Activity Director / Life Enrichment Director

Alliance Residences; Maple Grove (MN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Paid training and continuing education

Shift differentials

Employee referral bonuses

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Alliance Residences in Minnesota seeks an Activity Director/Life Enrichment Director to design and lead a person-centered activity program for older adults, including those with cognitive changes. You will plan individual and group activities across physical, cognitive, social, and spiritual domains, fostering joy, connection, and family involvement.

The role covers program design, community outreach, and coordination with nursing and care teams, with opportunities across full-time, part-time,

Qualifications

• Experience planning and leading recreational, social, or therapeutic activities in a senior living, memory care, healthcare, or community setting.
• Strong creativity, organization, communication, and people skills.
• Comfort working with older adults, adults with cognitive change, and their families.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record; willingness to drive residents on community outings as needed.
• Ability to pass a Minnesota DHS background study.

Responsibilities

• Develop individualized activity plans aligned with resident history, preferences, abilities and goals.
• Design and lead dementia-friendly, sensory-based programming to support residents with cognitive change.
• Publish a monthly activity calendar covering physical, cognitive, social, creative, and spiritual programming.
• Lead group activities, events, holidays, birthdays, and resident celebrations.
• Coordinate community outings, intergenerational programs, and on-site visits from local partners.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and recognize volunteers.
• Build relationships with families and keep them informed about programming and participation.
• Welcome and orient new residents to the life enrichment program.
• Participate in resident care conferences and contribute to person-centered care plans.
• Assess social, cognitive, and recreational needs and update plans as resident needs change.
• Document resident participation and outcomes in the EHR to support care planning and MDH survey readiness.
• Collaborate with nursing, dining, and housekeeping to integrate enrichment into everyday life.
• Manage the life enrichment budget, supplies, and equipment.
• Identify, evaluate, and bring in entertainers, instructors, and community partners.
• Maintain transport, safety, and emergency evacuation protocols for outings.

Skills

Experience planning activities

Creative thinking

Organizational skills

Communication skills

People skills

Valid driver’s license

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation therapy or related field

Activity Director certification (preferred)

Tools

EHR documentation

Job description

About Alliance Residences

Alliance Residences is a Minnesota-licensed assisted living community providing person-centered care to older adults and adults with complex needs. Our team is built around dignity, safety, and a culture where residents feel at home and staff feel supported.

Position Summary

The Activity Director / Life Enrichment Director designs and leads an engaging, person-centered activity program that brings purpose, connection, and joy to daily life at Alliance Residences. This role plans individual and group programming across physical, cognitive, social, and spiritual domains, with a strong focus on dementia-friendly engagement, family involvement, and community connection.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Design and Delivery

• Develop individualized activity plans aligned with each resident’s history, preferences, abilities, and goals.
• Design and lead dementia-friendly, sensory-based programming that supports residents living with cognitive change and helps reduce agitation.
• Produce and publish a monthly activity calendar covering physical, cognitive, social, creative, and spiritual programming.
• Lead group activities, special events, holidays, birthdays, and resident celebrations.

Community and Family Engagement

• Coordinate community outings, intergenerational programs, and on-site visits from local partners.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and recognize volunteers.
• Build relationships with families and keep them informed about programming and resident participation.
• Welcome and orient new residents to the life enrichment program.

Collaboration and Documentation

• Participate in resident care conferences and contribute to person-centered care plans.
• Assess social, cognitive, and recreational needs and update plans as resident needs change.
• Document resident participation and outcomes in the EHR to support care planning and MDH survey readiness.
• Collaborate with nursing, dining, and housekeeping to integrate enrichment into everyday life.

Program Management

• Manage the life enrichment budget, supplies, and equipment.
• Identify, evaluate, and bring in entertainers, instructors, and community partners.
• Maintain transport, safety, and emergency evacuation protocols for outings.

Required Qualifications

• Experience planning and leading recreational, social, or therapeutic activities in a senior living, memory care, healthcare, or community setting.
• Strong creativity, organization, communication, and people skills.
• Comfort working with older adults, adults with cognitive change, and their families.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record; willingness to drive residents on community outings as needed.
• Ability to pass a Minnesota DHS background study.

Preferred Qualifications

• Activity Director or Activity Professional certification (e.g., NCCAP, ACC, ADC).
• Bachelor’s degree in recreation therapy, gerontology, social work, education, or a related field.
• Experience designing dementia-specific or sensory-based programming.
• Experience managing volunteers, budgets, and outside vendors.

Required Training

• Advanced dementia care training beyond standard requirements.
• Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act mandated reporter training.
• Safe transport and emergency evacuation training for resident outings.
• MDH 144G orientation prior to providing direct resident contact.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lead active programming, including standing, walking, dancing, gardening, and assisting residents during outings.
• Ability to push wheelchairs and assist with safe boarding and exiting of a community vehicle.
• Ability to lift and carry supplies and equipment up to 30 lbs.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to operate the community vehicle.

Schedule

Alliance Residences offers full-time, part-time, and PRN opportunities across day, evening, and overnight (NOC) shifts, including weekends and holidays. Specific shift availability and scheduling expectations will be reviewed during the interview process.

Benefits

Alliance Residences is proud to invest in our team. Eligible employees receive:

• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time
• Paid training and continuing education
• Shift differentials and employee referral bonuses
• Career growth and advancement opportunities within Alliance Residences

Benefit eligibility varies based on employment status (full-time, part-time, or PRN) and length of service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Alliance Residences is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and residents. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.