The Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF), which operates Camp Rising Sun (CRS) and The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE), seeks a strategic and values-driven Director of Programs to lead and strengthen LAJF’s portfolio of in-person and virtual leadership-development programs for a global community of young leaders.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the Director of Programs will lead program design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement across LAJF’s core program areas, including Camp Rising Sun, TELE, and Young Alumni programming. The Director will supervise the Camp Director and a year-round program team of three staff members, in addition to seasonal program staff and facilitators.
This individual will supervise program staff and seasonal leadership, strengthen program systems and staff development practices, and ensure LAJF’s programs are safe, inclusive, and aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. The Director will also play an important role in shaping LAJF’s next phase of program evolution as the organization enters a new strategic planning cycle.
About Us
The Louis August Jonas Foundation operates two leadership programs for young people: Camp Rising Sun (CRS) and The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE). Both programs bring together participants from countries around the world and focus on developing compassionate and responsible leadership through experiential learning, dialogue, and cross-cultural exchange.
Camp Rising Sun (CRS)
Camp Rising Sun is a 95-year-old experiential leadership program that welcomes participants on a full scholarship to Rhinebeck, New York. Each summer, approximately 130 participants from more than 30 countries attend CRS for four weeks of leadership development, cultural exchange, and collaborative learning.
The program is delivered by a year-round program team of three staff members and a seasonal staff of approximately 25–30 educators and facilitators, all under the leadership of the Director of Programs.
The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE)
TELE is a transformative two-week online program that brings together 80-120 teenagers from more than 30 countries to learn, lead, and build real friendships across borders. Participants design and teach their own workshops, collaborate on creative projects with peers from completely different parts of the world, and spend two weeks asking big questions about justice, change, and what it means to lead with integrity. TELE is a self-sustaining program started in 2020 that operates on a pay what you can sliding scale basis. TELE is delivered by a seasonal lead coordinator and facilitator and 2-3 seasonal facilitators, all under the leadership of the Director of Programs. The outgoing Director of Programs will continue to offer support to this program as it grows.
Following their participation, CRS and TELE alumni remain connected to LAJF through lifelong educational and professional networks grounded in shared values of ethical leadership and global responsibility. This lifelong commitment is vitally supported by the Recent Camper Network program, which is also part of the program portfolio under the DOP.
Having recently completed a strategic planning cycle that strengthened our program ecosystem, LAJF is now entering a new phase of program growth and evolution. This includes deeper alumni engagement, expanded year-round programming, and continued refinement of our leadership development models.
Job Duties
Strategic Program Leadership & Oversight
- Contribute to setting and executing the strategic direction for LAJF’s program portfolio
- Identify opportunities to strengthen program impact, participant experience, and mission alignment
- Maintain and improve scalable systems that support program growth while maintaining program quality
- Cultivate relationships with educators, facilitators, and mission-aligned partners
- Represent the Program Team in leadership meetings, board discussions, and organizational events
Program Design, Implementation & Evaluation
- Oversee program planning, curriculum design, and delivery for CRS, TELE, and Young Alumni programming
- Strengthen program evaluation tools and use quantitative and qualitative feedback to inform continuous improvement
- Design and implement evidence-based program enhancements and innovations
- Maintain and improve program documentation and materials that support consistent, high-quality delivery
- Ensure program activities are inclusive and accessible to participants from diverse backgrounds
TELE Program Oversight & Facilitator Management:
- Recruit, train, and support TELE facilitators, building on an existing facilitator team
- Participate in TELE programming sessions
- Lead reflection and evaluation processes that strengthen the program year over year
Team Leadership, Hiring & Development
- Supervise and support a year-round program team of three staff members — the Camp Director and two Program Coordinators
- Provide ongoing support and supervision to the Camp Director during the summer program cycle
- Lead hiring processes for program staff and facilitators as needed, including onboarding and training for new team members
- Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and professional development to program staff
- Strengthen staff onboarding, training systems, and program documentation
- Manage program planning workflows using project management and communication tools
Participant Safety & Wellbeing
- Partner with the Camp Director to maintain strong safety systems for residential and year-round programming
- Support staff training in adolescent development, mental health, and inclusive community practices
- Provide coaching and guidance as staff implement program interventions and participant support strategies
Program Budgeting & Operational Planning
Working closely with the Director of Operations, the Director of Programs will:
- Develop and manage program budgets, ensuring that program plans align with available resources and that programs operate within approved budgets
- Support operational planning and staffing models
- Contribute to program forecasting, planning, and decision-making
Board and Committee Partnership
- Liaise with the Program Committee and Strategic Planning Committee
- Prepare program reports and updates for Board meetings
- Participate in Finance & Investment Committee meetings when appropriate
Communications & Program Storytelling
- Collaborate with the communications function to highlight program impact
- Contribute content for newsletters and program updates
- Support development of messaging related to programs and participant experiences
What Success Looks Like In This Role
During the first year in this role, the Director of Programs will:
- Build strong relationships with the program team and seasonal staff leadership
- Support the successful delivery of CRS and TELE programming
- Strengthen systems for program planning, evaluation, and staff training
- Identify opportunities to improve program impact and participant experience
- Contribute to the organization’s next strategic planning cycle
Required Candidate Qualifications
- Passion for LAJF’s mission, history, and future plans and a commitment to youth leadership development
- 8–10 years of progressive experience in youth development, education, experiential learning, camp leadership, or nonprofit program leadership
- Experience supervising staff, including year-round or seasonal teams
- Demonstrated ability to build systems, workflows, and consistent program delivery across multiple programs
- Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across teams
- Experience with program evaluation and continuous improvement practices
- Strong cross-cultural competence and experience working with diverse and international communities
- Strong written and interpersonal communication skills
- Familiarity with youth protection practices and residential program safety
- Willingness to complete background checks and required youth protection training
- Ability to travel and work on-site during key program periods
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree preferred
- Proficiency with Google Workspace and common program management tools
Personal Qualities
- Experience working in international and intercultural environments and a commitment to ethical leadership practices
- Positive and personable, with a warm, steady, mission-centered leadership style
- Self-motivated and entrepreneurial
- Comfortable making decisions and leading through ambiguity
- High integrity and strong judgment, with the ability to navigate sensitive interpersonal dynamics
- Collaborative and low-ego, able to partner effectively across teams
- Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic organizational environment
- Creative and strategic thinker
- Committed to fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and mutual respect
- Appreciation for diverse communities inclusive of staff, participants, alumni, and partners from many backgrounds
Commitment to Diversity
We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us achieve our best organizational outcomes. As an equal opportunity employer, LAJF provides employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
We value diversity and actively strive to build an inclusive applicant pool through a thoughtful hiring process, which includes a diverse hiring committee, carefully designed interview questions, and mindfulness of unconscious biases. In addition, we are committed to inclusive fundraising that respects and reflects the diversity of our global alumni and donor community, ensuring that our advancement practices align with our mission and values.
Schedule and Location
This opportunity is open to applicants eligible to work in the United States who live (or are willing to live) near New York City or the Town of Clinton, NY (near Rhinebeck). LAJF operates as a hybrid workplace, with expectations to work in person in NYC or Clinton approximately 2–3 days per week, in addition to quarterly staff retreats at Camp Rising Sun.
The Director of Programs is expected to play a leadership role during staff training and maintain an evaluative presence during the summer. This includes being on campus for most of staff training and for at least one week during each Camp Rising Sun session. During periods when the Director is required on campus (such as staff training or retreats), they are expected, when feasible, to stay on-site with staff to fully participate in and support program operations and team development.
Because LAJF’s community spans multiple time zones, occasional evening and weekend meetings may be required. Staff are encouraged to flex their schedules to accommodate these needs.
Compensation Package
$90,000–$100,000 annually, commensurate with experience, plus a full benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, a 401(k) retirement plan, and support for professional development opportunities, such as continuing education and certification programs (e.g., CFRE).
Target Date: May 2026
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- Evenings as needed
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Ability to Commute:
- Rhinebeck, NY 12572 (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Rhinebeck, NY 12572
