Senior Director of Programs (Greenville, SC location)

Overview

The YMCA of Greenville is a dynamic and rapidly growing association that seeks to strengthen the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

 

The Senior Director of Programs supports the work of the YMCA of Greenville, a leading nonprofit charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Reporting to the Caine Halter Family YMCA's Branch Executive Director, this position provides strategic leadership for an assigned portfolio consisting of two or more program departments or service areas. The portfolio may include Sports, Aquatics, and Youth & Family Services, based on branch operational structure and community needs.

The Sr. Director leads through program directors and other staff leaders to ensure safe, high-quality, financially sustainable, and mission-aligned programs. This role creates consistency and collaboration across the assigned portfolio, develops staff and future leaders, strengthens the participant and member experience, and translates branch and association priorities into measurable program results. The position is focused on internal program leadership and does not carry standing Board of Advisors or Annual Campaign leadership responsibilities unless separately assigned

 

Not only will you be part of amazing mission driven work, we offer the following benefits:

• Access to your Earned Wages before scheduled Pay Days!
• 12% Retirement Contribution, once fully vested
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan
• Separate Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Medical Benefits
• Company Paid Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 11 Company Paid Holidays
• Household Membership to the YMCA of Greenville
• 50% Discount on Programs, including Childcare, Sports, Aquatics, and Personal Training

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. 

 

We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. 

We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. 

We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. 

We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. 

We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

 

*Compensation will be determined commensurate qualifications and experience.*

Responsibilities

Strategic Program Leadership & Growth

• Provide strategic direction and coordinated leadership for an assigned portfolio of two or more program departments or service areas.
• Translate association strategy, branch priorities, and community needs into annual program goals, work plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Establish and monitor performance indicators for participation, retention, revenue, quality, access, impact, and participant satisfaction.
• Use program, financial, market, and community data to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and recommend changes to services or delivery models.
• Guide the development, expansion, improvement, or responsible discontinuation of programs based on mission impact, demand, capacity, quality, and financial performance.

Program Quality, Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure programs meet YMCA standards, association policies, legal and regulatory requirements, licensing requirements, and applicable certification or accreditation standards.
• Establish consistent expectations for program quality, curriculum, participant supervision, documentation, and evaluation across the assigned portfolio.
• Conduct or oversee regular program and safety audits, address findings promptly, and maintain appropriate records and corrective-action plans.
• Partner with branch and association risk, safety, aquatics, human resources, and facilities leaders to manage high-risk activities and strengthen a culture of prevention and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with abuse-prevention practices, employee and volunteer screening, mandated reporting, appropriate boundaries, supervision standards, and incident-response procedures.
• Promote inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive programs that serve participants from diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, coach, evaluate, and retain program directors and other assigned staff in accordance with YMCA policies and approved staffing plans.
• Clarify decision rights, performance expectations, and accountability for leaders across the assigned program portfolio.
• Develop directors and emerging leaders through regular coaching, feedback, cross-training, stretch assignments, succession planning, and professional development.
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented team culture that supports employee engagement, innovation, and shared problem-solving across departments.
• Ensure staff and volunteers complete required training and maintain credentials appropriate to their roles and program responsibilities.

Financial Management & Performance Accountability

• Lead the development and management of operating budgets and business plans for all departments within the assigned portfolio.
• Review monthly financial results, forecasts, enrollment, staffing ratios, and other operating measures; partner with program leaders to address variances and meet approved targets.
• Optimize revenue, expenses, staffing, schedules, space, and other resources while protecting program quality, safety, access, and mission impact.
• Evaluate program pricing and financial-assistance practices in partnership with branch and association leadership.
• Identify program-related grant or sponsorship opportunities and coordinate with the appropriate development and association leaders as assigned.

Participant, Member & Community Experience

• Champion a consistent, welcoming, and relationship-centered experience for program participants, members, families, guests, staff, and volunteers.
• Partner with membership, wellness, and other program leaders to create effective referrals, handoffs, onboarding practices, and pathways that connect people to the full YMCA experience.
• Use participant feedback, satisfaction measures, retention data, and service-recovery trends to strengthen program delivery and relationships.
• Cultivate program-specific relationships with schools, agencies, leagues, vendors, and community organizations that expand access, improve quality, or advance shared community outcomes.
• Represent assigned programs in community meetings and partnerships as requested by the Executive Director.

Collaboration, Communication & Operational Effectiveness

• Serve as a member of the branch leadership team and collaborate with the Executive Director and peer leaders on branch strategy, culture, communication, and operational priorities.
• Partner with association leaders and peers across branches to implement consistent standards, share best practices, coordinate resources, and strengthen program innovation.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to promote programs accurately, communicate YMCA impact, and support participant recruitment and engagement.
• Ensure effective use of approved systems for registration, scheduling, rosters, attendance, billing, reporting, and data integrity.
• Coordinate with facilities and property teams to support safe, clean, functional, and appropriately scheduled program spaces and equipment.
• Prepare and present clear reports, recommendations, and updates regarding program performance, risks, opportunities, and outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of branch and association priorities.

Other Expectations

• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers.
• Attend/complete required abuse risk management training
• Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Adhere to job specific abuse risk management responsibilities.
  • Maintenance Employees-ensure unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitor high-risk locations (locker-rooms and bathrooms), etc.
  • Front Desk Personnel- ensure consumers are properly signed in and out, ensure only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, etc.
• Follow employees and volunteers screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk.
• Provide employees and volunteers with ongoing supervision and training related to abuse risk.
• Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with consumers.
• Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
• Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary procedures.
• Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their consumer from abuse.
• Report essential abuse risk management information to the board of directors.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs.
• Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others in reaching their full potential.
• Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community.
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, risk, and sound judgment.
• Operational Effectiveness: Integrates multiple functions and priorities to achieve consistent, high-quality results.
• Change Leadership: Leads self and others through change by communicating purpose, building commitment, and supporting implementation.

Qualifications

*Compensation will be determined commensurate qualifications and experience.*

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, education, business, nonprofit management, human services, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in YMCA programs, recreation, youth development, aquatics, wellness, sports, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience, including experience leading managers or program leaders.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple programs, departments, or complex service areas with responsibility for strategy, staffing, budgets, quality, and results.
• Demonstrated budget-management, forecasting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, staff-development, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, respond effectively to changing conditions, and make sound decisions in a complex operating environment.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required program-specific certifications and complete mandatory YMCA training within established timeframes.

Preferred

• YMCA leadership experience and knowledge of YMCA program standards and operating practices.
• Experience supervising director-level staff or leading a multi-department program portfolio.
• YMCA Organizational Leader certification or the ability to obtain it within an established timeframe.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently move throughout the facility.
• Maintain a stationary position for more than 2.5 hours per day.
• Constantly communicate on the phone or in-person.
• Occasionally transporting or moving objects and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery.
• Frequently bend, or stoop.