Athletic and Youth Program Director

Competitive Athletics – Swim, Dive and Water Polo

• Serve as the Athletic Director for the YMCA’s competitive swim, dive, and water polo programs, providing strategic oversight, program direction, and organizational support to each team’s coaching staff.
• Partner closely with head coaches to set team goals, build program culture, establish athlete development standards, and ensure each competitive program reflects the values and mission of the YMCA.
• Build systems that support coach effectiveness and athlete experience, including scheduling, meet logistics, communication with families, and athlete recognition.
• Ensure competitive programs are properly resourced, staffed, and positioned for growth, identifying opportunities to expand participation, strengthen community relationships, and elevate the YMCA’s reputation as a destination for competitive aquatics.
• Champion the development of the whole athlete — ensuring every competitive participant grows not only in their sport but in leadership, character, and life skills that extend well beyond the pool.
• Maintain compliance with all relevant governing body requirements (USA Swimming, USA Diving, USA Water Polo) and ensure coaches hold current and appropriate certifications for their sport.

Youth Development Strategy & Program Quality

• Own the strategic direction, daily operations, and continuous improvement and growth of the YMCA’s full swim school program and community-based aquatic initiatives.
• Establish and maintain program quality standards aligned with Red Cross WSI Swim Lesson curriculum and national best practices, ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience for every participant at every level.
• Design and strengthen participant pathways that create a natural, well-supported progression from foundational swim lessons through intermediate programming and into competitive aquatics for those who are ready.
• Analyze enrollment trends, session performance, and participant feedback to drive continuous improvement, identify growth opportunities, and ensure programming is responsive to community demand.
• Develop and lead adaptive programming to serve as an entry point into inclusive YMCA programming.
• Partner with Marketing to communicate the swim school’s value proposition and impact, supporting enrollment growth through compelling storytelling and community visibility.

Youth Extracurricular Programming & Partnerships

• Develop, manage, and grow the YMCA’s youth extracurricular portfolio, with a focus on introductory and developmental programming that gives young people their first positive experience with organized athletics and enrichment programming.
• Build and steward partnerships with schools, youth sports organizations, and community groups to expand access, co-develop programming, and grow the YMCA’s presence in the youth sports landscape.
• Ensure all youth sports and extracurricular programs reflect the YMCA’s commitment to access, inclusion, and positive youth development, prioritizing participation, character, and skill-building over competition at the introductory level.

Management and Risk

• Champion child abuse prevention across all program areas, ensuring staff are trained, policies are enforced, and a culture of vigilance and reporting is embedded in daily operations.
• Ensure all aquatic and youth sports and extracurricular programs meet or exceed applicable safety standards, regulatory requirements, and YMCA of the USA risk management guidelines.
• Own the financial performance of the full program portfolio — swim school, competitive athletics, and youth sports and extracurricular programs— including annual budget development, revenue targets, expense management, and variance reporting.
• Lead and develop a mixed team of direct reports and coordinators, creating clarity around roles, expectations, and growth pathways at every level of the team.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain high-quality swim instructors, program coordinators, and support staff, building a team that is mission-aligned, technically strong, and excellent with participants and families.