Assistant Program Director, Camp Naru 

Location: New York, NY
Reports to: Program Director
Employment: Full-Time

Salary: 90-100k

About Us

YS Kim Foundation is dedicated to empowering Korean Americans by fostering leadership, celebrating cultural identity, and building a vibrant, connected community. Through signature initiatives such as Camp Naru and year-round community engagement efforts, we provide meaningful opportunities for youth and young adults to embrace their heritage, form lasting connections, and develop as confident, impactful leaders. Our mission is to inspire the next generation to thrive with pride in their cultural identity and a commitment to making a difference.

Camp Naru is a transformative overnight summer camp designed to inspire identity development and foster a strong sense of community through a vibrant Korean American cultural lens. As a flagship program of the YS Kim Foundation, campers grow in self-awareness, form lasting friendships, develop leadership skills, and deepen their appreciation for their cultural identity—all within a supportive, fun, and inclusive community. Our core values are: Identity, Belonging, Community, Leadership, and Service and all staff are expected to embody these values.

Position Summary

The Assistant Program Director, Camp Naru serves as the primary programming and operational leader supporting the Program Director in the planning, management, and execution of Camp Naru 365, including summer camp and year-round programming.

The Assistant Program Director is responsible for building and managing the systems, processes, timelines, staffing structures, logistics, and cross-functional workflows necessary to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality programming. This role translates Camp Naru's strategic priorities into actionable operating plans and ensures that work moves effectively from planning through execution.

The position oversees and executes major operational areas including camper enrollment and registration, camp logistics, staffing operations, vendor and site coordination, budgeting and purchasing, risk management, operational communications, and on-site execution. The role also supervises and develops seasonal leaders, staff, and volunteers. 

Working closely with the Program Director, the Assistant Program Director identifies operational needs, anticipates challenges, improves systems, and ensures accountability across workstreams. During camp, the Associate Director serves as a senior on-site leader, managing real-time operational challenges and supporting a safe, organized, and high-quality experience for campers, families, and staff. 

Key Responsibilities

Camp Operations & Logistics

• Serve as the lead for Camp Naru's operational planning and execution year-round, translating organizational priorities into clear timelines, workflows, responsibilities, and deliverables.
• Own site coordination, transportation, meals, facilities, supplies, inventory, vendors, housing, load-in/load-out, and operational readiness.
• Build and maintain the master camp schedule and operational plan.
• Translate program plans into detailed staffing, space, material, timing, and logistical requirements.
• Lead operational readiness processes, including timelines, checklists, walkthroughs, contingency plans, and cross-functional coordination.
• Serve as the senior operational leader on-site during camp, troubleshooting issues and coordinating real-time execution.
• Lead post-camp operational debriefs and implement improvements for future years.
• Use data, feedback, and post-program evaluation to recommend and implement operational improvements.

Enrollment, Systems & Administration

• Set up administrative processes and identify opportunities to improve technology, systems, and workflows as Camp Naru grows.

Leadership & People Management

• Set up the process for seasonal staff recruitment, onboarding, documentation, scheduling, and training.
• Support and supervise seasonal leaders, staff, and volunteers as appropriate, including Camp Naru’s seasonal Program and Operations team before, during, and after camp.
• Ensure staff have the information, resources, schedules, and operational guidance necessary to perform effectively.
• Support performance management and staff feedback processes.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, inclusive, and mission-aligned staff culture.

Program Operations & Execution

• Partner with the Program Director to translate Camp Naru's program vision into an executable camp experience.
• Own the operational feasibility of programming, including scheduling, staffing, spaces, resources, materials, and logistical requirements.
• Partner closely with the Program Coordinator, who manages day-to-day program coordination, instructor communication, materials, contracts, and program trackers.
• Lead program execution during camp and ensure programming runs smoothly across teams.
• Identify operational risks, dependencies, and resource needs early and develop solutions.

Budget, Purchasing & Vendor Management

• Support the Program Director in developing and managing the Camp Naru operating budget.
• Monitor operational spending and maintain accurate tracking against approved budgets.
• Manage relationships and communication with operational vendors and service providers.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations, Education, Nonprofit Management, Leadership, or a related field preferred.
• 7–10+ years of experience in program management, operations, youth programming, camp management, nonprofit management, events, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, and workstreams.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing staff.
• Experience building and improving operational systems and processes.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, logistics, and/or large-scale programs or events.
• Experience in camp operations, youth development, education, or nonprofit environments strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Korean American culture and community building is required.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously.
• Strong operational judgment and ability to translate strategy into detailed execution plans.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong people-management skills, including delegation, coaching, accountability, and feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate challenges, assess risks, and solve problems effectively.
• Ability to remain calm, organized, and decisive in fast-paced and high-pressure environments.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining a broader understanding of organizational priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with staff, families, vendors, partners, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, project-management tools, and camp management or registration platforms.
• Ability to learn and implement new systems and technologies that improve operational efficiency.

Mandatory Commitment

The Associate Director must attend and play a leadership role during all required pre-camp training and the full Camp Naru summer camp period each year. Additional evening and weekend availability will be required during peak planning periods, staff training, community events, and year-round programming.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Hybrid role based in New York City, with travel required for camp sessions, site visits, community events, and other Camp Naru programming. 
• This position requires significant hands-on involvement during the months leading up to summer camp.
• Evening and weekend availability is required periodically for trainings, events, meetings, and engagement initiatives.
• During camp and other major program periods, extended hours and on-site presence are required.

For more information about Camp Naru, please visit our website. If you’re interested in being part of this unique and transformative experience, please send your resume and cover letter to Jiwon Kim, Program Director, at jiwon.kim@campnaru.org and Jaclyn Canny at jaclyn.canny@alpineglobal.com. We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about you.