Chief Operating Officer/Camp Director

Deadline to apply: April 3rd, 2026

Stanford Sierra Camp & Conference Center (“Stanford Sierra Camp” or SSC) is a full-service conference center/alumni family camp located near the entrance of Desolation Wilderness at Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe, CA.  The property can house up to 300 guests and 95 staff, and offers a full range of recreational activities, meeting facilities, and food services.  General information on the Stanford Alumni Association - Sierra Programs is available at www.stanfordsierra.org and www.stanfordsierra.com.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Chief Operating Officer (COO)/Camp Director is responsible for the vision, strategic planning, and daily operations of Stanford Sierra Camp & Conference Center, which is owned by SAA Sierra Program, LLC. Reporting to the SAA Sierra Program LLC Board of Directors (LLC) and Stanford Alumni Association (SAA) Chief Financial Officer, the Camp Director provides strategic leadership, setting long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies. This position oversees all programming, alumni engagement, guest services, financial management, risk management, relations with guests, employees, and the Fallen Leaf community, as well as facilities and property operations, to ensure a safe, meaningful, and exceptional experience for both guests and staff.

The Camp Director supervises a robust leadership team including six direct reports: the Assistant Camp Director, Director of Facilities, Sales & Marketing Director, Human Resources Director, Food Services Director/Executive Chef, and Reservations Manager. In addition, the role oversees 20 managerial/supervisory team members and over 150 seasonal staff members each year between our spring/fall conference seasons and summer camp program. The role requires strong social-emotional skills, effective conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.

The role requires living on-site for three months each year during the summer season to provide hands-on leadership and ensure the camp's operational success. This position is highly visible, hands-on, and guest-facing, with a focus on cultivating a culture of excellence, teamwork, and safety across all departments.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Strategic Leadership 
  Provides overall leadership for Stanford Sierra Camp, directing all managers and staff across departments to deliver outstanding guest services, creating a positive workplace culture, upholding the highest standards for safety, and maintaining an attractive facility. Works effectively with the LLC Board of Directors, SAA leadership, and staff as a solution-oriented leader. Collaborates with the LLC Board and SAA’s executive team to set long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies, aligning with the mission and values of the organization. May develop multi-year business plans. Identifies and resolves strategic issues of substantial significance that affect the overall functioning of Stanford Sierra Camp. Makes decisions that establish objectives for the overall direction/operation of SSC. Oversees allocation of all resources.

• Financial Oversight 
  Responsible for the financial viability and success of SSC, including long-term planning. Creates annual budgets, setting summer and conference rates accordingly. Oversees all operating and departmental budgets, monitoring expenses and purchases throughout the year. Leads long-term financial and capital planning and ensures fiscal responsibility across all departments. Responsible for achieving revenue goals and meeting the annual donation amount set by and paid to SAA.

• Operational Responsibility
  Leads the design, implementation, and communication of effective growth strategies, operational procedures, processes, and personnel structures that support organizational objectives. Evaluates the effectiveness of the organizational structure and programs to ensure success, development of employees and appropriate use of staff resources. Advises university leadership on programmatic and policy development where relevant. May provide input to university leadership on institutional administrative policies and guidelines.

• Staffing & Employee Relations
  Oversees recruitment, hiring, and employee relations for managerial staff and seasonal summer camp and conference staff. May independently or in collaboration with Human Resources, guide supervisors in the interpretation and implementation of human resources policies, procedures and programs. Ensures equal opportunity hiring practices, setting the tone for professionalism and role modeling expectations. In partnership with Human Resources and/or the Assistant Camp Director, investigates employee relation issues, providing guidance and recommendations as needed to maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive community. Collaborates with Human Resources and SAA CFO to resolve sensitive or high-risk issues, ensuring legal compliance and risk management. The role is responsible for overseeing the unique and dynamic layers of employee housing.

• Team Leadership & Coaching
  Provides leadership and coaching to a high-performing team. Responsible for retaining staff, career coaching, professional development and accountable for the performance of direct reports and all SSC staff. Directly supervises operational managers, carrying out onboarding, training, performance appraisal, performance improvement plans, and corrective action in accordance with company policies. 

• Summer Program Management 
  Oversees the development of all summer camp programming, ensuring a fun, family-oriented atmosphere, emphasizing outdoor recreation, education, and inclusivity. Works closely with the Assistant Camp Director and Summer Staff Director to design engaging activities for all ages and interests, incorporating cultural awareness, environmental education, and social connection. Leads select summer programming classes based on the candidate's skill set. Maintains continual contact with summer guests to assess quality and satisfaction, adjusting and revising programming as needed. 

• Conference Program Management 
  Establishes high standards of professional service for all conference programming. Works closely with the Sales & Marketing Director and Conference Staff Director to ensure seamless logistics and a superior guest experience for conference groups. 

• Food Management
  Ensures successful food service operations for alumni summer camp and conference guests, as well as for Camp staff year-round. Works closely with the Food Services Director/Executive Chef to ensure excellent food quality and production, as well as efficiency in high-volume food preparation and high-end gourmet meal preparation. Monitors budget closely. 

• Guest Services & Alumni Relations
  Builds and maintains positive relationships on behalf of the organization with guests, alumni, business partners, stakeholders, residents of Fallen Leaf, and the general public. Address concerns, resolve issues, and cultivate positive relationships that strengthen the Camp’s reputation and alumni engagement. Develops strategic relations with alumni and business partners to foster continued engagement, growth, and philanthropy. 

• Facilities & Safety 
  Ensures that camp facilities remain safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing, meeting the expectations of both guests and staff. Takes immediate corrective action for any health or safety risks, working closely with the Director of Facilities and the maintenance team to resolve issues. Maintains responsibility for emergency response systems across Camp’s property. Serves as primary EMT, keeping EMT certification active. Works closely with Fallen Leaf Fire Department, ensuring safety inspections are met, and maintains a close partnership with the department. 

• Water Plant Management
  Oversee all aspects of water system management, including maintaining a water license, ensuring effective treatment and testing of the water, monitoring water quality, completing annual regulatory reporting, and meeting all code and enforcement requirements. Conducts routine inspections to verify compliance, coordinates with regulatory agencies as needed, pursues required continuing education, and ensures the delivery of safe, reliable, and potable water to the Camp community.

• Required travel to Stanford University up to four times a year for board meetings and other various leadership meetings.

• Performs other duties as assigned.