Director of Wellness

About the Role

As Director of Wellness at the YMCA, you'll lead a team dedicated to creating welcoming, impactful wellness experiences that help members achieve their goals while advancing the YMCA's mission. This role is ideal for a strategic leader who enjoys developing people, improving operations, driving program growth, and creating a culture where staff and members thrive.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Kinesiology, Public Health, Recreation Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4–6 years of progressive leadership experience in wellness, fitness, recreation, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and leading multiple wellness program areas.
• Proven success managing budgets, achieving growth goals, and improving operational performance.
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to analyze data and use performance metrics to improve operations and member outcomes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and wellness management software platforms.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all wellness programs and services.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, coach, and evaluate wellness staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor Wellness Directors, Coordinators, and frontline staff to strengthen leadership capacity across the organization.
• Collaborate with the Association Director of Wellness to implement association-wide wellness initiatives and best practices.

Program & Operational Excellence

• Ensure all wellness programs align with YMCA standards, strategic priorities, and member needs.
• Evaluate programs and services to improve quality, participation, and member outcomes.
• Conduct facility inspections, safety audits, and operational reviews.
• Ensure compliance with YMCA policies, certifications, risk management practices, and safety procedures.
• Maintain high standards for equipment safety, wellness center operations, and staff readiness.

Strategic Growth & Community Impact

• Develop and implement strategies to increase member engagement, retention, and program participation.
• Support the creation of innovative wellness programs that reflect community needs and emerging industry trends.
• Collaborate with branch leadership and other departments to enhance member experiences.
• Assist with marketing efforts, member engagement initiatives, and promotion of wellness services.
• Support YMCA fundraising efforts, Annual Campaign initiatives, community partnerships, and special events.

Financial Management

• Develop, manage, and monitor departmental budgets.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of YMCA resources.
• Track revenue, expenses, participation, and retention metrics.
• Analyze operational and financial data to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.