Senior Director of Health & Wellness

Lead with purpose. Build healthier lives. Champion community wellness at the Summit Area YMCA.
Job Description

The Summit Area YMCA is seeking an experienced, strategic, and inspiring leader to serve as our Senior Director of Health & Wellness. This role oversees a $1 million department budget and leads all aspects of health and wellness programming across both our Summit and Berkeley Heights branches.

The Senior Director will supervise and support a team that includes a Group Exercise Director, Wellness Center Manager, and Personal Training Administrator, as well as dozens of wellness professionals across multiple disciplines. Together, this team delivers exceptional experiences to our members through personal training, small group training, group exercise, chronic disease prevention, and teen wellness programs.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a mission-driven health and wellness professional to shape a vibrant, inclusive, and results-oriented department that reflects the Y’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

 

You Might Be the Right Fit If You…

  • Inspire and empower diverse teams through thoughtful leadership and accountability.
  • Thrive in fast-paced environments and lead with a hands-on, solution-oriented approach.
  • Believe in wellness as a tool for community transformation.
  • Are energized by daily interaction with staff and members, both on the floor and in planning sessions.
  • Value data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
  • Excel at building cross-functional relationships and leading with empathy and clarity
  • Embrace inclusive programming and a member-first mindset.

At the Summit Area YMCA, we are committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. Our main purpose is to strengthen community. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone can reach their full potential and we strive to live our cause with purpose every day. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we believe that we’re stronger when we come together.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in health-related or fitness field or comparable work experience required. Familiarity with basic anatomy, contraindicated exercises, exercise modification for all populations and ACSM guidelines for frequency, intensity, duration and mode.  
  • Certification from a NCCA-sanctioned organization in a related field, such as, ACSM, NSCA, NASM, ACE, AFAA, or ISSA a plus.
  • Demonstrated record of growing revenue.  Revenue growth in PT a plus.
  • Innovative, creative thinker demonstrated problem-solving skills, ability to develop and successful implement short and long-term plans, and supervise and direct all H&W operations with the Y’s risk, quality, revenue goals.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage a large staff team and to establish effective relationships with staff and volunteers.
  • Sound judgment in appropriately delegating responsibilities to staff and volunteers to accomplish necessary duties.
  • Ability to write reports, procedures, and correspondence, and read, analyze and interpret business periodicals
  • Computer literacy (Excel, Word, Outlook).  
  • Comfortable using and implementing new and existing technology and systems to deliver a high quality member experience.
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills.
  • Demonstrate a desire to serve others.
  • Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic backgrounds, as well as physical and mental abilities.
  • Bi-Lingual a plus.
Essential Functions
  • Responsible for supervising and developing all FC staff, GE staff, PT staff and chronic disease staff to build member loyalty and attract new members.
  • Supervise and manage WC and GE staffing, scheduling, mobile app/website inputs, and member issues.
  • Develop and implement a PT system that builds and increases PT and SGT sales and revenue.
  • Supervise the hiring of quality, certified personal trainers and group ex instructors who provide innovative, responsive programs and curriculum that enables members to achieve their health, wellness and fitness goals.
  • Manage on-boarding, performance management, safety/risk management/job training/certifications for all H&W staff.
  • Establish clear performance goals, metrics, standards and timelines for all H&W staff. Provide clear, direct and unambiguous verbal and written feedback via the formal and informal performance appraisal process and hold all supervisors accountable for their staff including managing disciplinary procedures and protocols.
  • Design and generate weekly, monthly, as-needed reports that proactively analyze trends/internal data to maximize business results, staff engagement and member satisfaction.
  • Effectively manage H&W vendors to purchase, manage, deliver quality, relevant equipment and service in timely, professional manner.
  • Anticipate and address member and staff concerns and/or dissatisfaction to a satisfactory resolution by creating new processes/procedures, SOPs and programs, re-evaluating and redoing existing processes (as needed), procedures and programs to attract, engage and retain new member and staff while maintaining the integrity of the Y brand and delivering on department goals, objectives, strategic plan. Return inquiries within 2 business days.
  • Manage and approve payroll.
  • Actively manage annual department budget to meet fiscal objectives.
  • Work collaboratively with all branch staff, especially with Membership staff to ensure the successful delivery and achievement of member acquisition, engagement and retention strategies including tours, 7GI, fitness challenges, new class/programs, chronic disease prevention programs, community outreach, and more.
  • Integrate latest technology so that we are current and competitive with other fitness centers.
  • Analyze and implement data from KPIs under the guidance of the COO/CEO.
  • Keep staff informed with what is always going on at the Y.
  • Carry out additional duties as assigned by CEO and COO.
  • Walk the floor to observe classes/instructors and engage with members several times a day.
  • Submit monthly stats from H&W and PT to SharePoint.
  • Manage Healthy Living program and staff. Help screen participants. Create necessary paperwork and be on top of admin work related to Livestrong and Parkinson’s program.
  • Manage Youth and Teen manager. Help onboarding of 7GI participants and teen programming.
  • Interview perspective personal training clients to assign to the appropriate trainer.
  • Communicate with personal trainers about their availability and schedule.
  • Work with Marketing to enhance awareness and promotion of the H&W department.
  • Model the Y’s values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility and commitment to the Y’s mission.
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Executive Leadership
  • As an Ambassador for the Y, communicates to members, volunteers, and the general public that the Y is the nation’s leading non-profit committed to strengthening the community through Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.
  • As an Ambassador for the Y, communicates to members, volunteers, and the general public that diversity and inclusion are core to the Summit Area YMCA mission. The SAY is open and inclusive of all people regardless of their ability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and socio-economic background and we must all strive courageously against any discriminatory behavior and will always abide by the Summit Area YMCA’s Diversity & Inclusion policy as explained in the Employee Handbook.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

Critical Thinking and Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgement

Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role.

Program & Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs.

Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.

Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (staff, volunteers, members,, program participants.

Required Certifications

Salary & Benefits

This full-time, exempt-level position generally works Monday–Friday during standard business hours, with occasional evening or weekend responsibilities. The Salary range for this position is $70,000 – $80,000 annually, based on experience.

The Summit Area YMCA offers a generous benefits package that includes subsidized medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance. Paid time off for vacation, wellness, and holidays, Free YMCA family membership, discounts on YMCA programs and services (including childcare), Ongoing professional training and development and a 12% employer contribution to the YMCA retirement plan upon eligibility.