Director of Recreation & Community Engagement

Hanna Boys Center•Sonoma, CA

About The Position

The Director of Recreation & Community Engagement is responsible for leading, growing, and activating Hanna Center’s recreation ecosystem into a vibrant, community-facing hub. This role provides full strategic and operational ownership of residential recreation, community programming, camps, facility-based recreational activation, and facility rentals. The Director is responsible for building high-quality programming, cultivating strong external partnerships, launching and scaling community-based initiatives, and ensuring the financial sustainability and performance of all recreation and rental offerings. The ideal candidate is a proven program builder and mature leader who can operate independently, take full ownership of outcomes, launch new initiatives, scale successful programs, and create a dynamic campus recreation calendar that engages youth, adults, and the broader community.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in recreation, community programming, youth services, or related leadership roles.
Demonstrated experience launching and scaling successful programs.
Experience managing budgets and overseeing program-level financial performance.
Supervisory experience, including hiring and team development.
Proven ability to build and maintain external partnerships and community relationships.
Strong organizational, communication, and independent decision-making skills.
Must pass background clearance for a Community Care Licensed facility (including physical, TB, and drug screening).
Valid California driver’s license and insurable under Hanna Center policy.
Ability to obtain and maintain certifications in CPR, First Aid, and Crisis Intervention as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience growing camp or multi-season recreational models.
Experience managing facility-based programming or rental operations.
Knowledge of trauma-informed practices or youth behavioral frameworks.

Responsibilities

Provide full leadership and direction for Hanna Center’s recreation and community engagement department.
Develop and execute a multi-year recreation and facility growth strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
Establish clear standards, systems, performance expectations, and accountability structures across all recreation and rental functions.
Operate with a high level of independence, initiative, and sound judgment.
Lead and supervise recreation staff, including hiring, performance management, and professional development.
Foster a culture of ownership, responsiveness, and excellence within the department.
Collaborate ross-functionally with Residential, Advancement, Finance, Facilities, and Leadership teams.
Design and implement a comprehensive, year-round recreational calendar that activates Hanna Center’s campus.
Expand programming offerings across multiple age groups, including youth, adults, and senior populations.
Launch new recreational initiatives informed by community demand, prior needs assessments, and market opportunity.
Evaluate program effectiveness and participation trends to refine and grow offerings.
Position Hanna Center as a recognized community hub for high-quality recreational programming in the region.
Ensure programming aligns with organizational values and supports a structured, positive environment.
Lead the strategic growth, differentiation, and financial performance of Hanna Center’s camp programs.
Recruit and cultivate relationships with high-quality coaches, instructors, and community partners.
Develop camp models that balance structured coaching, skill-building, and engaging recreational experiences.
Expand camp offerings to increase enrollment, reputation, and earned revenue contribution.
Establish and maintain partnerships with schools, athletic organizations, nonprofits, and community groups to strengthen programming and increase access.
Serve as a professional representative of Hanna Center within the broader community.
Provide full strategic and operational oversight of all facility rentals across campus.
Oversee scheduling, logistics, contracts, customer experience, and quality control for external users.
Develop and implement a growth strategy for facility rentals that aligns with organizational values while increasing earned revenue.
Evaluate and strengthen pricing structures, policies, and operational systems to ensure financial sustainability and efficiency.
Lead exploration and development of the campus auditorium as a standalone rental business line, including market positioning, target customer segments, pricing strategy, and operational model.
Identify opportunities to expand rental access beyond nonprofit entities where appropriate, ensuring alignment with mission and compliance standards.
Collaborate with Finance on revenue tracking, invoicing, deposits, refunds, and financial performance analysis.
Partner with Maintenance and Custodial teams to ensure operational readiness and post-event restoration standards.
Establish KPIs related to rental utilization, customer satisfaction, and revenue contribution.
Partner with the VP of Philanthropy in financial planning, budgeting, and revenue forecasting for all recreation and rental programming.
Utilize established financial frameworks to evaluate program viability (go/no-go decision-making).
Monitor direct and allocated indirect costs to ensure responsible program performance.
Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to participation, revenue, utilization, and program growth.
Maintain accurate reporting within organizational systems including Salesforce, Monday.com, and Amelia (or similar platforms).
Ensure operational systems and documentation are clear, consistent, and scalable.
Oversee structured recreational programming for residential youth in collaboration with Residential leadership.
Ensure alignment with behavioral expectations and organizational culture.
Monitor engagement trends and implement improvements as needed.
Maintain consistency, structure, and positive youth engagement standards.
Provide operational support for campus-wide events, including community, fundraising, advancement, and internal events.
Collaborate with Advancement, Leadership, and event planning teams to ensure successful execution of event logistics.
Coordinate recreation staff support, space activation, and on-site operational readiness as needed.
Serve as a liaison with Maintenance and Custodial teams to ensure facilities are prepared, safe, and aligned with event specifications.
Support event setup, execution, and breakdown to ensure smooth operations and positive guest experiences.
Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with organizational policies, safety standards, and facility expectations.
Participate in post-event evaluations to improve operational efficiency and future planning.