Life Enrichment Director

Charles City•Charles City, IA

About The Position

The Life Enrichment Director at Better Living designs and leads meaningful, engaging experiences that honor each resident’s life story, abilities, interests, and sense of purpose. The position focuses on creating joy, connection, dignity, choice, and participation through personalized life-enrichment programming. The director develops and leads programs that support residents’ physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual well-being. They get to know residents and adapt programming to their preferences, feedback, and changing needs, while encouraging resident leadership and peer involvement. The role also supports residents living with dementia through purposeful, sensory-rich programming, familiar routines, and relationship-based engagement strategies. The director contributes to a welcoming community culture, collaborates with other department leaders, and encourages families and guests to participate. Administrative responsibilities include maintaining calendars and documentation, tracking participation, managing supplies, budgets, and donations, and meeting licensing and regulatory requirements. The position also uses digital tools and senior-living software for communication, organization, documentation, and resident engagement. Better Living offers compensation of $19.00 per hour, health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, 401(k) matching, professional development opportunities, and employee assistance programs. The job description states that some evening, weekend, and holiday work may be needed.

Requirements

Experience in activities, recreation, life enrichment, or a related field is preferred.
Technology experience and willingness to learn new software platforms.
Passion for working with older adults and creating meaningful experiences.
Strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
Creative, outgoing, and flexible personality.
Ability to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Confident use of Microsoft Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and digital calendars.
Ability to learn and navigate senior-living software systems, including TSO and documentation platforms.
Comfort using tablets, smart devices, and virtual platforms to enhance resident experiences.
Skill in creating visually appealing newsletters, calendars, and communication materials using approved digital templates.
Ability to assist residents patiently with simple technology tasks.
Strong digital organization habits, including file management and timely documentation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Experience in senior living, assisted living, or memory care strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan and lead a robust calendar of daily, weekly, and monthly life-enrichment experiences.
Design programs supporting residents’ physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual well-being.
Ensure activities are inclusive, engaging, and adaptable to residents’ abilities.
Create experiences that encourage resident choice and participation, incorporating music, movement, art, games, outings, celebrations, and purpose-driven activities.
Learn residents’ life stories, interests, and preferences, and adapt programming to resident feedback and evolving needs.
Encourage resident leadership, clubs, committees, and peer-to-peer involvement while supporting dignity, independence, and meaningful engagement.
Partner with the care team to support residents living with dementia through purposeful, sensory-rich programming.
Implement structured daily routines that promote comfort, familiarity, and success, using redirection, validation, and relationship-based engagement strategies.
Model and promote Better Living’s mission and values and contribute energy, positivity, and creativity to the community.
Partner with department leaders on cross-department experiences; welcome families and guests and encourage participation in community life.
Represent Better Living positively during tours, events, and community outreach.
Maintain accurate activity calendars and documentation in accordance with company standards and state regulations.
Track participation and engagement; manage activity supplies, budgets, and donations.
Ensure programs meet licensing and regulatory requirements; complete required training and attend team meetings.
Use digital tools and senior-living software for resident engagement, communication, departmental organization, and documentation.
Create newsletters, calendars, and communication materials using approved digital templates, and assist residents with simple technology tasks.