Director, Outdoor Education Centre Kanawana

Leading a team of 15 to 20 seasonal employees, the Outdoor Education Center Director Centre (Trip Program, C-Vert Program, Rental Program and special events and groups) is responsible for the full administration of the Outdoor Education Centre’s programs, in accordance with the Camp YMCA Kanawana standards, in all operational aspects of programming and customer service related to these programs.

Working with the Camp YMCA Kanawana Director, the Outdoor Education Director is a member of the YMCA Kanawana leadership team, with the full-time collaborative mandate to maintain and develop a culture of healthy and positive impact with all Camp YMCA Kanawana stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Plans, directs, organizes and controls all activities and operations of the Camp YMCA Kanawana Outdoor Education Centre.
• Ensures that services provided under their responsibility are of the highest quality.
• Ensures that safety standards are always in place .
• Ensures sound management of operational, financial and administrative activities related to the Outdoor Education Centre’s operations
• Develops quality programming that respects Camp YMCA Kanawana’s environmental and values guidelines.
• In collaboration with their team, reviews all programs annually and ensures the integration of and compliance with the quality standards advocated by the association.
• Develops risk management and safety standards for the activity segments of both the trip program and Camp YMCA Kanawana Outdoor Education Centre, all in compliance with the highest environmental standards (ACQ, AEQ, YMCA Canada, MAPAQ, CITQ, outdoor federations, etc.)
• Ensures compliance and enforcement, in accordance with associative policies and procedures, operational activities related to payroll processing, contract management, employee records management, departures, etc.
• Together with the marketing team, ensures the planning and implementation of the marketing plan for the Camp YMCA Kanawana Outdoor Education Centre programs.
• Oversees management of human resources under their responsibility (groups, rentals, trip, special events) in terms of hiring, intake, onboarding and training.
• Coaches and supervises all employees under their responsibility and assesses their team’s performance.
• Follows up with payroll (time sheet, pay correction, code addition, etc.).
• Manages problematic cases, implements resources and action plans and carries out the necessary follow-ups. Takes appropriate action (e.g. warnings, suspensions and/or dismissals).
• Manages the budget for which they are responsible (income, expenses and budget monitoring of all day and summer camp programs) while ensuring their budget growth.
• Manages the purchase of equipment, materials and other items for Camp YMCA Kanawana within established parameters and ensures the management of inventory.
• Oversees the quality of the Outdoor Education Centre’s client experience and ensure that quality customer service is provided to all stakeholders involved (clients, partners, donors, etc.).
• Ensures the collection, consolidation and dissemination of all complaints, comments and suggestions from clients to the relevant stakeholders. Monitors, processes and follows up on case resolutions.
• Represents the Outdoor Education Centre’s programs to stakeholders (YMCAs of Québec Foundation, partners, and others) as required.
• Identifies and develops potential clients for the period other than summer.
• Stays informed of the needs of current and potential clients, as well as the surrounding community .

The person we are looking for

To successfully fulfill their mission, the director must have :

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, education, outdoors or other relevant training. •    At least five years’ experience as coordinator in a summer camp or adventure tourism setting or ten years in a day camp.
• Experience in canoe-camping expeditions and any additional tourism and hospitality experience (an asset).
• Experience in people management in a seasonal coaching setting
• Extensive knowledge of certified summer camp and adventure tourism settings.
• Extensive knowledge of the risk and administrative management required for the administration of various types of groups in an Outdoor Centre setting.
• Fluency in French and English, both spoken and written.
• Creativity and innovation
• Integrity and sense of business ethics
• Leadership and organizational skills
• Humane and caring approach
• Keen customer service and active listening skills
• Responsive to partner and client needs
• Self-starter approach to problem-solving