Job Description

Pay starts at $90,000 per year and up based on experience

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Group Vice President (GVP) manages day-to-day operations and leads innovations throughout their portfolio and specialty areas of the organization. The GVP is strategically guided by the YMCA operating principles, association leadership norms and must operate in a manner consistent with our organizational values. The GVP is responsible for ensuring the successful operation of assigned centers while providing senior leadership to specialty cabinets and initiatives. The GVP is a vital member of YMCA leadership staff and a highly visible representative of the YMCA mission, core values and are accountable for knowing and properly executing all YMCA policies and procedures.

Qualifications

What You Bring

Required

Bachelor's degree in recreation, exercise science, business, social services, or a related field.
Eight (8) or more years of leadership experience within the YMCA, multi-site operations, or nonprofit organizations.
Demonstrated success leading complex operations, budgets, teams, and strategic initiatives.

Preferred

YMCA Organizational Leader Certification.
Experience leading fundraising campaigns and community partnership initiatives.

Essential Functions

What to Expect
This is a highly rewarding and demanding executive leadership position. Success in this role requires balancing multiple priorities while leading through influence, accountability, and collaboration.

In this role, you will:
Lead multiple YMCA branches and service areas with responsibility for operational performance, financial outcomes, safety, and member experience.
Coach and develop leaders while building leadership capacity across the organization.
Analyze financial performance, make data-driven decisions, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
Lead strategic initiatives that drive membership growth, program expansion, community engagement, and operational efficiency.
Serve as an ambassador for the YMCA in the community, developing partnerships with stakeholders, donors, government agencies, schools, and community organizations.
Play a significant role in fundraising efforts, including annual campaigns, capital campaigns, grants, and endowment development.
Navigate complex situations involving staffing, facility operations, risk management, and crisis response.
Travel regularly between assigned branches and community meetings.
Balance immediate operational challenges with long-term strategic priorities.

Challenges You May Encounte

Managing competing priorities across multiple locations and departments.
Making difficult decisions related to budgets, staffing, and resource allocation.
Leading organizational change and innovation while maintaining operational stability.
Responding to unexpected operational, facility, or community issues that require immediate attention.
Maintaining high standards for performance, safety, and accountability across diverse teams.

What Makes This Role Rewarding

Directly impacting the lives of youth, families, and communities.
Leading talented teams who are passionate about the YMCA mission.
Helping shape the future direction and growth of the organization.
Building meaningful community partnerships that create lasting change.
Developing leaders and creating opportunities for staff and volunteers to thrive.

This Role May Be a Great Fit If You:
✓ Thrive in fast-paced, complex environments where no two days are the same.

✓ Enjoy balancing strategy and execution.

✓ Have a track record of successfully leading multi-site operations, nonprofit organizations, or large service-based organizations.

✓ Are comfortable using financial data, KPIs, and operational metrics to drive decision-making.

✓ Can build trust and relationships with diverse groups of people, including staff, volunteers, donors, board members, and community partners.

✓ Have experience leading through change while maintaining employee engagement and organizational stability.

✓ Are passionate about community impact and mission-driven work.

✓ Value accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

✓ Are energized by coaching and developing leaders.

✓ Can effectively manage ambiguity and make decisions with incomplete information.

This Role May Not Be the Right Fit If You:
✗ Prefer focusing on a single location, department, or area of responsibility.

✗ Are uncomfortable making difficult decisions related to performance, budgets, or organizational priorities.

✗ Prefer highly structured environments with limited change or ambiguity.

✗ Do not enjoy public-facing leadership responsibilities, fundraising, or community engagement.

✗ Prefer individual contributor work over coaching and developing others.

✗ Become frustrated when balancing competing priorities or responding to unexpected operational issues.

✗ Are seeking a role with limited travel, evening commitments, or occasional crisis-response responsibilities.

✗ Prefer a role focused primarily on program delivery rather than strategic leadership and organizational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

Establish measurable operational and performance goals aligned with the Association's strategic plan.
Ensure safe, effective, and efficient operation of assigned branches and service areas.
Drive innovation, growth, and operational excellence across assigned areas.
Lead strategic planning, quality assurance, risk management, and crisis response efforts.

Financial Stewardship

Develop and manage annual operating budgets.
Monitor monthly financial performance and key performance indicators.
Identify trends, mitigate risks, and implement corrective actions as needed.

People & Culture Leadership

Lead diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.
Support leadership development, employee engagement, and succession planning.
Foster a culture rooted in YMCA values and leadership competencies.

Community Engagement & Fundraising

Lead Annual Campaign, Capital Campaign, and Endowment fundraising efforts.
Build strategic partnerships that advance YMCA goals.
Collaborate with volunteers, advisory committees, and community stakeholders.

Program & Membership Growth

Expand programs and services to meet community needs.
Support membership recruitment and retention efforts.
Identify grant opportunities and new funding sources.

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