Executive Director of Programs

ABOUT US

The nonprofit YMCA of Western North Carolina strengthens local communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1889, we engage more than 100,000 people – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the region’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support the community. We do this through seven YMCAs, dozens of program sites, and YMCA Camp Watia. As the state’s largest provider of licensed school-age child care, we give more than 1,000 children a day the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. We are committed to being an anti-racist, multicultural organization by exposing racism and fighting the constructs that perpetuate it and affect all cultures. We recruit staff who are passionate about giving back to the community, helping people, and upholding our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. For more information, please visit ymcawnc.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Vice President of Operations and in partnership with their peers, the Executive Director of Programs forms the strategy for YMCA programming throughout western North Carolina. They ensure programs add value to the member experience, address community needs and advance the YMCA mission. They lead all aspects of center-based programs (sports, youth and family, teens and aquatics) and support all facets of their operations including but not limited to participant and volunteer onboarding, retention, program quality and outcome achievement, data collection and analysis, and related technology solutions for the YMCA of Western North Carolina. This leader works directly with cabinets, the YMCA Business Center, and center-based program staff to implement efforts that drive engagement and convert program participants to members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Program Development and Operations:

• Ensure that all programs offered by the Y are aligned with operating priorities and the association’s strategic plan.
• Ensures program enrollment and quality goals are achieved by providing hands-on and strategic leadership over all areas of responsibility.
• Grows enrollment and revenue by ensuring consistent high-quality programs that align with YMCA goals.
• Establishes consistent standards and best practices for participant/volunteer onboarding, program experience, and retention by working closely with cabinets to ensure plans are effectively implemented organization wide.
• Effectively leverages association resources to plan and implement strategies and tactics to meet sales and retention goals.
• Measures and analyzes usage and PMA data to identify and act on areas of opportunity.
• Guides colleagues on making data informed operational decisions in response to new information. Ensures consistent utilization of survey tools across all areas of operations.

2. Team Leadership and Fiscal Responsibility:

• Direct supervision and development of aquatics, sports, teens and youth and family service line leaders.
• Oversees the budgeting process for areas of responsibility and ensures that resources are devoted to top priorities and strategic objectives.
• Drives strong recruitment, development, and succession planning processes to ensure the hiring, professional development, and retention of high-quality staff.
• Ensures that monthly variance reports and forecast updates are completed accurately and on time; adjusts operations as needed to achieve fiscal targets.
• Partners with Member Experience Director to provide leadership support for the Experience Team and manages the related chart of work and outcome measurements.
• Fosters a collaborative team environment within areas of responsibility and effectively leverages association office resources and those of external partners.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business, recreation management, human services, or equivalent and/or five-plus years of program management experience, preferably in a YMCA or other nonprofit organization
• Ability to think strategically and across departments to direct sales and promotional initiatives that support retention, new sales, donations, and community positioning programs through supervision of volunteers and staff
• Expertise with customer relationship management, email marketing, and prospecting tools, preferably Daxko, and with AI marketing systems
• Highly responsive and accessible, with demonstrated skills and experience in customer service, and public relations
• Ability to develop and monitor budgets
• Supervisory experience
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams
• Ability to communicate and connect with diverse populations
• Demonstrated professionalism in both attitude and appearance
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Adaptable to a fast-paced environment with multiple projects and competing deadlines

BENEFITS

Full-time employees receive medical, dental and vision insurance, group life insurance and long-term disability paid by the Y; short-term disability, term life insurance and dependent life insurance is available for purchase; generous paid time off, retirement plan with employer contribution of 12% of salary (subject to eligibility requirements), free YMCA membership, free afterschool childcare and summer day camp and program discounts.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

See the YMCA website for the full job description. 

The YMCA of Western North Carolina is committed to equal opportunity in terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, faith, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.