Director of Auxiliary Programs

About the role

Pomfret School seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and highly organized leader to serve as the inaugural Director of Auxiliary Programming. This critical leadership role is charged with designing, building, and executing a robust, profitable portfolio of year-round and seasonal auxiliary programs. The primary mandates are:

• Build a thriving summer program ecosystem, including residential and day camps, academic enrichment, arts, and athletic programs.
• Optimize the utilization of Pomfret's world-class facilities, managing all external rentals, events, conferences, and retreats during breaks and off-peak periods.

The Director will operate with high autonomy, turning strategic vision into operational reality. By maximizing non-tuition revenue and expanding Pomfret's brand reach, the role will play a key part in the long-term financial sustainability and community impact of the school.

Responsibilities

Program Development & Summer Camps

• Vision & Strategy: Design, launch, and scale a comprehensive summer program portfolio leveraging Pomfret’s academic, athletic, and artistic assets (day camps, overnight sports camps, STEM programs, creative arts workshops).
• Curriculum & Logistics: Develop engaging, safe, and mission-aligned curricula for youth of varying age groups. Manage schedules, field trips, daily operations, and transportation.
• Staffing & Leadership: Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise camp directors, counselors, medical staff, and support personnel. Cultivate a positive, high-energy culture.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all youth and summer programs strictly adhere to local, state (State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood), and federal youth camp licensing laws, health regulations, and industry-standard safety protocols.

Facility Rentals & Event Operations

• Sales & Business Development: Actively market Pomfret’s campus (dormitories, dining hall, athletic complexes, performing arts spaces, outdoor common areas) to external groups such as weddings, athletic leagues, corporate retreats, and educational workshops.
• Client Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for all external rental clients from inquiry to post-event wrap-up. Draft rental agreements, collect certificates of insurance (COI), and enforce campus guidelines.
• Internal Coordination: Partner closely with Facilities/Operations, Event Manager, Dining Services, IT, and Athletics to ensure seamless operational support, staffing, and facility turnover. Minimize conflicts with the academic year calendar.

Marketing, Finance, & Administration

• Financial Performance: Assume full P&L responsibility for all auxiliary initiatives. Develop annual operating budgets, manage expenses, and project revenue targets.
• Marketing & Recruitment: Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing department to build a strong digital presence for auxiliary programs. Execute targeted campaigns across social media, local directories, and direct mail to drive camper registration and rental inquiries.
• Administrative Oversight: Select and manage software platforms for camp registration, billing, and rental scheduling. Handle contracts, customer service inquiries, and billing/refund management.
• Metrics & Evaluation: Gather feedback, track enrollment data, and deliver detailed financial and operational reports to school leadership annually.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or coursework in business administration, sports management, education, or hospitality is a plus.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in camp administration, event planning, hospitality, or auxiliary program management (preferably in an independent school or higher education setting). Demonstrated experience in staff recruitment, training, and supervision. Proven track record of generating non-tuition revenue and managing complex budgets.
• Technical Skills: Experience with camp management systems (e.g., CampBrain, Active Network), facility scheduling software, CRM tools, and basic digital marketing platforms.
• Interpersonal Skills: An entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, self-starting work ethic. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to build positive relationships with parents, clients, internal departments, and community partners. Strong crisis management skills and the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure. Deep alignment with the values, community standards, and educational mission of Pomfret School.

Schedule

• Year-Round Presence: On-site year-round presence is expected to build internal community relations.
• Summer Requirement: The Director must be physically present on campus during the peak summer programming season (typically mid-June through August) to oversee operations, ensure safety, and manage active programs.
• Schedule Flexibility: This position requires significant evening and weekend hours during active rental events and peak summer camp weeks.

Benefits

• On-Campus Housing: Pomfret School will provide on-campus housing during the summer months to support the summer residency requirement.

Physical Demands

The position requires the ability to move across a large, hilly campus terrain, stand for extended periods, and occasionally lift/move equipment up to 30 lbs.

Start Date

Pomfret is targeting a start date of October 2026 for this position. The School recognizes that the ideal candidate may have existing professional commitments and is willing to accommodate reasonable flexibility in the start date.

About Pomfret School

Founded in 1894, Pomfret School is a premier independent boarding and day school serving students in grades 9 through 12 and postgraduates. Set on a beautiful 500-acre campus in the heart of Connecticut's "Quiet Corner"—and conveniently located between Boston, Hartford, and Providence—Pomfret provides an innovative, holistic educational experience. We pride ourselves on our vibrant, inclusive community, where deep connections and authentic relationships thrive. We seek passionate, dedicated professionals who are eager to engage in the life of the school, both inside and outside the classroom, and who are committed to preparing students to lead lives of meaning and purpose.