Create Your Y Story

At the Y, you can feel more connected to your community, meet new people, expand your knowledge base, and experience one of the most rewarding jobs by helping support our mission of developing individuals, families, and communities, while having fun in a challenging and dynamic atmosphere.

Who We Are

The Greater Valley YMCA (GVYMCA or GVY) is a volunteer-led, nonprofit, community organization. The Y is committed to strengthening community by positively changing lives every day. At each of our branches, we concentrate our efforts in three areas: Healthy Living, Youth Development, and Social Responsibility. And we do so in a way that upholds the Y’s traditional family values of Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Honesty.

For over 100 years, the Y has made tangible differences in the communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Easton, Forks, Nazareth, those comprising the Slate Belt region and the Lehigh Valley as a whole. Founded as individual YMCAs as early as 1897, the following branches of the Greater Valley Y merged together between 2010 and 2015: the Nazareth YMCA, the Suburban North Family YMCA, the Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity and the Bethlehem YMCA. In 2014, the Forks YMCA Education Center was established. The Slate Belt branch was opened in 2015. In January 2017, the Allentown YMCA joined the Greater Valley YMCA.

What it’s Like to Work Here

Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at GVY is “Fulfilling.” Our team members all share a positive attitude, problem-solving abilities, and patience, enabling them to provide excellent customer service even during fast-paced shifts. Our culture, plus continuous opportunities for growth, have resulted in positive impacts for our communities. Don’t miss out on this rare opening with us!

The GVYMCA Is For Everyone

It's our mission to unleash the potential in every team, and we know that teams perform best when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. It is the unique contributions of all GVY'ers that drive our success, and we're committed to building a culture where everyone has the opportunity to do meaningful work and be recognized for their efforts. To that end, we are committed to providing an environment free of discrimination for everyone. You can read more about our commitment to diversity and mission here

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for an experienced Senior Program Director to oversee and direct all wellness and aquatics-related activities, maintenance, and program development at the Allentown branch and related budgets. The ideal candidate will be well-organized and able to creatively think and optimize the use of staff, space, and equipment while reducing operating costs. Leadership abilities and phenomenal efficiency can set you apart from our candidate pool.

A Day in the Life as a Senior Program Director

As a Senior Program Director, you will help the GVYMCA achieve its goals in wellness and aquatics to ensure our Branch accommodates our members and eliminates service desserts in the community. You will be responsible for developing and implementing all programs related to wellness and aquatics to promote the work of the GVYMCA as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

To be able to accomplish the goals set forth in this job description, you will need to possess a will to succeed. "What can I do to advance the Y and help it become more successful?" should be the mindset. The heart of the position will be the ability to look past "what is" and to see "what can/should be." These ideas for new systems, procedures, etc. originate from all YMCA upper management leadership positions, therefore, an elevated level of self-motivation and innovation/creativity is required to be successful at this position.

Core Functions As A Senior Program Director

Member Experience: Through exceptional engagement and relationship building, creates outstanding, personalized customer experiences that foster loyalty to the Y and commitment to its mission, cause, and values as well as encouraging long-lasting and deeper connections between members.

Safe/Clean Environment: Provides safe, clean, and well-maintained equipment and facilities to assist with best supporting the people we serve.

Programs/Services: Based on member feedback and availability, provides exceptionnal service offerings during desired/available times, ensuring quality curriculums and member-focused staff.

Leadership Development: Recruits, hires, trains, manages, appreciates, and leads qualified and committed staff/volunteers who represent the communities we serve and are held accountable for welcoming and valuing members and incorporating relationship-building and member achievement into all programs.

Marketing and Communication: Keeps members and prospective members informed in a timely fashion and uses a variety of clear, concise methods. All communication materials are grounded in the language of the Y’s cause and mission and reflect the diversity of people the Y engages with and maintains the Y’s reputation by promoting the value and impact of being a Y member.

Social Responsibility: Understands and models YMCA values. Focuses on creating positive social and community change through the development of meaningful programs and services and helping to ensure that everyone has access.

Responsibilities As A Senior Program Director

• Develops, implements, and manages operating plans, events, and schedules to promote aquatic and wellness growth and retention for the YMCA.
• Executes strategies to ensure that members and/or program participants connect with one another and the YMCA.
• Recruits, trains, develops, evaluates, recognizes, holds accountable and directs staff and volunteers in assigned areas, to ensure safe, high-quality member-focused services through innovative program development, evaluations, and ongoing staff training.
• Ensures staff certifications are current and complete.
• Models’ relationship-building skills (including Listen First) in all interactions.
• Develops and controls budgets related to the position
• Directs and supervises program activities to meet the needs of the community and fulfill YMCA objectives.
• Establishes new program activities and expands programs within the community in accordance with strategic and operating plans.
• Ensures quality results by monitoring and evaluating program effectiveness and adhering to program standards.
• Provides data and reports as required for assigned programs
• Monitors daily operations and ensures compliance/training with all state and local licensing/regulations.
• Ensures that all procedures are followed, and accurate records are maintained
• Provides leadership and support to the annual fundraising campaign.
• Keeps updated professional knowledge of all programs through self-study, research and/or conference/workshop participation.
• Participates in staff meetings, association meetings and/or other related meetings.
• Takes a leadership role in the planning and coordination of branch-wide and association-wide events.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned.

Who You Would Report to

• Branch Executive Director

Expected Hours Per Week

• Full-time exempt
• 40.00 hours

Pay Range

• $42,000 to $45,000 per year

Where You Would Be Working

• Allentown YMCA Branch: 425 South 15th St, Allentown, PA 18102

• Occasional travel to GVYMCA branches and other locations throughout the Lehigh Valley

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in human services, social services, recreation, business or equivalent preferred.
• Two or more years of experience in aquatics and wellness or equivalent
• Four or more years of program management experience, preferably in a YMCA or other non-profit agency
• Ability to direct programs through supervision of volunteers and staff, development and monitoring of budgets, marketing and public relations, program development and fundraising
• Prefer knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations
• Proven track record of developing authentic and deepened relationships with others
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborations with community organizations
• YMCA Team Leader or Multi-team/Branch Leader certification preferred
• Within 90 days of hire must complete then maintain (based on renewal date of certification) CPR; First Aid; AED; Bloodborne Pathogens, Mandated Reported Training
• Completion of YMCA program-specific and trainer certifications YMCA Swim Instructor certification, ARC or YMCA Lifeguard
• Completion of Redwoods and Praesidium Trainings
• Knowledge of basic accounting and finance principles
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office
• Ability to respond to safety and emergency situations
• Able to effectively communicate and build relationships with Y staff, members, and vendors
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good customer service skills, high ethical standards, an appropriate professional image, and a team player
• Must possess sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment skills, and a positive attitude
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred, but not required

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:
  • climb stairs, bend, stoop, kneel, twist, reach with hands, sit, stand for an extended period, climb ladders, walk, shovel snow, plow snow, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, have finger dexterity, grasp, perform repetitive motions, talk, hear and have visual acuity
  • use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device
• The work is performed both indoors and out and may require travel to various locations.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

Benefits

• Free Membership to the Y
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Retirement Plan (403b)

Start Your Y Journey Today!