Sr. Risk and Safety Director

YMCA Of Greater Seattle•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Senior Risk & Safety Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for the YMCA of Greater Seattle risk management, safety, compliance, and volunteer processes. This role ensures the YMCA maintains the highest standards of workplace safety and risk management practices and provides intentional leadership for workplace safety, aquatics safety, child safety, and compliance. The Senior Director serves as a subject matter expert and thought partner for Association leadership, driving a proactive safety culture while mentoring staff and leading cross-departmental collaboration. Candidates with strong programmatic leadership experience, particularly in aquatics, camp, youth development, or other high-safety environments are encouraged to apply, as these backgrounds often provide valuable expertise in risk management and safety culture.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in risk management, Safety, Compliance, Public Administration, or related field (master’s degree preferred).
Minimum 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in risk management, workplace safety, or compliance, or a programmatic leadership role with significant safety and risk responsibilities (e.g., aquatics, youth programs, camp operations).
Proven knowledge of OSHA/WISHA, aquatic safety, and child abuse prevention standards.
Strong knowledge of workers’ compensation, liability claims, and insurance processes.
Demonstrated ability to lead change, develop culture, and manage cross-functional initiatives.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and analytical skills.
Experience in nonprofit or youth-serving organizations strongly preferred.
Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, risk management platforms, and volunteer systems.
Other applicable education, training, and experience that provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in this position will be considered.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working in a matrix business environment.
Prior experience working in a non-profit organization.
Legal experience or background.
Knowledge and previous experience working with diverse populations (for example, language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation)
Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.

Responsibilities

Provide visionary leadership in developing and executing a comprehensive enterprise risk management and compliance strategy.
Ensure organizational adherence to OSHA, WISHA, federal/state safety regulations, DOH, YMCA-USA membership standards, and insurance requirements.
Design and implement insurance policies and procedures to minimize property claims and liability exposure.
Lead enterprise-wide risk assessments across all branches and programs, including aquatics, youth-serving environments, camps, and housing.
Direct incident response, investigations, and corrective action planning with a focus on transparency and accountability.
Serve as the executive point of contact for risk-related incidents, ensuring proper escalation, documentation, and resolution.
Manage claims processes, including hearings and litigation, while maintaining confidentiality and service excellence.
Analyze accident and incident data to identify trends, recommend solutions, and drive continuous improvement.
Advise senior leadership on emerging risks, compliance gaps, and mitigation strategies.
Partner with insurers, legal counsel, regulators, and medical professionals to resolve complex safety and risk matters.
Ensure safety equipment and resources are available, maintained, and deployed across all branches.
Provides executive oversight of Aquatics Safety compliance, ensuring implementation of the YMCA Aquatics Safety Plan.
Leads strategy for aquatic risk reduction, including audits, drills, and certification processes for lifeguards and aquatic staff.
Serves as a key liaison with Red Cross, health departments, and regulatory agencies to uphold child and aquatic safety standards.
Direct association-wide safety training initiatives, including CPR, First Aid, AED, aquatic safety, driver safety, and emergency response.
Partner with HR to embed safety practices into onboarding and ongoing staff development.
Championing a safety-first culture by coaching leaders, equipping managers, and integrating risk awareness into daily operations.
Oversee emergency preparedness drills and driver/vehicle safety programs across the organization.
Oversee risk management systems and databases, ensuring integrity and accuracy of incident, compliance, and volunteer records.
Conduct audits, recommend corrective actions, and monitor implementation.
Analyze safety data to identify trends and proactively implement preventative measures.
Deliver regular reports and strategic recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team and Board Committees.
Use data-driven insights to refine policies, procedures, and training programs.
Provide leadership for volunteer risk management, onboarding, and compliance processes.
Collaborate with Volunteer Matters to ensure alignment with YMCA standards.
Partner with branch teams to ensure consistent volunteer screening, training, and supervision.
Supervise and mentor risk and safety staff, fostering professional growth and accountability.
Collaborate with HR, Finance, IT, YSIC, Camps and Branch Operations to integrate risk and safety practices across all functions.
Serve on Safety, Child Protection, and Aquatics committees, contributing to organizational governance and oversight.
Uphold policies related to boundaries with members, employees, participants, and mandated reporting requirements.
Maintain strict compliance with job-specific abuse risk management responsibilities.
Ensure organizational compliance with ACA (American Camp Association) standards