Senior Center Director

City of Stoughton•Stoughton, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Nestled along the Yahara River in the heart of downtown, the Stoughton Area Senior Center is a welcoming community space dedicated to enriching the lives of adults age 55+ and their families. As part of the Dane County Area Agency on Aging focal point network, the Center connects older adults with a wide range of programs, services, social opportunities, and support tailored to their diverse interests and needs. Rooted in Stoughton—a warm, thriving community just 20 minutes south of Madison, known for its rich Norwegian heritage, historic charm, and strong local pride—the Senior Center reflects the spirit of its city: welcoming, active, and deeply community-minded. With a mission centered on engagement and well-being, the Stoughton Area Senior Center offers an inviting place to gather, learn, and thrive. Stoughton blends small-town charm with big-city access—making it a great place to work, live, and make a meaningful impact. Join our team as the Director of the Stoughton Area Senior Center and help continue fostering a welcoming, vibrant community for older adults! In this role, you’ll lead daily operations and ensure our programs meet state accreditation standards. You’ll guide dedicated staff and make decisions related to hiring, training, evaluations, and work assignments. You’ll develop policies, long-range plans, and budgets, as well as oversee program planning, evaluation, and resource development—including fundraising and grant writing. You’ll collaborate closely with city, county, and federal partners, work with the Commission on Aging, and support meaningful experiences for program participants. This role also includes managing safety and emergency plans, ensuring compliance with City purchasing and grant requirements, and maintaining accurate records and reports. A passion for serving seniors and Community engagement is at the heart of the role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in gerontology or a related field with five+ years of experience developing and administering programs for the elderly, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Certification in CPR.
Must pass a background check, driver’s license check, pre-employment physical, and drug screen.
Supervisory Skills: Ability to assign, supervise, and review the work of paid and volunteer staff. Ability to make decisions regarding the selection, training, discipline, and discharge of employees.
Language Skills: Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including performance evaluations, activity reports, financial reports, outreach reports, program reports, hospital reports, operations manuals, policy and proposal manuals, long-range plans, technical journals and other reference materials, etc. Ability to prepare a variety of documents including medical, financial, service, volunteer, and other reports, performance evaluations, program proposals, etc. using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow instructions. Ability to counsel, provide support and encouragement, and perceive changes in psychological functioning. Ability to communicate effectively with Area Senior Center personnel and volunteers, Commission on Aging representatives, City Council members, community human services agencies, families of participants, church representatives, the general public, and others verbally and in writing.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, and calculate percentages, fractions, and decimals.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability: Ability to use functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities. Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental criteria.
Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Position Functions: Ability to operate a variety of office equipment, including computer, photocopier, telephone, video camera, etc.
Environmental Adaptability: Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors is minimal and poses little risk of injury. Ability to work effectively in an office environment.

Responsibilities

Maintains and coordinates both the National and State Accreditation mandates and re- accreditation as needed for the Stoughton Area Senior Center.
Develops and implements Stoughton Area Senior Center policies and procedures; develops long range plans.
Supervises and directs the operations and provision of services by the Area Senior Center. This includes making final decisions regarding hiring, disciplining, evaluations and work assignments.
Supervise intern students from-UW, MATC, etc., while at Center.
Supervises and directs the activities of Area Senior Center staff; coordinates staff-training and development activities; prepares performance evaluations.
Coordinates and delegates program planning activities; evaluates services and operations; involves program participants in planning and operation activities.
Coordinates fiscal management and budgeting activities and user statistics reporting systems.
Coordinates resource development and fluid raising activities.
Coordinates records and reports as required.
Develops and implements emergency and safety plans for program participants and staff.
Coordinates activities with various City, county, and federal agencies.
Maintains contact, works closely with, and coordinates activities with the Commission on Aging; attends monthly Commission meetings; maintains contact and acts as liaison with the City Council and other City and county organizations.
Coordinates staff participation in Seniors in Need Program; adherence to purchase order policy, competitive bidding procedures, and City purchasing policy and coordinates contract grant compliance.
Initiates grant writing on yearly basis for service needs.
Performs other duties for Center and City as required.