Guest Services Director

position and Site description:

Sound View Camp and Retreat Center is nestled in 100 acres of forest bordering Puget Sound, forty minutes from Gig Harbor, Washington. In addition to mature forest, the land contains trails, a teaching garden, farm animals, wetland, ravines, and a low-bank saltwater shoreline with its own lagoon. Sound View currently has an annual operating budget of about $500,000 and employs 4-5 year-round staff and 20-30 seasonal staff.

In January, 2026 ownership of the camp was transferred to a newly formed, secular, non-profit organization (Salish Sea View, doing business as Sound View Camp) from its previous owner, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Sound View is no longer religiously affiliated, but we look forward to continuing our relationship with all groups, religious and secular, that have previously enjoyed the land and its facilities.

Under the new ownership, the camp will recommit to its focus on outdoor environmental education for K-12 school groups, family camping and retreats, and youth summer camping programs. 

The Guest Services Director is a full-time, year-round position. Reporting to the Executive Director, the GSD will have lead responsibility for hosting partner organizations that will stay at camp and run a variety of programs other than outdoor environmental education (OEE). The GSD will also support our full-time OEE Director, who oversees environmental programs at camp. 

The GSD is required to live on-site and will sometimes be asked to perform on-call duties outside of normal working hours. Applicants who are unable to live on campus may be considered after discussion with the hiring committee.

Reports to: Executive Director. (The ED Position is vacant as of mid-January, 2026. Until a new ED begins, the GSD will report to the board chair.)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Offers a positive attitude and welcoming atmosphere for diverse guests of all ages. Goes above and beyond to provide hospitality.
• Identifies, recruits, and retains partner organizations seeking to use Sound View for their camps, retreats, and programs. This responsibility includes assistance choosing dates, selecting activities and lodging, and sending invoices.
• Meets annual revenue targets by booking guest groups and maximizing facility utilization throughout the year.
• Participates in staff meetings and leads them as needed.
• Recruits, interviews, trains, supervises and manages seasonal staff, Americorps teams, and other volunteers.
• Creates staff schedules.
• Assists with maintenance of American Camping Association standards.
• Maintains registration records of guests on site including allergy lists when camp provides food service.
• Conducts post-visit follow-up with partner organizations to gather feedback, strengthen relationships, and encourage rebooking.
• Ensures program areas and equipment are ready for partner organization use. Provides orientation and training on the use of camp resources including archery, arts and crafts, ropes course, waterfront, field games, and farm.
• Supervises upkeep of program areas, such as trails, supplies, orienteering courses, archery, ropes course, and Arts and Crafts room.
• Creates and distributes marketing materials (emails, flyers, posters) and updates SV social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram).
• Seeks and applies for grants for program support and landscape maintenance.
• Collaborates and partners with organizations that are current or potential future camp renters, for example by attending events and distributing marketing materials.
• Until Sound View identifies another organization that will oversee our traditional summer camping programs, the GSD will recruit campers for, then plan, create, facilitate and teach quality programming for summer campers.
• Plans and advertises other special non-school camps, possibly including family camps, spring break camps, holiday camps, work weekend volunteer camps, and winter camps.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 25 years old to meet ACA requirements as onsite director
• Bachelor’s degree in education, outdoor recreation, or other relevant field (or equivalent experience in education and outdoor recreation)
• Experience in a leadership position at a residential camp
• At least five years experience working with diverse groups of children and adults
• Experience in sales, business development, or revenue generation for a nonprofit or hospitality setting
• Strong organizational and management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication and collaboration skills
• Experience with marketing (making promotional materials) and communications (Facebook, Instagram, emails)
• Access to a car, as site has no access to public transportation, and some tasks will involve driving to events and meetings (gas mileage for work-related driving will be reimbursed)
• Ability to lift 40 pounds and walk ~five miles a day while camp is in session
• Current First Aid, CPR, and food handling certifications (can complete after hiring)
• Must be able to pass background check and participate in child safety trainings
• Must be able to comply with and maintain a smoke-free and drug-free camp environment

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in hospitality, conference services, or retreat center management
• Track record of meeting sales or revenue goals
• Specialized training and experience in lifeguarding, archery, boating, and/or ropes course facilitation
• Bilingual skills
• Familiarity with American Camp Association standards

Sound View Camp is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, age, political ideology, national or ethnic origin, disability, actual or perceived medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.