Executive Director of Healthy Living

YMCA of Western North Carolina • Woodfin, NC

3d • $70,000 - $90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The YMCA of Western North Carolina is seeking an Executive Director of Healthy Living to provide strategic leadership for the organization's wellness programming. This role involves developing and executing a forward-looking wellness strategy to enhance member experience, increase participation and engagement, drive program quality and revenue growth, and position the YMCA as a leading community resource for health and well-being. The Executive Director will lead fitness innovation by identifying trends, testing new approaches, leveraging data and technology, developing partnerships, and ensuring consistent programming across YMCA centers. The position reports to the Senior Vice President of Operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in health and wellness, exercise science, business, nonprofit leadership, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in wellness, fitness, health, recreation, or a related field, preferably within a YMCA, nonprofit, or multi-site organization.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and achieving revenue and expense targets.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams directly and through influence across multiple locations or departments.
• Excellent organizational, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams and ability to effectively utilize data and technology platforms.
• Ability to constantly and quickly move to various locations in and around the entire facility.
• Be able to lift 25 pounds or more.
• Physically perform all CPR and First Aid skills and/or assist as needed in emergency situations.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Bend or stoop to reach various height levels.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in associated field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic, data-informed leadership for the Association's Healthy Living service line, aligning priorities with organizational resources, community needs, and evolving member expectations.
• Identifies emerging health, fitness, wellness, consumer, and technology trends and translates them into opportunities for innovation, differentiation, and growth.
• Evaluates the Wellness program portfolio and leads the development, testing, scaling, redesign, or discontinuation of programs and services based on data, member feedback, and future potential.
• Develops strategies to grow participation and revenue by leveraging all available resources and by working across other services lines.
• Creates a culture of innovation and continuous improvement that keeps the YMCA responsive to changing consumer behaviors, community demographics, and the future of wellness.
• Establishes and monitors Association-wide standards for a welcoming, inclusive, relationship-driven wellness experience across all wellness programs and services.
• Partners with center Executive Directors and service-line leaders to ensure consistent execution of standards while remaining responsive to individual community needs.
• Develops strategies that connect wellness participants to the broader YMCA experience, strengthening member engagement, satisfaction, and long-term retention.
• Uses member feedback, performance data, and industry best practices to identify opportunities that drive continuous improvement.
• Ensures wellness programs, equipment and spaces are accessible and engaging for individuals across ages, abilities, backgrounds, fitness levels, and stages of their wellness journey.
• Oversees wellness budgeting and financial performance, ensuring resources are aligned with strategic priorities and programs achieve appropriate revenue, expense, productivity, and sustainability targets.
• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators for wellness participation, penetration, engagement, quality, financial, retention, and community impact.
• Uses all available data to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and guide strategic decisions.
• Establishes measurable outcomes for new and existing wellness initiatives and uses results to determine opportunities for investment, improvement, expansion, or change.
• Partners with center and Association leadership to strategically allocate staff, space, technology, equipment, and capital resources to support current operations and future growth.
• Provides leadership, coaching, and development to wellness staff through direct supervision, influence, and shared accountability across YMCA centers.
• Aligns wellness priorities, standards, and expectations while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Leads recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and succession-planning strategies that attract, develop, and retain high-quality wellness professionals.
• Anticipates future workforce needs and ensures wellness staff have the skills, training, and tools necessary to respond to evolving member expectations, technology, and industry practices.

Benefits

• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• group life insurance
• long-term disability paid by the Y
• short-term disability available for purchase
• term life insurance available for purchase
• dependent life insurance 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
• free summer day camp
• program discounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior