<p>Under the direction of the Associate Executive Director, the Program Director provides leadership and operational oversight for Stay & Play, Family Programming (including but not limited to martial arts, dance, visual arts, STEM, and recreation programs), and all Center-based Special Events. The Program Director is responsible for creating developmentally appropriate, mission-driven programs that support youth development, family engagement, and member retention.</p> <p>This position ensures high-quality program delivery, strong staff leadership, safety compliance, and consistent communication with members and families. The Program Director plays a key role in supporting membership growth through engaging, member-centered programming and special events that elevate the YMCA experience.</p> <p>Critical areas of expertise include: youth programming best practices, curriculum design, family engagement, team leadership, strong customer service, multi-program management, budget oversight, event planning, and driving program participation growth.</p> <p>ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:</p> <p>Program Quality and Growth</p> <ul> <li> <p>Stay and Play></p> </li><li> <p>Provides daily leadership and direct oversight of all Stay & Play operations, ensuring a safe, structured, and welcoming environment for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.</p> </li><li> <p>Ensures high-quality supervision practices, appropriate activity planning, and age-appropriate engagement.</p> </li><li> <p>Maintains all safety and cleanliness standards in accordance with YMCA policies and local regulations.</p> </li><li> <p>Trains and supervises Stay & Play staff in child development, behavior management, safety procedures, and member engagement.</p> </li><li> <p>Ensures ratios, sign-in/out procedures, and safety protocols are consistently followed.</p> </li><li> <p>Evaluates program quality through observation, parent feedback, and NPS measures; creates action plans for improvement.</p> </li><li> <p>Builds strong relationships with parents, providing consistent communication and exceptional service.</p> </li><li> <p>Youth and Family Programming ></p> </li><li> <p>Provides leadership, development, and supervision for all family-focused enrichment and skills-based programs.</p> </li><li> <p>Designs program curriculum, schedules, class structures, and instructor guidelines across all enrichment areas.</p> </li><li> <p>Recruits, trains, evaluates, and supports instructors, coaches, and volunteers to ensure excellence in program delivery.</p> </li><li> <p>Ensures programs are mission-aligned, developmentally appropriate, and designed to support youth confidence, creativity, and skill-building.</p> </li><li> <p>Monitors class quality, participant engagement, and instructor performance through regular observation and feedback.</p> </li><li> <p>Collaborates with Membership and Marketing teams to drive enrollment and retention across all program cycles.</p> </li><li> <p>Develops new program offerings based on family needs, community trends, and strategic goals.</p> </li><li> <p>Ensures safe environments and proper equipment for all enrichment classes and family programs.</p> </li><li> <p>Plans for and implements regular value-added membership programs and services that add value to the membership and elevate membership experience.</p> </li><li> <p>Special Events ></p> </li><li> <p>Serves as the primary planner and coordinator for all center-led special events, including Family Fun Nights, holiday celebrations, member appreciation events, open houses, and community engagement activities.</p> </li><li> <p>Manages event logistics including themes, schedules, supplies, volunteer coordination, staffing plans, safety procedures, and execution.</p> </li><li> <p>Develops annual event calendar aligned with center and association priorities to drive engagement and membership growth.</p> </li><li> <p>Partners with Membership, Wellness, Aquatics, and Sports departments for cross-center event collaboration.</p> </li><li> <p>Ensures events are welcoming, inclusive, mission-centered, and reflective of YMCA values.</p> </li><li> <p>Oversees event budgeting, sponsorship opportunities, and cost control.</p> </li><li> <p>Collects and analyzes attendance, satisfaction, and feedback to continuously improve future events.</p> </li></ul> <p>Program Operations/Team Leadership</p> <ul> <li> <p>Administrative></p> </li><li> <p>Responds to member and participant concerns in a timely manner, ensuring a positive program experience for members and participants. Anticipate and exceed expectations consistently throughout programs.</p> </li><li> <p>Develops and implements association survey and measurement strategies and action plans through NPS surveys.</p> </li><li> <p>Leads strategy implementation to achieve strategic plan targets for programming.</p> </li><li> <p>Generates and/or analyzes program enrollment, and revenue to monitor and report on achievement of goals.</p> </li><li> <p>Develops and controls department budgets so that resources are devoted to top priorities and strategic objectives.</p> </li><li> <p>Team Leadership></p> </li><li> <p>Provides direct supervision and leadership to direct reports while hiring, developing, motivating and retaining a committed team passionate about the YMCA's mission, safety and service to members.</p> </li><li> <p>Advocates for association-wide practices and is a source for innovative ways to grow the program member experience, base, and practices.</p> </li><li> <p>Leader-On-Duty:</p> </li><li> <p>Serves as Leader-On-Duty within the Leadership Team's monthly schedule.</p> </li><li> <p>Supports other YMCA program areas:</p> </li><li> <p>Assists in maintaining a collaborative environment by supporting the operations of other programs, as needed.</p> </li><li> <p>Membership Engagement and Retention:</p> </li><li> <p>Evaluates members connection and commitment to YMCA programs and services ensuring the member experience is consistent, integrated, and aligned to YMCA goals.</p> </li><li> <p>Assists with monthly marketing and communication for programming.</p> </li></ul> <p>Safety and Risk Management</p> <ul> <li>Adhere to all Federal, State, and local safety regulations, as well as all YMCA policies and procedures related to the safety, health, and welfare of members, participants, guests, and staff. </li><li>Ensure that all Tampa YMCA standards, leading practices, and policies are implemented and consistently followed, including those related to emergency procedures, child abuse prevention, and appropriate supervision. </li><li>Maintain a safe and healthy environment at all times, including performing daily safety checks of program areas, equipment, and supplies. </li><li>Supervises meals, snacks, restroom, and transition periods to promote a safe, orderly environment and encourage healthy habits. </li><li>Conduct health checks on children for potential health concerns such as head lice, ringworm, or other communicable conditions, and reports immediately to the Program Director. </li><li>Adhere to policies and procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising participants and boundaries with participants and their families. </li><li>Ensure high-risk areas (e.g., restrooms, locker rooms, closets) are monitored and secured when not in use. </li><li>Maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios and provides active, engaged supervision at all times. </li><li>Follow established sign-in/sign-out procedures to ensure children are released only to authorized adults. </li><li>Responds appropriately to behavioral and medical incidents, documenting and reporting as required. </li><li>Adhere to risk management training requirements including child abuse prevention </li><li>Support a safe, positive, and inclusive environment where children feel secure and respected </li><li>Promptly report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior, as well as policy violations, following established association procedures. </li></ul> <p>Education/ Experience Required:</p> <ul> <li>BA/BS in Youth Development, Recreation, Health Sciences, Physical Education or related field or equivalent experience preferred. </li><li>Minimum of one to three years of experience in child care, sports, aquatics, or similar youth related programs with supervisory and payroll management experience required. </li><li>Experience serving on leadership team of a Y (or similar) membership organization serving over 2,000 membership households preferred. </li><li>Proven results in increasing program quality and growth through exceptional planning and organizational skills. </li><li>Highly motivated with the consistent ability to meet or exceed goals, cultivate and retain program participants. </li><li>Ability to quickly build rapport and develop effective relationships with program prospects and others to achieve goals. </li><li>Consistently self-driven and goal-oriented with the ability to set effective team and individual goals and take ownership for results. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to multi-task and adapt to changing contexts and priorities. </li><li>Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to identify and leverage relevant data to use in planning and decision-making. </li><li>Ability to understand, adapt to and interact with diverse people, teams, perspectives and cultures. </li><li>Proficient in using email, Internet, and other PC-based applications with the ability to learn and adapt to new technology. </li></ul> <p>Certifications/Trainings Required:</p> <ul> <li>Must obtain within 30 days of employment and then maintain current certifications in BLS, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration. </li><li>Maintain other required certifications as stated in the training matrix. </li></ul> <p>WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:</p> <p>The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job includes, but not limited to:</p> <ul> <li>The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to supervise program activities in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor locations. </li><li>While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and authorized work phone/smart device. </li><li>Ability to instruct and observe participants during program activities. </li><li>The employee frequently is required to see, observe, and hear all participants, and make sound judgments and decisions. </li><li>Ability to perform all physical aspects of the position, including, but not limited to, leading class, walking, standing, bending, reaching, and lifting. </li><li>Ability to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment. </li><li>Hear noises and distress signals in the program environment, including in the classroom and anywhere around the zone of responsibility. </li><li>Must have flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. </li><li>Ability to lift and move a minimum of 30 pounds. </li><li>Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. </li><li>Ability to work in a variety of environments, specifically those subject to extreme humidity/dampness, heat and cold. </li><li>The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. </li><li>This position requires reliable transportation and willing to travel, if needed. </li><li>This position may require availability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. </li><li>Must be able to perform all duties and functions of those that are supervised </li></ul> <p>ACCOUNTABILITY:</p> <p>Accountable for completion of assigned goals as measured by the number of people served, cause driven measures, service satisfaction scores, operating results, and supervisor evaluation of assigned duties. Accountable for attaining and exceeding all State licensing standards as well as Association Operating Guidelines.</p>