Chief Operating Officer

Overview

Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Lake Ann, MI at Lake Ann Camp

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Company: Lake Ann Camp

Location: Lake Ann, MI

ABOUT LAKE ANN CAMP

Founded in 1948, Lake Ann Camp exists to challenge individuals in a group setting to make biblical, life-changing decisions through unique learning experiences. We serve the Church by creating environments where the Gospel is proclaimed boldly, and campers are invited to respond personally to the truth of God's Word.

Our vision is to annually impact 50,000 campers for Christ by maximizing resources, multiplying partnerships, and leveraging influence across everything we do.

At peak summer operation, we mobilize a staff of 250 to serve hundreds of campers across a full summer camp program, retreat season, and year-round guest group ministry. This is a dynamic, high-volume, spiritually serious operation,  and it requires leadership that can match that intensity.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Camp Director (COO) is responsible for the operational leadership of Lake Ann Camp, translating the Executive Director's vision into daily organizational reality. This person ensures that systems, staff, and execution are aligned so that every camper experience is distraction-free, spiritually focused, and operationally excellent.

This is a second-chair leadership role. The Executive Director sets vision, leads spiritually, and drives external relationships. The Camp Director owns the internal engine, building and maintaining the systems, culture, and accountability structures that make the ministry run.

The right person for this role thrives on execution. They are energized by complexity, grounded in faith, and genuinely fulfilled by making someone else's vision work at a high level.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

Wiring: Developer / Integrator

Leadership Style: Second-chair leader who excels at execution, systems-building, and harmonizing teams around a shared mission.

Reports to: Executive Director

Direct Reports: 4 department heads

Indirect Reports: 4 additional leaders who report first to the Executive Director

Peak Staff Oversight: 250 seasonal and year-round staff

CORE CONVICTIONS

A candidate for this role should be able to affirm each of the following without reservation:

1. A satisfied camper is not enough. Our campers must leave as Raving Fans:  transformed, not just pleased.
2. Raving Fans are the result of intentional systems that deliver consistent, remarkable service.
3. Operational excellence protects spiritual impact. When the operation breaks down, the ministry suffers.
4. Growth must never compromise quality.
5. Healthy teams require clarity, accountability, and honest communication.
6. Problems should be solved quickly, thoughtfully, and at the appropriate level.
7. Leading from the second chair is not a limitation; it’s a calling. This person joyfully supports the Executive Director's vision while demonstrating decisive leadership when the moment requires it.
   

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day camp operations across all departments, including a peak summer season managing 250 staff across a compressed, high-intensity program calendar
• Ensure strong communication and coordination between directors and department managers
• Maintain a distraction-free environment that allows campers to fully engage spiritually
• Serve as the operational authority during active camp sessions
• Maintain the master camp calendar to ensure organizational alignment across all departments and seasons

Systems & Quality Control

• Build, document, and manage operational systems that ensure consistent quality across every touchpoint of the camper and guest experience
• Identify inefficiencies and implement sustainable improvements
• Ensure existing programs and operations correspond with camp policies
• Design systems that scale as the camp grows toward its long-term vision of 50,000 annual camper impacts

Human Resources & Staff Development

• Lead the transition from paper-based HR processes to a documented, scalable HR infrastructure, including policies, performance systems, and compliance frameworks
• Support and coach department heads in leadership effectiveness and accountability
• Promote a healthy team culture grounded in the camp's core values
• Recruit and oversee summer waterfront and health office teams
• Manage seasonal hiring pipelines in coordination with department leads

Financial Stewardship

• Partner in the development and management of an operating budget in the $5–6 million range
• Ensure departments operate within approved budgets and understand their financial accountability
• Improve cost efficiency without diminishing ministry quality
• Strengthen financial accountability structures at the department level

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure camp accreditation, health standards, and safety protocols are current and enforced
• Oversee regulatory compliance, insurance coverage, and risk mitigation practices
• Manage the vehicle fleet system, including assignment, maintenance, and replacement planning

Executive Partnership

• Serve as a trusted operational advisor to the Executive Director
• Provide clear-eyed operational insight to inform strategic decisions
• Ensure alignment between organizational vision and organizational execution
• Protect the Executive Director's time and focus by owning the internal operation

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

There is no single background that produces the right person for this role. But there are markers we're paying attention to.

The strongest candidates will demonstrate:

• A mature, personal faith and a genuine love for Christian camping ministry
• Proven experience building or leading complex operations — ideally in a ministry, nonprofit, or high-volume service environment
• A track record of finishing things. Not just starting systems, but seeing them through to consistent execution.
• The ability to hold people accountable with clarity and care, including people who were there before you arrived
• Experience managing large seasonal workforces or similarly dynamic staffing models
• Comfort operating without a fully built infrastructure. This person will be building as much as they are managing
• Genuine enthusiasm for working under a visionary leader, contributing their best execution so that someone else's vision can reach its potential

SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS

This person must be a committed follower of Jesus Christ, in agreement with Lake Ann Camp's Statement of Faith, and actively engaged in a local church. Their faith should be lived, not performed. Evident in how they lead, how they handle conflict, and how they care for the people under their supervision.

TIME DISTRIBUTION

• 50% — Supervising and harmonizing staff
• 25% — Developing and maintaining operational systems
• 15% — On-site leadership presence
• 5% — Teaching and training staff
• 5% — Stakeholder relations

FIRST-YEAR PRIORITIES

In the first 12 months, we expect the Camp Director to:

• Build trusted working relationships with all direct and indirect reports
• Complete a full summer camp season as operational lead
• Conduct a systems audit across all departments and deliver a prioritized improvement plan
• Establish a functional HR infrastructure to replace current paper-based processes
• Demonstrate clear alignment with the Executive Director on vision, communication cadence, and decision-making authority

LOCATION

Lake Ann Camp is located in Lake Ann, Michigan, in the beautiful Grand Traverse region of northern Michigan. This is a full-time, on-site position. Relocation to the Lake Ann area is required. On-site housing is not provided.

TO APPLY

Applications are accepted through Lake Ann Camp's registration portal. We ask that candidates complete all application questions thoughtfully. They are designed to help us understand not just your experience, but how you lead, how you think, and why this role fits where God has you right now.

Lake Ann Camp is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. As a Christian ministry, we do require that all staff affirm our Statement of Faith and demonstrate an active Christian faith.