General Director

GENERAL DIRECTOR
Career Opportunity

February 2022, 2022 InterVarsity Pioneer Ontario General Director Job Description

About InterVarsity

InterVarsity staff walk alongside and support young people from childhood through to young adulthood. We do this in a
variety of ways: by welcoming them to spend significant time at our camps and by helping them establish communities of
faith with their high school, colleges, universities and workplace peers. We are especially interested in helping young
people navigate significant transitions in life: from high school to college and university, and from there into workplaces.

The nature of our ministries – camps, campus and workplace – provides an incredible opportunity for us to walk alongside
youth through key transitions in life. Our ministries, which span camp, campus and workplace, allow us to meet the needs
of young people by connecting with them both in structured school and work environments and in the wildness of creation
at camp.

InterVarsity has articulated five aims for everyone engaged in our ministries:

• Discover Jesus. This reflects our commitment to evangelism. We are unashamed of the gospel. We help young

people discover Jesus in the Bible, in creation, in community. Culture continues to evolve but the good news of
Jesus centred on the cross, resurrection and future return of Jesus does not change.

• Nurture an Undivided Life. This captures our commitment to whole-life discipleship. The earth is the Lord’s and

everything in it and the Bible has application to every area of life. Following Jesus is an all-encompassing call that
includes relationships, studies, work, money and leisure.

• Foster Engaged Thinking. This reflects our commitment to Christian thinking. We are transformed through the

renewing of our minds. It is vital that we engage with universities as centres of teaching, research and
consideration of ideas. We help young people relate faith to culture and integrate faith with studies. Post-graduate
study and teaching are missionary callings.

• Foster Global Vision. This speaks to our commitment to the worldwide mission of the church. We are a founding

member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students where we continue to contribute and partner in
global initiatives. We show hospitality to international students. We pray for and actively pursue social justice,
reconciliation between peoples and solutions to global issues

• Grow in Influence. This affirms our commitment to leadership development. We invest in student leaders at camp,

in high school and university and as they enter the workforce. We provide training, support and mentorship,
encouraging young people to explore God’s calling and to be salt and light at home, at work and play.

2

About Pioneer Camp Ontario

Pioneer Camp Ontario was InterVarsity’s very first camp and was founded in 1929 primarily as a place where university
students could grow in discipleship and leadership by staffing summer camps for high school students. In its first summer of
operation on Doe Lake, high school students committed their lives to Jesus as they lived in community and creation,
engaged in Bible studies and learned a wide range of skills, from canoeing to leading devotionals. These foundational
activities remain key to our camp, even as it has grown to a year-round ministry facility now occupying 1,200 acres around
Clearwater Lake, near Port Sydney, Muskoka, Ontario. We remain committed to helping young people grow in discipleship
and leadership by inviting them to serve campers who now range in age from 5 to 17.

Ontario Pioneer has distinct and unique summer camps and programs:

• Adventure Camp, ages 5-10
• Girls Camp, ages 11-16
• Boys Camp, ages 11-16
• Co-ed Teen camps, ages 13-17
• Special Needs Program, ages 5-15 are integrated throughout all our camps
• Work Program, for ages 18+ with special needs to serve on staff
• Leaders-in-Training Program, ages 15-17, with onsite staff placements
• Muskoka Family Getaways
  

Throughout the year, we also offer:

• LEAD gap year program, for ages 18-24
• Women’s Ministry events
• Radiate Youth retreats
• Elevate Young Adult retreats
• Mother/Daughter, Father/Son and Family weekends
  

In the fall, winter and spring, the camp hosts a wide range of guests who rent our facilities and take advantage of our
programming for school, church and other groups.

At Pioneer Camp, our key motivation springs from a deep desire to help children and youth grow spiritually, mentally,
socially and physically in a fun-filled and safe place of adventure and challenge. As a Christian camp, everything we do is
based on our Biblical convictions about our relationship to God and with one another. We respect the dignity of every
person, desire their best and commit to doing our best to help them know they are loved and cared for by God.

During the summer, our staff team expands to close to 1,000 staff and volunteers as we welcome and serve up to 2,500
campers. In the fall, winter and spring we host 10,000-15,000 participants and guests through our own programs and rental
groups.

The camp is located on Clearwater Lake, near Port Sydney, Ontario. Housing for the General Director is provided on site.

3

About the General Director Role

We are seeking a General Director who:

• Is passionate about helping people of all ages discover Jesus and grow as disciples.
• Is a people developer, keen to see others thrive as they grow in their God-given gifts and abilities.
• Leads a team of leaders characterized by high commitment and high capacity as they steward the camp for

Key qualities and characteristics

• Committed follower of Jesus who lives in daily obedience to the Gospel
• Spiritually mature
• Humble and teachable
• A good listener who is gracious, empathetic and kind
• Visionary and strategic thinker
• Collaborative team player and team builder
• Solutions-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Networker keen to nurture and grow relationships with alumni, camp families, neighours and ministry partners
• Fiscally responsible
• Understands how to live an integrated life in a work environment that requires high flexibility
  

Overall Responsibilities

• Leads, cares for and develops a team of people who together live out the gospel in word and deed, providing

opportunities for campers and guests to make a commitment to Jesus and deepen their faith.

• Provides pastoral care to the staff team, and assists others in leadership to do the same for those under their care.
• Builds relationships with key community stakeholders, welcoming and engaging their energy, skills, and passion to

Program

• Equips and encourages staff and volunteers so they can provide strong, well-executed programs appropriate to the

changing needs of those we serve.

• Ensures the provision of safe and adequate equipment and facilities.

4

• Ensures all staff and volunteers have excellent training for the well-being, safety, engagement and enjoyment of all

program participants.

Property, Facilities and Operations

• Provides on-site leadership for day-to-day camp operations.
• Supervises and supports the Operations Director to ensure that site priorities are being met and that the camp is in

long-term site renewal plans.

Financial Management

• Develops and manages annual operating and capital budgets, in collaboration with the camp team, InterVarsity

Vice-President of Camps and Finance team.

• Adheres to InterVarsity policies for all expenditures and seeks guidance from the Vice-President, Camps, for major

projects.

• Develops a fundraising plan to augment camper, retreat and rental revenues.
• Works collaboratively with InterVarsity’s National Director of Ministry Partnership to build relationships with

donors and engage in fundraising initiatives to ensure the ongoing financial viability and sustainability of the camp’s
ministry.

• Develops a group of ministry partners who will support the General Director role with prayer, encouragement and

financial gifts.

• Ensures all staff members have a team of ministry partners providing prayer, encouragement and financial support

for their roles.

Staffing

• Together with the leadership team, develops a plan to recruit, hire and train all camp staff and volunteers.
• Guides members of the staff team through appropriate goal setting and provides feedback, in line with the stated

Marketing and Communication

• Works collaboratively with InterVarsity’s Director of Communications and Marketing and the Vice-President of

Camps, to develop and execute short and long-term communications and marketing plans.

• Works with the staff team and other key InterVarsity staff, to develop recruitment strategies for all camp programs.
• Equips the staff team so they can be involved in a variety of marketing, speaking, fundraising, and networking

opportunities to grow all areas of the camp ministry.

Expectations, Experience and Education

• Personal relationship with Jesus Christ and evidence of a growing relationship with God.
• Depth of Biblical knowledge and commitment to applying its truth to all of life.
• Sense of calling to InterVarsity ministries, particularly this role.

5

• Engagement with the wider Church through involvement in a local fellowship.
• Prior experience in the delivery of basic pastoral care.
• Minimum of five years’ experience managing people, preferably in a camp environment.
• Post-Secondary degree in related field preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills,
• Well-developed team building, problem solving and conflict management skills
• Business acumen, particularly in budget management, fiscal control, and basic accounting
• Competent working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Working knowledge of property/facilities management
• Working knowledge of marketing, promotion, and fundraising
• Flexibility to work irregular and extended hours as required
• Agreement InterVarsity’s Statement of Belief, Code of Conduct, Risk Management and Privacy Guidelines.
  

Key Outcomes:

• The General Director, staff and volunteer team thrive, using gifts, experience and abilities to carry out God’s calling.
• All who spend time at camp encounter God’s love, discover Jesus and grow in faith.
• Young leaders are developed and use their gifts to God’s glory.
• Camp grows year over year in the number of people we are reaching, the kinds of programs we offer and the way

and with volunteer time.



Application Process

Interested applicants are invited to email a résumé and cover letter to: humanresources@ivcf.ca
The position is available immediately and the search will remain open until the position is filled.

Employment is conditional upon a clear police reference check.

The successful candidate must be able to submit to InterVarsity’s Statement of Faith and Code of Conduct.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for
candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected to move forward in the recruitment
process will be contacted. No agencies please.

6