy execution and responsible stewardship of resources and facilities.
Operational, Financial, and Asset Leadership
- Leads annual budgeting and long-range financial planning
- Develops multi-year revenue growth strategies across resident camp, outdoor education, retreats, rentals, and specialty programming
- Partners with the COO and CFO on financial reporting, forecasting, and capital planning
- Ensures consistent use of business case and pro forma processes for new initiatives and facility investments
- Evaluates program and revenue line performance using participation, margin, and mission impact data
- Oversees property stewardship, maintenance prioritization, and phased capital modernization planning
- Ensures compliance with safety regulations, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and youth protection policies
- Collaborates with peer Executive Directors to align staffing strategies and share best practices
Decision Authority
Within approved budget parameters and association standards, the Executive Director:
- Approves camp programs and revenue initiatives that meet established business and safety criteria
- Allocates seasonal and year-round staffing resources in partnership with Human Resources
- Recommends pricing adjustments in collaboration with the COO and finance leadership
- Develops partnership agreements and school contracts in alignment with senior leadership
- Advances capital improvement recommendations in coordination with association leadership
Strategic decisions affecting enterprise risk, major capital investments, or long-term contractual commitments are advanced in partnership with the COO.
Association Collaboration and Colab Leadership
The YMCA of Columbia-Willamette operates through cross-functional Colabs that drive alignment, innovation, and shared standards across the association.
The Executive Director serves as an Executive Liaison to one assigned Colab and actively participates in others as appropriate. In this role, the Executive Director:
- Represents enterprise priorities while bringing forward camp-specific insight
- Ensures camp leadership and appropriate staff actively participate in relevant Colabs
- Supports alignment of Colab initiatives with association strategy and operating standards
- Shares innovation and best practices across regions and program areas
- Reinforces One Association consistency in policy implementation, safety, and brand standards
Participation in Colabs is an expectation of association leadership and contributes to system-wide effectiveness and collaboration.
Crisis, Risk, and Safety Leadership
Camp leadership carries significant operational and reputational risk. The Executive Director serves as the senior accountable leader for crisis management and emergency decision-making during resident camp sessions.
Responsibilities include:
- Establishing and reinforcing emergency preparedness protocols and staff training
- Leading incident response coordination and documentation
- Serving as primary on-site decision-maker during critical incidents
- Partnering with association leadership on risk assessment and mitigation planning
- Coordinating communication and media response in collaboration with designated association leaders
- Ensuring full compliance with youth protection training, reporting standards, and regulatory requirements
On-Site Leadership and Supervision Requirement
The Executive Director is expected to be physically present on site during all operational hours when YMCA resident campers are in session, including evenings and overnight periods, unless prior approval is granted by the Chief Operating Officer.
The Executive Director ensures qualified senior leadership coverage is designated and clearly documented at all times. During resident camp sessions, this role serves as the senior accountable leader for safety, emergency response, and operational decision-making.
This position requires extended hours during peak summer and resident camp seasons and the ability to respond immediately to emergencies or critical incidents.
Housing Requirement
This position requires the Executive Director to reside on or near camp property during resident camp operations to support on-site leadership expectations.
If on-site housing is provided, occupancy is a condition of employment and will be governed by a separate housing agreement outlining terms of use, responsibilities, and expectations. Occupancy of YMCA-provided housing, if applicable, is contingent upon continued employment and compliance with the terms of the housing agreement.
Philanthropic Leadership
Camp Collins carries strong emotional and alumni connection within the community. The Executive Director serves as a visible philanthropic leader for camp-specific priorities.
Responsibilities include:
- Driving the camp portion of the association's annual philanthropy plan
- Cultivating and stewarding major donors and scholarship supporters
- Activating alumni engagement and volunteer ambassador networks
- Partnering on capital and endowment strategy for long-term sustainability
- Representing camp priorities in donor meetings and campaign planning
- Ensuring philanthropic investment advances access, modernization, and asset strength
Equity and Access Leadership
Equity is a measurable leadership responsibility of this role.
The Executive Director will:
- Use participation and scholarship data to expand access for historically underserved communities
- Build school and community partnerships that increase scholarship-supported enrollment
- Align pricing, scholarship strategy, and outreach efforts to improve affordability and access
- Ensure camp culture and staffing reflect the diversity of the communities served
- Apply the association's equity lens to program design and partnership development . click apply for full job details