Executive Director – William Lawrence Camp

The Opportunity

Founded in 1913 and located in Center Tuftonboro, New Hampshire, William Lawrence Camp is among the oldest residential summer camps for boys in the United States. With views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains, William Lawrence provides boys the opportunity to build character and develop lasting relationships in a natural setting. Most of the activities at William Lawrence are conducted outdoors, and access to technology is extremely limited, and intentionally so. The camp is loved and celebrated for providing an experience that helps boys grow throughout the life cycle of involvement with the camp, including as counselors, alumni, parents and family members to campers, and volunteers.

To learn more about William Lawrence Camp, please visit www.wlcamp.org

The camp seeks an energetic, mission-aligned leader who will ensure that the impact the camp has on the lives of its campers, staff, and families remains deep and sustainable. The successful candidate will lead an organization with a 250 acre physical plant, a dedicated staff, and new board leadership. William Lawrence’s alumni and families are strong advocates for the camp and its mission. In partnership with the Board of Trustees, the executive director will ensure the camp has healthy enrollment, a well-trained and enthusiastic staff, and a strategic vision that honors the camp’s traditions and mission while embracing future opportunities.

William Lawrence Camp is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The camp enjoyed consistent leadership for more than two decades. This year it is under interim leadership. This transition and search process intends to engage a future leader as soon as October 2026. The next executive director will evolve the camp’s organizational structure and its general business functions to improve administrative efficiencies and to continue delivering on its promise to families. While it enjoys a strong following among its community, drawing campers from across the country and around the world, there is an opportunity for the camp to build its brand and communicate its value proposition in a more strategic fashion to both its current constituents and a wider audience.

The Position

Reporting to the Board of Trustees of William Lawrence Camp, the executive director is responsible for all aspects of William Lawrence Camp’s operation and the quality of the camp experience. In addition to maintaining a safe, positive, healthy environment, the role’s primary areas of focus are: (1) camper recruitment and family engagement, (2) attracting and retaining qualified staff, (3) direct oversight of the program, (4) financial management, (5) strategic planning and fundraising. This position is a full-time, year-round position with a summer residence on the camp property.

The executive director will also help provide greater definition to the executive’s role itself as the relationship between the board of trustees and the executive director position continues to evolve, specifically in the areas of strategic vision, long term financial planning, and philanthropic investment. In partnership with the Board of Trustees, the next executive director will be deeply involved in providing strategic visioning and fundraising leadership in accordance with best practices in nonprofit management and governance.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will be an exceptional relationship builder and communicator who embraces the mission, values, and traditions of William Lawrence Camp. The executive director must demonstrate the ability to listen, build consensus, and provide strategic vision as the camp looks to the future. The executive director must understand and appreciate the importance of the traditions and history of the camp. Moreover, it is essential that the executive director be able to articulate in a genuine and convincing way the value of an all-boys’ summer camp to prospective families. Simultaneously, the successful candidate must be attuned to the evolving needs of families, the pressures on and expectations of adolescent and young adult staff, and the economic realities facing residential summer camps. Partnering effectively with the board of trustees, the next leader of William Lawrence Camp will demonstrate a business mindset while placing the mission at the center of decision-making.

The successful candidate will enjoy variety in their work but always be keenly focused on the main driver of the camp’s success: recruiting mission-aligned families, maintaining a healthy enrollment, and attracting talented staff each year. The executive director will bring a learning mindset to the work, have a love of the outdoors, and appreciate the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of boys

Essential Duties

Camper and Family Experience

• Develop, implement, and lead effective strategies for recruiting and retaining campers and their families
• Establish and maintain open communication with parents and campers
• Address inquiries, concerns, and feedback in a timely and professional manner Staff Recruitment and Retention
• Attract, develop, and retain qualified and passionate staff members for various camp positions
• Reimagine the senior leadership team and establish an organizational structure that clarifies roles and responsibilities, aligns talent with needs at all levels of the organization, and facilitates communication, enables leadership development, and reinforces accountability
• Establish a professional development program and long-range succession plan for key program areas where loss of expertise and institutional knowledge represents risk to the quality of the program as well as camper and staff retention

Marketing and Outreach

• Create and execute marketing campaigns to promote the camp and increase enrollment and maximize revenue.
• Establish an annual communication plan to engage and inform the William Lawrence community and to support events and fundraising efforts
• Participate in relevant community and industry professional organizations, including ACA National, ACA New England, MYCA, Chamber of Commerce, etc.

Program Management and Operational Oversight

• Collaborate with summer camp leaders and staff to design, plan, and oversee a diverse range of engaging and active camp programs
• Ensure that the camp’s activities align with its mission and values
• Foster a positive, joyful and inclusive camp culture that prioritizes safety, fun and well-being
• Identify, empower, and manage the summer leadership team whose responsibilities include the day-to-day summer camp operations, including scheduling, logistics, dining service, travel, and administrative tasks
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and safety standards
• Implement and enforce camp policies to create a secure and supportive environment
• Address and resolve any issues or challenges that will arise during the summer season

Financial and Risk Management:

• Work closely with the board Treasurer to develop and manage the camp’s budget and forecasting
• Monitor expenses, revenue, and annual performance with special attention to summer operations
• Serve as the main point of contact for all key vendor relationships, including the camp’s banking and accounting partners, risk management advisers, and legal counsel
• Ensure that the camp complies with all American Camp Association (ACA) standards, maintains its ACA accreditation, and incorporates best practices in its operations.

Strategic Planning and Fundraising

• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to identify the strategic priorities of the camp that require philanthropic investment
• Articulate the case for support and help cultivate relationships with key stakeholders
• Define annual fundraising goals that support operations and the infrastructure to support those efforts

Qualifications and Experience:

• 10+years experience and a track record of success in a relevant field and/or non-profit setting (education, camping, recreation, youth development)
• Ability to identify with and embrace the mission of William Lawrence Camp
• Strong leadership, organizational and communication skills
• Demonstrated experience managing complex teams of seasonal staff with a range of abilities, skills, personal maturity, and work experience, including: teenagers, college students, international staff, educational professionals, and retirees/volunteers
• A business mindset: financial acumen, experience building and managing to a budget, strong customer service and sales orientation
• Experience with or willingness to participate in philanthropic fundraising
• Comfort with technology, including: CampMinder or related camper information systems, email marketing platforms, website, and social media

Personal Attributes

• Warm personality and great personal energy
• Exceptional communication and listening skills
• Personal integrity and honesty
• Personal and professional maturity
• Empathy and kindness
• Courage and patience
• A positive attitude and an optimistic outlook
• A sense of humor
• A learning mindset
• A love of the outdoors

William Lawrence Camp does not discriminate based on gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any characteristic that is legally protected under applicable local, state, or federal law. This nondiscrimination policy includes but is not limited to admission, financial aid, educational programs, athletics, and employment.

Interested candidates, please contact Narwhal Talent Partners by voice, text, or email:

Peter G. Hamilton | (617) 620-9268

Christian G. Henry | (857) 285-3364

search@narwhaltalent.com

All inquiries are treated as confidential.

Additional Comments/Information:

Through a fun, active outdoor program, in a camp family atmosphere with positive role models, William Lawrence Camp encourages the intellectual, social-emotional, and physical development of the whole boy in a caring, nurturing, spirited, challenging, yet safe environment. While allowing a kid to be a kid, the camp seeks to enhance positive values and skill development leading to a productive and responsible adulthood. – The Camp Mission

Requirements:

SEE DESCRIPTION ABOVE

Suggested Experience:

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Details

Company: William Lawrence Camp

Location: Center Tuftonboro, NH

ACA Accredited: Yes

Time Frame: Year Round

Type of Position: Director

Day or Night: Overnight

Salary: Not Specified

Application Deadline: 9/4/2026