Operations Director - Licensed Programs

YMCA Detroit•Farmington Hills, MI

About The Position

The Operations Director is a strategic, mission-driven, operationally focused leader for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. Under the guidance of the Vice President of Operations, this role provides executive leadership and oversight for an assigned portfolio of out-of-school time programs, including Y Learning Centers (before- and afterschool care), Girls on the Run, PACE, and Summer Day Camp. The role is accountable for the portfolio’s quality, growth, financial performance, compliance, safety, and operational effectiveness, and works with branch and association leadership and community partners to ensure programs respond to the needs of children, youth, families, and communities. The Operations Director leads staff hiring, training, development, coaching, and supervision; coordinates staff to support high-quality program delivery; and helps foster a culture of innovation, equity, accountability, and professional growth. The role directs strategy, redesign, and expansion across the assigned programs, establishes operational and safety standards, and oversees program evaluation and continuous improvement. The position partners with Finance and the Association Business Office Manager on budgets, forecasts, financial controls, and performance expectations. It monitors financial results, oversees branch budgets, develops strategies for enrollment, revenue, retention, expense management, and sustainability, and directs branch financial development activities, including cultivating donors and securing gifts. The role ensures programs follow applicable licensing, contractual, regulatory, YMCA, and Association requirements and that safety, child abuse prevention, emergency preparedness, incident reporting, risk management, and corrective-action practices are implemented consistently.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Four years of experience in youth development or a related field.
Five or more years of management experience, preferably at a YMCA or other nonprofit agency.
Experience managing and developing staff and volunteers.
Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
Proven track record of developing authentic relationships with others.

Nice To Haves

YMCA Multi-Team Leader certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership and oversight for the assigned out-of-school time portfolio, including Y Learning Centers, Girls on the Run, PACE, and Summer Day Camp.
Align portfolio vision, growth, and community impact with the YMCA mission; operationalize strategy, redesign, and expansion.
Hire, train, develop, coach, and supervise staff, and foster a culture of learning, innovation, equity, accountability, and professional growth.
Coordinate staff to ensure high-quality program delivery and operational excellence, and support meaningful relationships with participants, volunteers, members, and community leaders.
Participate in the Executive Leadership Team and select program leadership groups.
Ensure programs address the developmental, social, emotional, and educational needs of children and youth.
Set operational standards, safety policies, and evidence-based practices for youth development quality across program locations.
Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of programs and services in response to community needs and to support participation and revenue growth.
Manage audit, evaluation, and observation frameworks; track performance data and implement targeted improvement strategies using feedback from youth, families, staff, and community partners.
Partner with Finance and the Association Business Office Manager to develop annual operating budgets, forecasts, financial controls, and performance expectations.
Review financial performance and address variances, risks, and opportunities; ensure programs operate within approved budgets while maintaining quality and mission impact.
Oversee the branch budget and ensure operating budgets meet or exceed targets.
Develop strategies to improve enrollment, revenue generation, retention, expense management, and financial sustainability.
Build relationships with school districts, families, and funders to support participation, retention, and family satisfaction.
Direct branch financial development activities, cultivate donors, and secure gifts.
Understand community needs and communicate community benefits.
Ensure Association standards and policies are followed, including those concerning branch access, emergency procedures, risk management, and child abuse prevention.
Ensure assigned programs comply with applicable licensing, contractual, regulatory, YMCA, and Association requirements.
Ensure corrective actions arising from audits, licensing visits, safety reviews, and other assessments are addressed and sustained.
Implement Association practices for participant safety, emergency preparedness, incident reporting, child abuse prevention, and risk management, and promote shared responsibility for safety and compliance.
Perform other duties as assigned.