Manager, Talent & Training – Youth Camps & Events

The Manager, Talent & Training – Youth Camps & Events leads the Talent & Training function across Summer and Professional Sports Camps, owning the seasonal talent lifecycle from workforce planning, budgeting, and recruiting, through hiring, training, development, and in-season support. This role builds and executes the people strategy, systems, and experiences that attract exceptional talent and prepare every team member to confidently deliver the Headfirst experience. 

Success means having the right people in the right roles, ready to lead and perform when camp begins, and supported to grow throughout the season. Through engaging, practical training, hands-on field coaching, leadership development, and continuous improvement, the Manager will build a connected, high-performing seasonal workforce that delivers exceptional experiences for campers and families. 

As a member of the Youth Camps & Events Management Team, the Manager partners cross-functionally to ensure talent and training priorities are integrated into the broader operating cycle. The role maintains strong stewardship of resources and budget, builds scalable processes and infrastructure, and develops the function to meet the evolving needs of Headfirst’s programs and seasonal workforce.  

Location & Travel: This is a full-time, in-person role based in Washington, D.C., reporting to the Director, Youth Camp & Events. 

• This role involves driving, travel, and work from our DC, Maryland, and Virginia Summer Camp locations, and our nationwide Professional Sports Camp locations (Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals) – primarily in June, July, and August.  

Compensation: This role is budgeted at $60,000 per year.

Benefits: Full-time team members are eligible for paid time off and 10 paid holidays annually, health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, and employee discounts on our programs and offerings. 

Timeline & Process: We will begin screening candidates as soon as mid-November, with a goal start date of mid-January, 2027.  

• We use a three-part interview process: virtual screening, virtual round 1, and in-person round 2, including a case study presentation.  

• Talent & Workforce Strategy: Lead the Talent & Training function across Youth Events, including Summer and Professional Sports Camps, building a scalable seasonal workforce strategy that attracts, develops, engages, and retains high-performing, mission-aligned teams throughout the full staff lifecycle. 

• Seasonal Recruiting & Hiring: Own the end-to-end seasonal recruiting and hiring process, from sourcing and candidate engagement through selection, placement, and onboarding, building strong talent pipelines and ensuring the right people are in the right roles at the right time. 

• Workforce Planning & Readiness: Partner closely with program and operational leaders to translate enrollment forecasts, site structures, and program needs into staffing plans and hiring priorities, maintaining clear visibility into staffing progress, gaps, attrition risk, and readiness throughout the operating cycle. 

• Training Strategy & Development: Design and continuously improve scalable, role-specific training that equips seasonal staff and leaders to deliver exceptional camper experiences and execute with confidence across safety, customer service, operations, leadership, and Headfirst culture. 

• Seasonal Leadership Development & Continuous Improvement: Coach and develop seasonal leaders to confidently lead people, manage performance, build strong team cultures, and solve problems, while using staff feedback, field observations, and performance insights to continually strengthen recruiting, training, and future-season planning. 

• In-Season Learning & Field Coaching: Bring training to life through simulations, leader tools, job aids, refreshers, and a strong in-season field presence, observing teams in action and providing real-time coaching that strengthens execution and reinforces Headfirst standards. 

• Cross-Functional & Organizational Leadership: Serve as a member of the Youth Camp & Events Management Team and partner across Product Delivery & Experience (Operations), Customer Success & Systems, Sales & Enrollment, as well as other teams within Headfirst to integrate seasonal workforce priorities throughout the full operating cycle and advance broader Youth Camps & Events goals.  

• Handle the Curveballs: No two days are the same at Headfirst, and every member of our team will see unanticipated challenges come their way. You may be asked to help problem-solve, lend a hand with cross-functional projects, and take on other responsibilities as requested/assigned. 

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, with concentration in related field(s) viewed favorably
• 2+ years’ experience in a leadership role with proven history of effective decision-making during intense operational periods
• 3+ years relevant professional experience, with one year or more of experience in fast-paced, large-scale, multi-unit recruiting and hiring, coaching, training, and/or team management, preferably in a start-up or similar business environment, and one year office-based work experience.
  • Summer camp and/or sport-related background, knowledge, and/or coaching, specifically for baseball, softball, football, or soccer, viewed favorably.
• Demonstrated experience with MS Office, especially Excel; experience with HRIS/ATS systems (iCims, WhenIWork, Rippling viewed favorably, but not required if capacity for learning new systems is high.) 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Experience managing people and projects, or an eagerness and willingness to learn.  
• Possession of the time-management and organizational skills necessary to meet critical project deadlines, manage multiple parallel work streams, and prioritize tasks in the face of competing duties.  
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong capabilities in people management and implementing and executing challenging operation details.  
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate with individuals from a diverse array of backgrounds. 
• Possession of the temperament and drive to excel within a start-up environment, and work until the job is done each day.  

Qualifications

• Provide a valid driver's license and ability to pass a motor vehicle background screening. 
• Ability to travel to camp locations across the country, primarily during June, July, and August. 
• Ability to perform various manual tasks (walking, standing, and moving for up to 8-12 hours at a time; ability to carry up to 30 lbs.; crouching, kneeling, and balancing on varied flooring/terrain) under varying weather conditions (ie, winter warehouse work, summer site move-in, summer indoor/outdoor camp programming).
• Valid CPR/First Aid certification or the ability to secure the certification prior to the program season. 

Headfirst Team Values & Expectations  

• A solution-oriented individual who shares The Headfirst Companies’ core mission and values and believes in our ability to work together to make a difference in the lives of children and young adults.   

• You are a motivated self-starter who is autonomous and dependable  

• You are a team player who approaches professional hurdles with a strong sense of individual responsibility and a sincere emphasis on team over self  

• You are a humble and enthusiastic leader who possesses the passion and polish to serve as an ambassador of the Headfirst Companies  

• You are a doer who has an entrepreneurial spirit and a focus on finishing the job every day  

• You are an independent thinker who assumes responsibility beyond what is asked, and takes initiative for positive change  

• You are a flexible, coachable, and down-to-earth teammate who has the desire and capacity to grow through self-reflection, and by both providing and receiving thoughtful, constructive performance feedback  

• You are a patient problem-solver and consummate professional who has the ability to prioritize and multitask, managing several projects concurrently, sometimes under pressure, and often with tight deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and professional demeanor 

Headfirst Companies is all about creating unforgettable experiences that inspire growth, learning, and connection. From our Washington, D.C. headquarters, our full-time team works year-round to shape every detail of our three programmatic divisions: Headfirst Youth Camps & Events, Headfirst Showcase Camps, and KI Concerts. 

With our Headfirst Youth Camps & Events division, we deliver top-tier STEM, sports, and day camps for kids in the D.C. metro area which keep us at the forefront of innovation and fun. We partner with legendary pro sports teams across the country to bring young players up close to the magic of the game through behind-the-scenes access and engaging instruction.    

Our renowned Headfirst Showcase Camps division connects talented student-athletes with coaches from the nation's top collegiate baseball and softball programs through events which are carefully crafted to bring out the best in players and help them shine in the spotlight.    

KI Concerts provides the opportunity for fine choirs, bands, orchestras, marching bands and dance groups to explore and perform in extraordinary venues around the world. Our custom tours feature performances in cities as well as smaller towns offering exchanges, cultural immersion, warm audiences and workshops/clinics/outreach activities as requested.  

The Headfirst Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We value diversity and inclusivity across our Headfirst community, and we strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.