Description

The Community Wellness Director is responsible for the leadership, development, administration, and supervision of the YMCA’s Group Wellness department and staff. Group Wellness includes all group-based health and wellness experiences offered through the YMCA, including Group Exercise programs, Pilates Reformer programming, water-based wellness classes, and the Bernick’s Family Fitness Series. This position provides strategic direction and operational oversight to ensure high-quality programs, member engagement, staff development, and exceptional participant experiences that support the YMCA mission and meet the evolving needs of the community.

The Community Wellness Director oversees all aspects of wellness program operations including staff recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, payroll administration, budget management, program development, member engagement, and departmental performance outcomes. This leader fosters a culture of excellence, relationship-building, innovation, and collaboration across wellness offerings and YMCA departments.

In addition to leadership responsibilities, the Community Wellness Director is expected to maintain an active presence within programming by periodically teaching classes, supporting instructor coverage needs, and directly engaging with members and participants to ensure high-quality experiences and strong relationship-building opportunities.

At the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA, we are united in a sincere desire to live out our great Mission. To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Together, we pledge to do this daily, in our actions and interactions, with staff, members and guests of the YMCA, by serving, caring, and loving. To serve is to meet physical needs through our facility, programs, and responsive actions to questions or requests. To care is to meet emotional needs by engaging in genuine conversation, listening with intention, and developing relationships. To love is to provide opportunities for connection and service by keeping the Y a safe and welcoming place for all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Provides strategic leadership, development, administration, and operational oversight for all Group Wellness programming, including Group Exercise, Pilates Reformer, water-based wellness experiences, and the Bernick’s Family Fitness Series, ensuring alignment with YMCA mission, member engagement goals, and evolving community needs.
Leads the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality wellness programs and services that enhance participant experiences, strengthen member retention, and support organizational growth objectives.
Develops, supervises, and empowers a high-performing wellness team by fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, innovation, collaboration, and relationship-building across all wellness offerings and YMCA departments.
Oversees all aspects of staff management including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, payroll administration, performance management, employee engagement, coaching, and professional development for wellness staff and instructors.
Directs departmental operations and performance outcomes by establishing goals, monitoring key metrics, evaluating program effectiveness, and implementing strategies for continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Develops, manages, and monitors departmental budgets, including revenue generation, expense control, payroll oversight, forecasting, and financial performance analysis to ensure fiscal responsibility and achievement of budget targets.
Identifies opportunities for program innovation, growth, and community engagement through data-informed decision-making, member feedback, industry trends, and collaborative partnerships.
Ensures exceptional member and participant experiences by modeling YMCA values and Listen First practices, proactively addressing concerns, and creating a welcoming, inclusive, and service-oriented environment.
Collaborates with leadership and cross-functional teams to support association initiatives, marketing efforts, membership growth, community outreach, and strategic wellness priorities.
Supports the promotion and communication of wellness programming, events, and member engagement opportunities through effective coordination and community-focused outreach strategies.
Maintains a visible and active presence within wellness programming by regularly engaging with members, supporting wellness operations, and teaching classes or providing instructor coverage as needed to ensure program quality and consistency.
Serves as a role model for wellness staff and instructors by actively participating in wellness programming, demonstrating YMCA values, and fostering meaningful member relationships through direct program engagement.
Performs other duties as assigned to support branch operations and organizational success.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Team Leader):

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with

a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.

Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships

to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailor’s communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change; models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Requirements

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Recreation Management, Health Promotion, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience in fitness, personal training, or health and wellness leadership.
Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in the fitness, personal training, or healthy living field, including demonstrated success in program leadership, staff supervision, and member engagement.
Minimum of 2+ years of direct supervisory and/or management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management, scheduling, payroll oversight, and staff development.
Demonstrated experience in budget development, financial management, and revenue generation, including forecasting, expense control, and achieving or exceeding financial targets.
Current and nationally recognized Personal Training Certification required (e.g., ACSM, NASM, ACE, ISSA, or equivalent).
CPR/AED/First Aid certification required within 30 days of hire and maintained throughout employment.
Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, develop staff talent, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Strong understanding of fitness programming, personal training systems, and member engagement strategies with the ability to drive program growth and retention.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively engage staff, members, leadership, and community partners.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, member-focused environment.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations including youth, adults, and older adults across all fitness levels from beginner to advanced.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a focus on member service excellence and inclusive engagement.
Ability to work flexible hours including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as required by program and operational needs.

Work Environment & Physical Demands: The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee may encounter and must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

Requires frequent and prolonged use of a computer, phone, and other digital devices for scheduling, reporting, budgeting, program management, and communication.
Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the facility to supervise fitness areas, personal training spaces, group exercise environments, and member engagement zones.
Must be able to actively demonstrate, observe, and correct exercise and training techniques, including proper form and safe equipment use.
Frequently required to climb stairs, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, push, pull, and perform a wide range of physical movements while supervising or supporting fitness activities.
Must be able to occasionally lift, move, or assist with equipment and materials weighing up to 50+ pounds.
Requires sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to safely supervise and support fitness and performance programming in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to member needs, safety concerns, and emergency situations, including providing immediate assistance when necessary.
Requires good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to assist with equipment setup, adjustments, and safe operation of fitness equipment.
Must maintain visual acuity (close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception) and auditory ability to monitor participants, ensure safety, and engage effectively in active environments.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, over the phone, and via digital platforms in both quiet and moderately noisy environments.
Works in a fast-paced, active, and sometimes unpredictable fitness environment with frequent member interaction and multiple concurrent demands.
Must be able to maintain composure and effectiveness while working under pressure in a dynamic, service-oriented environment.
Requires the ability to travel locally for meetings, trainings, community events, and collaboration with internal and external partners.

Job Functions: Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities you may be required to perform. The omission of specific descriptions of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related or can be considered essential to this position. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Acknowledgement: I have read and understand this job description and fully understand the requirements set forth herein. I agree to abide by the requirements set forth and to perform all duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability. I understand that my employment is at-will and that this job description does not constitute as an employment contract.

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