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 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: Market Pomfret’s campus (dormitories, dining hall, athletic complexes, performing arts spaces, outdoor areas) to external groups such as weddings, athletic leagues, corporate retreats, and educational workshops.
• Client Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for 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 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 Communications and Marketing to build a strong digital presence. 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: 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 ability to remain calm under pressure. Deep alignment with Pomfret School’s values, community standards, and educational mission.

Schedule

• Year-Round Presence: On-site year-round to build internal community relations.
• Summer Requirement: Must be physically present on campus during peak summer programming season (typically mid-June through August) to oversee operations, ensure safety, and manage active programs.
• Schedule Flexibility: Significant evening and weekend hours required during active rental events and peak summer camp weeks.

Benefits

• On-Campus Housing: Provided during the summer months to support residency requirements.

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.

About Pomfret School

Pomfret School is an independent coeducational college preparatory boarding and day school for 355 students in grades 9 through 12 and postgraduates. Set on a 500-acre campus in Northeastern Connecticut, Pomfret offers a challenging and rewarding experience for students from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Through an engaging process of learning and leading, a commitment to service beyond self, and numerous opportunities for personal growth in academic, athletic, artistic, and residential settings, students emerge as ethical and active citizens of the world.