Executive Director of Healthy Living

ABOUT US The YMCA of Western North Carolina is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Since 1889, we have served as a trusted community partner, engaging more than 100,000 people each year through seven YMCA branches, dozens of program sites, YMCA Camp Watia in Bryson City, NC, and the state's largest licensed school-age childcare program. Guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, we are committed to creating welcoming, inclusive communities and advancing our work as a multicultural and for all organization. Just as inspiring as our mission is the place we call home. Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Western North Carolina offers an exceptional quality of life with breathtaking natural beauty, endless outdoor recreation, vibrant arts and culture, award-winning restaurants, excellent schools, and a strong sense of community. Whether you're drawn by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through your work or the chance to enjoy an active, family-friendly lifestyle, the YMCA of Western North Carolina offers the opportunity to build both a rewarding career and a fulfilling life in one of the country's most remarkable regions. For more information, please visit ymcawnc.org. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THE ROLE Under the direction of the Senior Vice President of Operations and in partnership with peers across the Association, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership for the YMCA of Western North Carolina's wellness programming and Healthy Living service line. This position is responsible for developing and executing a forward-looking wellness strategy that strengthens the member experience, increases participation and engagement, drives program quality and revenue growth, and positions the YMCA as the leading community resource for health and well-being. The Executive Director leads fitness innovation across the Association by identifying emerging trends, testing and scaling innovative approaches, leveraging data and technology, developing strategic partnerships, and ensuring high-quality and consistent programming across YMCA centers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 1. Wellness Strategy, Innovation and Growth - 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. 2. Wellness Experience and Program Quality - 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 dri e 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. 3. Data, Outcomes and Business Performance - 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. 4. Team Leadership and Talent Development - 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.