Director, Programs - Youth Camps & Events

The Director, Programs – Youth Camps & Events at Headfirst Companies serves as the senior divisional leader for the Youth Camps & Events division’s portfolio of Headfirst Summer Camps and Headfirst Professional Sports Camps programs. The Director owns the operating performance of the Youth Camps & Events division by translating company strategy into exceptional execution, sustainable growth, and outstanding customer experiences. This role will be responsible for building and leading a high-performing divisional team of full-time and seasonal staff to deliver against enrollment, customer experience, program quality, seasonal talent, and financial goals. Reporting directly to the CEO of Headfirst Companies and serving as the Youth Camps & Events representative on the company-wide leadership team, the Director will have a voice at the highest levels of Headfirst, while remaining close enough to the delivery of camp programs to see their impact. The Director will be based out of Headfirst Companies’ Washington, DC headquarters throughout the year, with the expectation of regular travel to Headfirst Summer Camps and Headfirst Professional Sports Camps locations during the pre-season and in-season operating periods. About Youth Camps & Events Headfirst Youth Camps & Events brings together Headfirst Summer Camps—a trusted summer tradition for DC-area families for nearly 30 years—and youth programs created in partnership with leading professional sports organizations across the country, like the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Atlanta Falcons. Each year, we serve thousands of children and families through premium, thoughtfully designed experiences that combine exceptional programming, operational excellence, and genuine human connection. Across every camp, clinic, and event, our goal is the same: to create joyful opportunities for young people to build skills, confidence, and a lasting belief in what they can do. Benefits & Compensation Package This full-time, exempt position offers an annual compensation range of $120,000-$150,000 per year, with the final compensation package determined based on role-related factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and alignment with the needs of the position. Headfirst also offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time team members that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) matching up to 4% of base salary; self-managed, uncapped paid time off; free Headfirst summer camp for eligible children of full-time team members; and participation in Headfirst’s DC SmartBenefits transportation benefits program. What You'll Do: Role Headlines Oversee strategy, planning, and divisional performance for the Youth Camps & Events division Drive customer and program experience, including quality, safety, and compliance Manage the full-time Youth Camps & Events team, nurturing talent development, team culture, and role and expectation clarity across the division Lead systems, data, and reporting practices that support high-quality program delivery Work across teams to solve problems, support sound decisions, and keep the division aligned Role Details Lead Divisional Strategy & Performance. Lead annual strategy, forecasting, and operational and financial planning for Youth Camps & Events, translating company priorities into clear divisional goals and execution plans. Own divisional performance across enrollment, customer experience, program quality, and financial results, with full P&L accountability. Drive Program Excellence. Define standards for customer experience, safety, compliance, enrollment performance, and program quality, and ensure those standards are delivered consistently across all camps and partner programs. Oversee operational readiness and on-time execution across locations and seasons. Build and Lead Teams. Lead and develop the division’s function owners across Sales & Enrollment, Customer Success & Systems, Product Delivery & Experience, and Talent & Training. Set direction, clarify ownership and priorities, and model accountability and follow-through. Build strong individual relationships with team members in order to foster mutual understanding, nurture trust, and support their continued development and growth. Strengthen Systems and Reporting. Serve as leadership owner for divisional data governance, reporting integrity, and systems optimization. Ensure key systems, reporting, workflows, and project plans are reliable, up-to-date, and outcome-oriented tools that keep team time and energy focused on frontline priorities. Lead the team in using core systems thoughtfully and consistently in order to maintain clean data, strong reporting capabilities, and well-constructed user experiences for both internal stakeholders and external customers. Partner Across Functions. Build strong working relationships with company leaders and cross-functional partners to move important strategic and operational work forward, support sound decisions, and keep the division aligned and prepared. Handle the Curveballs. No two days are the same at Headfirst, and every member of our team will see unanticipated challenges come their way. You may be asked to help solve problems, support cross-functional projects, and take on other responsibilities as needed. About You: Required Qualifications You have 8+ years of progressive leadership experience managing full-time, year-round central/corporate operations that support frontline delivery in camps, recreation, sports programming, events, for-profit education, or a comparable experiential services business. You have 3+ years of experience leading a team of multiple full-time employees, including responsibility for performance management, retention, and professional development; additional experience managing managers or overseeing seasonal or temporary staff is viewed favorably. You understand how frontline delivery and central/corporate operations work together in a full-cycle experiential services business, and you know how to translate corporate workflows, systems, and planning into high-quality programs that achieve enrollment, experience, and revenue goals. You have demonstrated P&L ownership and a track record of delivering profitable results. You bring expertise in operational planning, forecasting, KPI management, and data-informed decision-making. You have experience leading teams to fully leverage core business systems, maintain clean and reliable data, build efficient reporting practices, and design workflows that work well for both internal users and external customers. You work well with cross-functional partners, balancing collaboration, clear ownership, and sound decision-making. You are an excellent communicator and change leader who can prioritize effectively in fast-paced, seasonal environments. Universal Headfirst Team Values & Expectations You are an impassioned enterpriser who shares the Headfirst Companies’ core mission and values, and believes in our ability to work together to make a difference in the lives of children and young adults You are a motivated self-starter who is autonomous and dependable You are a team player who approaches professional hurdles with a strong sense of individual responsibility and a sincere emphasis on team over self You are a humble and enthusiastic leader who possesses the passion and polish to serve as an ambassador of the Headfirst Companies You are a doer who has an entrepreneurial spirit and a focus on finishing the job every day You are an independent thinker who assumes responsibility beyond what is asked, and takes initiative for positive change You are a flexible, coachable, and down-to-earth teammate who has the desire and capacity to grow through self-reflection, and by both providing and receiving thoughtful, constructive performance feedback You are a patient problem-solver and consummate professional who has the ability to prioritize and multitask, managing several projects concurrently, sometimes under pressure, and often with tight deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and professional demeanor Headfirst Companies are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers. We value diversity and inclusivity across our Headfirst community, and we strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Headfirst Companies