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Join our growing team and make an impact on our communities health and well-being through our focus area of healthy living!
Job Description
As Director of Healthy Living, you are building more than programs—you are creating pathways for people to live better lives.
You are the leader who ensures every member feels welcomed, every participant feels supported, and every staff member understands that wellness is about more than exercise—it is about community, confidence, and connection.
This role requires someone who can balance operational excellence with relationship building, financial stewardship with mission impact, and strategic vision with daily execution. You must think beyond schedules and class offerings to see how healthy living strengthens the overall member experience and community trust.
This is about leadership, innovation, accountability, and creating spaces where people feel they belong and can thrive.
Qualifications
Education: A college degree in Health Promotion, Recreation, Exercise Science, Business Administration, Human Services, or a related field is a plus, but not required. Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is welcome.
Experience: Four (4) or more years of progressive leadership experience in wellness, sports, aquatics, recreation, nonprofit operations, or YMCA program management. Demonstrated experience leading multiple programs, supervising staff, and managing daily operations across diverse program areas. Experience with staff recruitment, training, coaching, and performance management. Proven experience managing department budgets, participation growth, and operational planning. Experience working with community partnerships, member engagement, and wellness initiatives preferred. Previous YMCA experience strongly preferred.
Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Google Workspace. Experience with scheduling software, wellness management systems, registration platforms, and reporting tools preferred. Familiarity with program compliance systems and operational reporting requirements. Ability to analyze data and use metrics to improve program performance.
Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively engage members, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Ability to handle member concerns and staff issues with professionalism and sound judgment. Strong presentation and facilitation skills for staff trainings, meetings, and community engagement. Ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences and situations.
Professional Skills: Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire trust, accountability, and team engagement. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Strategic thinking balanced with strong operational execution. Sound decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments. High level of professionalism, flexibility, and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.
Additional Qualifications: Knowledge of wellness programming, aquatics operations, sports leagues and programming, and member engagement best practices preferred. Ability to establish and maintain strong community partnerships and collaborative relationships. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional extended hours as needed for programs and events. Ability to travel to branch locations, meetings, trainings, and community events as required.
Essential Functions
Program Leadership and Operations: Provide strategic oversight for all assigned Healthy Living programs including wellness, sports, aquatics, group exercise, personal training, active older adults, and holistic wellness initiatives. Develop, implement, and evaluate programs that support participation growth, member retention, and mission impact. Ensure programs consistently deliver high-quality experiences aligned with YMCA standards and community wellness needs. Monitor daily operations to ensure effective staffing, scheduling, program execution, and participant satisfaction.
Staff Leadership and Development: Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop staff and volunteers across assigned healthy living program areas. Create a culture of accountability, service, and engagement through coaching, recognition, and performance management. Provide leadership development opportunities and succession planning for healthy living staff. Model relationship-building skills and maintain strong communication across teams and departments.
Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure full compliance with YMCA standards, state regulations, aquatics safety protocols, and local operational requirements. Maintain certifications, required trainings, staff records, and compliance documentation. Oversee facility safety practices, emergency procedures, and risk management standards across all healthy living environments. Ensure a clean, safe, and welcoming experience for all members and participants.
Financial Management: Develop, manage, and monitor department budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainable operations. Analyze participation, staffing, and operational trends to improve financial performance. Identify opportunities for program growth, grants, sponsorships, and funding partnerships. Maintain strong stewardship of resources while balancing mission impact and operational excellence.
Member and Community Engagement: Build strong relationships with members, families, community organizations, healthcare partners, and local stakeholders. Address member concerns with professionalism, empathy, and timely follow-up. Represent the YMCA in community partnerships and collaborative sports and health and wellness initiatives. Strengthen program visibility and trust through outreach, engagement, and partnership development.
Fundraising and Volunteer Engagement: Support the YMCA’s annual campaign and fundraising efforts through volunteer leadership and donor engagement. Partner with assigned committees and volunteers to strengthen philanthropic support. Assist with special events and initiatives that advance mission awareness and community impact. Collaborate with leadership in identifying grant opportunities and supporting grant development efforts.
Reporting and Continuous Improvement: Maintain accurate program data, participation reporting, and operational metrics. Evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements based on feedback and outcomes. Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership, committees, and board discussions. Use data to drive strategic decisions and strengthen healthy living performance.
Additional Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO or Director of Operations. Support organizational priorities and cross-functional initiatives as needed. Maintain all required certifications, clearances, and compliance expectations.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures an elevated level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Cultivates relationships to support fundraising.
Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Build relationships that create strong connections among members, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors’ communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.
Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the operations of the organization. Develop plans and manage the best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.
Personal Growth: Share new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.
Required Certifications
CPR, First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communications, Sexual Harassment, Duty to Report, Preventing Child Abuse in Youth Serving Organizations.