Seasonal Camp Director (Chicago, IL)

At Science Factory Camp, kids unleash their inner mad scientist in a glorious mix of science, art, and innovation. Campers ages 6–12 dive into hands-on projects adults would never allow at home—messy experiments, bold builds, and creative chaos that spark real learning. Each week brings a new theme—space, animals, ocean, and more—anchored by activities that blend science with art and imagination. Whether kids are mixing potions, modeling solar systems, or pulling off engineering feats, everything connects back to the week’s big idea. With intentionally low screen time, kids learn through trial and error, embrace the mess, and build confidence as they create, destroy, and explore.

As a Seasonal Camp Director, you’ll help create the environment that makes this possible—leading a team, supporting families, and ensuring camp runs smoothly while staying grounded in creativity, play, and meaningful connection. This role offers the opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills while doing work that feels both impactful and fun.

Our summer program runs 8–11 weeks from June through August, with training beginning in April. During the pre-season, you’ll receive hands-on training and gradually take on increasing responsibility, building confidence across all areas of camp operations. By the time summer begins, you’ll be prepared to lead the full camp experience day-to-day.

This position is onsite.

This role is intended to be part time (10-20 hours / week) from January through May and full-time June through August when camp is in session.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Shares responsibility for all stages of the employee life cycle for seasonal teams of up to 30.

• Acts as an on-site manager responsible for all facets of a day camp that runs 8 - 11 weeks, with an average of 150 campers (or more) per day, generating 6 -7 figure revenue.

• When issues come up at camp, handles crises, emergencies, behavioral and medical responses as needed.

• Manages customer contact for their programs, including responding to email and phone inquiries in a timely manner. Also providing exceptional customer service and handling sensitive and escalated matters for hundreds of prospective and attending camp families.

• With support, the director ensures implementation of company, city, and state-required policies for camps and/or childcare facilities as applicable to their locality.

• Manages a six-figure budget for personnel, food, and programming needs.

• Oversees all logistics and inventory management functions for hundreds of items valued in excess of six-figures, which are needed to run camp programs.

• Manages relationships with the host school that rents out the facility where our camp runs; also responsible for overseeing janitorial arrangements, security and site planning to ensure sanitary, safe, and smooth operations.

Minimum Requirements

• At least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED required

• Bachelors Degree preferred

• Directors must have at least two seasons of camp supervisory experience. An equivalent combination of experience working in a child care or education setting for at least one year coupled with supervisory experience will be considered to satisfy this requirement.

Preferred Requirements

• Past management or leadership experience is required; experience hiring and managing teams of 5 or more is preferred

• During camp programs, Director is expected to be on-site. When camps are not in session, most planning work can be done remotely.

• On-site management at camp can be physically demanding, with extended periods of time on your feet, outside and occasional activity requiring physical exertion.

Salary/Hourly Rate and Other Compensation Disclosures:

The annual starting salary for this position is $1,200.00 - $1,475.85 per week. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.

Life at Bright Horizons:

At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference . Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in completing these application materials or any aspect of the application and hiring process, please contact the recruitment helpdesk at 855-877-6866 or [email protected]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.