Co-Executive Director

            

Started in 1893, Cambridge Camping Association (CCA) initially offered children from low-income backgrounds a “Country Week” away from the city, in the summer. CCA continues with the spirit of this work through multiple programs.Today, Cambridge Camping Association serves 500 campers annually through: Cambridge Adventure Day Camp (CADC); Daybreak Day Camp, our camp for youngsters with special needs; CCAccess, a referral and scholarship program placing and paying for children to attend day and overnight camps throughout New England; Club Daybreak, a Saturday school-year program for Daybreak campers with special needs; The Village Series, community and skill-building workshops for families, professionals and caregivers of children; CCAOnline, activities with an enrichment theme, tutoring and mentoring; and Vacation Camps during school vacation weeks. Over the past 127 years, CCA has not strayed from its mission to provide quality and accessible programming to urban youth from under-resourced circumstances and has served over 25,000 children.

 

Sharon Zimmerman has been CCA’s Executive Director for 6 years. Under her leadership, CCA has significantly increased its revenue, allowing for the development of new programming.  Sharon moved to Florida in 2020 but has continued as Executive Director, working remotely along with all CCA staff during the pandemic and while the office building where CCA is located is undergoing a historic renovation. As CCA returns to in-person activities, the need for local leadership is essential. Working from Florida, Sharon will continue to make significant contributions to CCA.  

 

In evaluating leadership options, the CCA Board believes a Co-Executive Director model would best meet the needs of the organization. This innovative model of shared leadership is consistent with the values and culture of CCA. It allows Sharon to continue in the areas most suited for remote work, while having a skilled leader to directly develop, oversee and evaluate programs and engage in the broader Cambridge community in person. In addition, this model will allow us to increase the diversity of CCA’s leadership and, if appropriate, provide a mentoring opportunity to a qualified candidate.

Strategic Opportunities and Challenges  

Over the last few years, due to several bequests and increased grant and public funding, CCA now has a significant amount of money in reserves. The new co-executive director, working with Sharon and the Board, has the opportunity to assess community needs and expand CCA’s programs, increasing our menu of services, broadening communities served and achieving deeper impact.   

●      Over the last 3 years, CCA has been adding programs during the school year, such as vacation camp, online camp, Saturday camp and training for caregivers. These have been well-received and there is a need to expand these programs.

●      Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, CCA was in discussion with the city of Somerville about expanding camp to include Somerville families in need. These conversations should be restarted and possibilities explored.

●      CCA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism work. Most of the families CCA works with are from communities of color. The co-executive directors will be critical in expanding and deepening our work in this area.

●      With the programmatic and revenue growth CCA has experienced, there is a need to relook at and reshape the current staffing model, including hiring year-round full-time program staff and a communications position. 

Challenges

●      There is a need to secure long-term program space for current programming and for new program growth.

●      After the pandemic CCA has to rebuild revenue-raising events.

●      CCA needs to expand communications capacity and database for e-appeals and e-marketing, as well as upgrade our platforms for greater functionality.

●      Work with the Board and co-executive director to identify and execute CCA’s strategic goals.

●      Assess program quality and provide oversight and supervision to CCA program staff.

●      Grow programs in reach and impact.

●      Strengthen CCA’s anti-racism and DEI work and commitments.

●      Cultivate relationships with current and new CCA donors. 

●      Engage with the Cambridge community around all issues relevant to CCA.

●      Maintain a collaborative work environment that has a strong team culture of mutual support and respect.

●      Work with co-executive director and Board on event planning

The co-executive director of CCA will be passionate about the mission of the organization and will build on its strengths to increase the range and scope of its programming. Working with a small staff, she/he/they will be hands on, involved in all aspects of the organization. Excellent collaboration skills are essential. The person who assumes this position will be a leader with high emotional intelligence and excellent communication and public speaking skills, and a relationship-builder who can easily and genuinely connect with people and is astute at building strategic partnerships. Ideally, the candidate will have deep knowledge of and familiarity with the communities served by CCA.

 

Bachelor’s degree required. At least three years of experience in a leadership position in a nonprofit service organization. Experience developing and overseeing programs and program staff is essential. CCA is especially interested in candidates with the qualities listed below but who may not have had the opportunity to develop all the skills needed by an executive director. This position can be a mentoring and growth opportunity for the right candidate who is interested in developing their leadership skills.

 

●      Passionate advocate for the mission: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated passion for all that summer camp and enrichment programs provide to children and families. She/he/they will be able to ignite passion in others.

●      Keen emotional intelligence: The ideal candidate will have keen listening skills, empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to connect with people of different styles, professional levels and backgrounds.

●      Demonstrated core values of integrity and honesty: The essential quality of personal humility and an intuitive understanding of when to give credit to others while exercising effective leadership is a must. The ideal candidate will be open-minded, approachable, and fair. 

●      Flexibility and balance: The ideal candidate will be able to face difficult challenges with competence, grace, and a sense of humor.

●      Innovative and entrepreneurial approach: The ideal candidate will continually scan the environment for key trends and new opportunities, can leverage opportunities and support for initiatives, and has an innovative approach to solving problems and overcoming challenges. 

●      Experienced nonprofit management 

●      Respectful, inclusive and effective leader and developer of staff

●      Demonstrated success in diversifying and expanding revenue streams

●      Exceptional communication skills

●      Experience working with boards of directors

●      Social media and information technology knowledge and curiosity 

Candidate Guidelines and Additional Information
Please email a resume and cover letter to co-executivedirector@cambridgecamping.org that includes a description of how your qualifications and experience match CCA’s needs.

           

Submissions of candidacy will be accepted until the position is filled.

 

Selected candidate will undergo thorough reference checks as well as a legally required criminal history background check. 

 

Salary is commensurate with experience, within the framework of the organization’s annual operating budget.