Camp Manager

Location: AMC Cold River Camp, Chatham NH 

Seasons: Camp runs late-June through late-August with manager duties falling outside that window. 

Reports to: Cold River Camp Committee Chairperson  

Summary Description: Cold River Camp has been a seasonal Appalachian Mountain Club hiking camp since 1919 – in 2019 we are celebrating our Centennial! Camp is located in the lovely and quiet Evans Notch area of the White Mountain National Forest, which remains noncommercial and offers an excellent range of outdoor recreational opportunities.  

The typical routine for summer guests is to spend a full week at Camp and stay in one of the more than 20 cabins. Breakfasts and dinners are served family style in the main lodge. Central washrooms provide hot and cold running water and electricity. Guests may go on hikes led by official hike leaders and naturalists, or they may plan their own outings. In the evenings activities such as talent shows, square dancing, sing-alongs, ranger talks and slide shows are offered in the recreation hall. A full Camp is about 68 guests. To get a better sense of Cold River Camp, visit https://amccoldrivercamp.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/AMCColdRiverCamp/.  

The manager’s primary responsibility is to manage the day-to-day operation of the Camp with and through the other seasonal hired staff, while maintaining a welcoming, friendly and safe atmosphere for all guests and staff. The manager interacts a lot with guests as well as the other staff.  

Summer Season (~ 80% of the effort): The manager works on-site for the start-up week and then nine full-service weeks hosting guests. Off season (~ 20% of the effort): Besides hiring/rehiring staff and other early prep work for the summer season, the manager is encouraged to attend Camp Committee meetings (face-to-face biannually, conference calls bimonthly).  

Cold River Camp and its seasonal staff are supported by a dedicated volunteer committee that provides management and operational oversight.   

Past managers have been either a husband/wife team as co-managers, sometimes with children, or a single person. The average manager tenure over the last 21 years has been about 8 years – the managers are invested in the mission of the Camp and find it a rewarding experience, and continuity in the position is highly valued.   

Salary for the manager position commensurate with experience starts at about $13,000 per year. Manager’s quarters and board are provided. The manager is entitled to weekly ‘days off’ (during which the assistant manager remains in Camp).  

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Hires, trains, motivates and supervises staff. Prepares specific job descriptions for all staff to be used in hiring and measuring performance. Schedules work. Besides manager, the staff generally includes an assistant manager, experienced chef, prep cook, and an eight-person crew, and sometimes has also included a baker and a maintenance chief. The crew is usually made of up college-age US and international students. Follows all AMC personnel/payroll guidelines. 
2. Interacts with guests to make their experience safe and pleasant. Greets arriving guests. Treats guests in a gracious and hospitable manner. Serves as host/hostess of the Camp. Maintains a positive relationship with and toward guests at all times. Responsible for needs, safety and Camp experience of guests. The work of running the Camp should be unobtrusive to and free of pressure upon guests. 
3. Manages Camp operations. Manager is the Chief Operating Officer of Camp. Responsible for day to day operations during Camp season as well as the start-up and termination of utility services and the scheduling of any required health and safety inspections. 
4. Responsible for the overall food service which includes working with the chef and baker in the planning, ordering, budgeting, preparation and serving of meals. 
5. Responsible for the overall maintenance of the Camp (buildings, facilities and grounds). Managers are the Committee's "on the ground" representatives to oversee the long-term stewardship of the facility, especially when it comes to infrastructural needs which includes keeping a comprehensive log of all required and completed maintenance for the buildings and facilities. Reflects environmental ethics. Works with volunteers and contractors. 
6. Handles finances. Works with Camp treasurer, prepares guest bills, collects fees, performs payroll, maintains petty cash account, keeps books, and helps prepare and control budgets. Keeps necessary inventories at Camp. 
7. Works effectively with the entire volunteer support organization as well as the AMC support staff. This includes communication throughout the year, and especially with the Committee, to attend in a timely way to planning and implementation to address Camp maintenance, capital improvement and other needs. 
8. Others tasks involving the management and operation of Camp as may be reasonably required by the Chair and the Committee, all in accordance with the seasonal and annual budgets established by the Committee. Including providing interim and final reports (the latter a written report in the fall) to the Cold River Camp Committee Chair and making such recommendations for improvements in Camp policies and procedures as you deem useful.   

Qualifications and Experience: Strong interpersonal and networking skills. Experience in camp management or similar situation. Ability to supervise young adults in a live-in environment. Experience in or understanding of hospitality, food service and maintenance is a big plus. Ability to deal with people from a variety of backgrounds. Adaptability and resourcefulness. Willingness to work hard. Diplomatic skills with sense of humor. Leadership. Integrity. 

Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, sit, bend at waist, carry up to 30 pounds, lift up to 20 pounds from floor level to waist level, and operate food service and housekeeping appliances. The manager will need to be able to climb stairs, walk uneven terrain among facilities spread around the property, and handle temperature extremes in this rustic setting.  

To Apply: Now accepting applications! Please include your resume and a cover letter when applying.  

The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility which serves children, disabled persons or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.  

The AMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace. The AMC encourages the involvement of all people in its mission and activities, through its membership, programs, policies and procedures. Our goal is to be a community that is comfortable, inviting and accessible for people of any age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Join us!