The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) is seeking a Camp Program Manager to organize and administer accessible and inclusive summer camps for autistic youth and adults in multiple locations. Successful candidates will be organized and effective communicators, with experience in summer camp operations. Exceptional candidates will likely have experience operating recreational programs for people with severe disabilities. This is a hybrid role with remote work and two days per week collaborating with our neurodiverse team at our St. Paul, MN office. This position includes at least 6 weeks on-site at camps during the summer.

The Camp Program Manager reports to the Program Director and is a member of the Programs and Services Department. This position provides support to and works closely with On-Site Camp Directors. This position’s core responsibilities focus on the successful planning and execution of these programs and will require project management, leadership, training, and communication skills. AuSM has provided inclusive and accessible summer camps for autistic people since 1977. This highly visible position offers growth opportunities and significantly influences public perception of the organization.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• People Leadership: Manage relationships with On-Site Camp Directors, who are seasonal independent contractors primarily responsible for program delivery and staff supervision.
• Partner Coordination: Coordinate partnerships with camp facilities and program partners, including Camp Knutson, True Friends, and other vendors.
• Contract Management: Ensure that annual contracts are completed and accurate for dates, services, accommodations, expenses, and staffing.
• Recruitment and Selection: Recruit and hire qualified and sufficient staff and volunteers to successfully operate all camp programs, which includes conducting phone interviews, making verbal offers, and monitoring contract agreements.
• Human Resources: Ensure all camp staff undergo background checks and complete any required documentation before, during, and after onboarding.
• Staff Supervision: Supervise a large group of independent contractors serving as Camp Counselors, Cabin Leaders, Camp Nurses, etc.
• Staff Development and Performance Management: Coordinate supervision of camp staff with On-Site Camp Directors to ensure each seasonal worker receives adequate training, on-site coaching, and documented performance feedback.
• Planning: Collaborate with On-Site Camp Directors and program partners to ensure camp programming is adequately planned and ready for the start of the camp season.
• Financial Management: Manage timely payment of expenses, including purchasing materials, approving invoices, and reconciling credit card expenses.
• Participant Communication: Communicate with campers, camp staff, parents, and caregivers of campers, third-party payers, and other stakeholders.
• Registration Management: Manage the online registration application forms with Camp Brain and facilitate the enrollment lottery to select campers equitably and place remaining applicants on the waiting list.
• Fee Management: Collect applications for scholarships and fee waivers, then process support requests to allocate funds according to need. Communicate the results of the lottery and waiting list to all stakeholders.
• Program Quality Assurance: Review Camp Policies and Procedures annually and implement any required changes that support the continuous quality improvement of the camp programs.
• Camper Health: Work with Camp Nurses to ensure campers receive all prescribed medication, and only prescribed medication.
• Camper and Staff Safety: Support camper and employee safety by ensuring strict adherence to safety policies and procedures. Document any accidents and injuries that may occur during the camp session.
• Meeting Facilitation: Facilitate an annual debrief with On-Site Camp Directors, partners, and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Database Management: Maintain camp stakeholder information in Salesforce, Camp Brain, Gusto, and any other applicable database.

Marginal Functions:

• Budget Management: Work with the Finance Department to develop and monitor annual camp program budgets.
• Marketing and Communications: Recruit participants for camp programs by assisting the Marketing and Communications Department with developing and distributing marketing materials and serving as the primary point of contact for the community.
• Coordinating Waiver Payments: Coordinate camper registration payments and support the Finance Department in collecting third-party payments for campers using public support funding.
• Payroll Processing: Work with the Finance Department to complete payroll according to a predetermined payroll schedule.
• Program Evaluation: Develop and implement a program evaluation, training, and continuous improvement strategy to ensure high-quality camp programs.
• Staff Training: Lead camp training sessions or promotional presentations as needed.
• Fundraising: Support sustainable program funding by researching funding opportunities, supporting proposals, and submitting report narratives and program data to the Advancement Team.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with grant requirements and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations related to the operation of the summer camp programs.
• Photography and Social Media: Work with the Marketing and Communications Department to set up secure private access to photos taken during camps via the Cluster Photo Sharing application. Coordinate the exclusion of any participants who have not provided consent for photography and multimedia.
• Event Support: Support other departments in the execution of events hosted by the organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Experience: At least 3 years of prior experience in youth development, recreation, disability services, or autism-related functions.
• Disability Camp Operations: Understanding of camp operations and programs, and knowledge and understanding of autism and the disability community.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail, project planning, time management, and analysis.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated success working independently and collaboratively.
• Computer Skills: Excellent Mac computer skills, including Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), AND experience with web-based fundraising tools (WordPress, Give Butter, MailChimp), customer relationship management databases (Salesforce), and project management software (Asana).
• Fraud and Waste Prevention: Candidate must not be included in the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) or the Minnesota Excluded Providers List.
• Compliance: Adhere to data privacy and protection laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Clear Background Screening: Upon receiving an offer for this position, the candidate will undergo a criminal background check because during their employment, they may access financial data or personally identifiable health information and may interact with vulnerable individuals.

Preferred Skills

• Education: A bachelor’s degree or comparable experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience: Direct experience working with AuSM Summer Camp Programs is highly valued.
• Shared Values: Neurodiversity-affirming mindset and values, including a commitment to accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and disability justice.
• Nonprofit Experience: Experience working in the nonprofit sector, community-based organizations, or autism organizations.
• Managing Complexity: Demonstrated organizational skills, including attention to detail, project planning, time management, and analysis to organize and manage multiple priorities and projects.
• Cultural Humility: Demonstrated good judgment and cultural competence to support communication with a diverse range of individuals.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and/or verbal skills for communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Personal Connection to Autism: While not required, lived experience with autism spectrum disorder, neurodivergence, or disability is highly valued.

Position Details

• Includes 6 weeks on-site at camp during the summer.
• Full-time, exempt
• St. Paul, MN - Hybrid position with remote work and two in-person days per week
• Comprehensive benefits include:
• Flexible work schedule in a hybrid work environment.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Optional health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) for health or childcare costs.
• Basic term life insurance.
• Short- and Long-term disability insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Up to 35 days off per year (15 vacation days, 6 sick days, 12 holidays, and 2 personal days).
• Opportunities for advancement.
• Inclusive and accessible work environment.

About the Autism Society of Minnesota

Established in 1971, the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. AuSM seeks to enhance the lives of all who are a part of the Minnesota autism community, with a fundamental commitment to advocacy, education, support, collaboration, and community building.

At AuSM, equity and inclusion are central to our mission. Bringing diverse perspectives together supports strategic creativity for meeting challenges and focusing on growth. We strive to develop a workplace that reflects the communities we serve – in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical ability, neurodiversity, and ethnicity. We value our team members and want everyone to feel confident in bringing their full, authentic selves to work.

AuSM employs many people with disabilities and understands that qualified applicants may require reasonable accommodations to be successful. If you have a disability that requires accommodation for the interview process, please request accommodations by contacting us at [email protected].