Executive Director, Camp Gilboa

Join to apply for the Executive Director, Camp Gilboa role at Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa

Compensation: $100,000 to $150,000 + Benefits

Camp Gilboa is a progressive Jewish overnight summer camp and year‑round community based in California. Gilboa creates vibrant Jewish life for campers through programs that ignite passion for justice, foster critical thinking, and empower youth to be active in their communities. Gilboa’s youth‑led model mirrors the kibbutz environment, where both campers and counselors take ownership of camp activities and nurture an inclusive, social‑justice‑oriented community.

This unique model is brought to life through experiential learning, thoughtful mentorship, and the trust and support of alumni, parents, and the greater community.

Gilboa’s campsite is located up in the mountains near Big Bear Lake and its year‑round community is active in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. Gilboa serves children ages 7-18 and is home to 200 campers and 60 staff each summer. Gilboa is one of six summer camps in the U.S. and Canada that are part of Habonim Dror North America, a youth movement with a legacy in the progressive labor Zionist community.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) serves as the strategic and community leader of Camp Gilboa, guiding its year‑round and summer community with vision, passion, and care. This role blends mentorship, nonprofit management, and movement‑building, while balancing Gilboa’s unique model with the realities of running a modern summer camp.

The ED nurtures a culture of youth mentorship, safety, and belonging while strengthening the systems that sustain camp for the future. With the help of two full‑time Assistant Directors, a year‑round part‑time staff, and ~60 summer staff, the Executive Director oversees all operational and administrative functions of the organization, including budgeting, compliance, facilities, and strategic planning.

In addition, the ED leads Gilboa’s fundraising and development strategy in collaboration with the Board, building meaningful relationships with alumni, families, and donors to sustain and grow Gilboa’s impact for years to come.

This position requires living onsite at camp in Big Bear, CA during the summer and is hybrid (3 days / week) off‑season at the J Los Angeles (Formerly Westside JCC). Compensation is $100,000 to $150,000 plus healthcare and retirement benefits.

• Partner with youth leaders to co‑create programs, manage camp operations, and create experiences that infuse joy, community, and justice into the camp and year‑round life.
• Mentor staff and campers through reflection and meaningful connection. Coach youth leadership by setting expectations, providing feedback, and supporting their decision‑making and leadership development.
• Build a culture of accountability that is firm yet kind, balancing structure with the freedom youth people need to lead, learn, and grow.
• Hold space for dialogue and lean into difficult conversations, using challenges as opportunities to learn and strengthen community.
• Be a storyteller by connecting the community to Gilboa’s history, purpose, and direction in ways that inspire action and belonging.

• Design and execute an annual fundraising goal of $200k and oversee raising $1.6M of the current $3.8M capital campaign, which is Phase 1 of a multi‑phase Master Plan.
• Expand Gilboa’s donor base to new mission‑aligned donors and build a consistent donor engagement strategy that includes regular updates, inclusive touchpoints, and routine communication.
• Be a storyteller to inspire a culture of giving, helping the community see themselves as investors in Gilboa’s future.
• Oversee grants, and initiate new partnerships, programs, and other opportunities in Jewish and social justice‑oriented communities in California to support Gilboa’s growth and impact.

• Oversee year‑round operations, including HR, payroll, vendors, contracts, taxes, and compliance.
• Lead annual planning and budgeting in partnership with the bookkeeper, Finance Committee, and…