Program Manager

Dominique Dawes Academy; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Dominique Dawes Academy is seeking a Program Manager to oversee daily gym operations, coaching staff, and program quality for our recreational gymnastics and ninja offerings. You will act as Manager on Duty, coordinate schedules, and lead a team to deliver safe, engaging classes and events.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will hire and develop coaches, monitor customer experience, and drive enrollment growth while maintaining a fun, supportive environment for children and families.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and team development skills with ability to coach, motivate, and hold staff accountable.
• Excellent customer service, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage daily gym operations, staff coverage, and multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with gymnastics, youth athletics, or youth development programs is preferred.
• Experience with staff scheduling, onboarding, training, and performance management.
• Proven ability to create a clean, safe, and engaging environment for participants, families, and staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of how program quality impacts member satisfaction and enrollment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Manager on Duty (MOD) for a significant portion of shifts, overseeing daily floor operations and safety.
• Coordinate program change-overs, floor scheduling, and class rotations to meet quality standards.
• Monitor cleanliness, safety, and readiness of gym and equipment; assist with safety audits and incident follow-ups.
• Lead, schedule, onboard, and develop staff and coaches; provide training and evaluations.
• Support hiring decisions for coaches and participate in staff performance management.
• Maintain open communication with parents regarding progress and program updates.
• Drive year-round gymnastics and ninja programs and assist with curriculum updates and planning.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Communication

Problem solving

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Full-time

Description

The Program Manager (PM) at Dominique Dawes Academy is responsible for the operational and quality aspects of daily program delivery and coaching team leadership supporting the academy's core recreational gymnastics and ninja offerings. This role spends the majority of its time on the floor, serving as Manager on Duty (MOD) for a significant portion of scheduled hours, ensuring classes, camps, and events run safely, on time, and to a high standard. Reporting to the General Manager, the PM coordinates lesson plans, class schedules and rotations, and manages and develops coaching staff, while delivering an exceptional customer experience for families.

The PM plays an integral part in fostering a fun, safe, and positive environment for children and families, and supports the General Manager on key performance indicators such as customer satisfaction, retention, and enrollment growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Manager on Duty (MOD) for a significant portion of scheduled shifts, overseeing daily floor operations, safety, and staff presence.
• Coordinate program change-overs, floor scheduling, and class rotations, ensuring classes and programs run on time and align with established quality standards.
• Monitor cleanliness, safety, and readiness of the gym and equipment; assist with safety audits, enforce policies, and follow up on incident reports.
• Ensure the training floor is maintained as a safe environment for participants and staff.
• Build and maintain a welcoming, safe, and engaging training environment; serve as the on-floor point of contact for families, addressing inquiries and resolving concerns with professionalism and care.
• Support the General Manager with hiring and selecting coaches for open positions.
• Supervise, schedule, onboard, and develop staff and coaches.
• Provide training, mentoring, and performance evaluations to ensure high-quality instruction and customer service.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement among staff.
• Maintain open communication with parents regarding program updates and participant progress.
• Support the General Manager with staffing and execution logistics for seasonal camps, special events, open gyms, and birthday parties.
• Coordinate and drive all gymnastics and ninja fitness programs year-round, ensuring alignment with Dominique Dawes Academy’s mission and standards.
• Partner with leadership to update curriculum and roll out timely lesson plans.
• Partner with the General Manager to develop class schedules, program calendars, and event logistics plans to support efficient operations and high-quality participant experiences.
• Lead day-of-execution of programming and events, ensuring camps, special events, open gyms, and birthday parties are properly staffed and executed to the academy's standards of excellence.
• Provide operational input on program improvements as requested by the General Manager.
• Assist with spotting and actively participate in floor activities/instruction when needed to support class flow and staff coverage.
• Uphold and model the academy's core values of respect, teamwork, and excellence in all interactions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and team development skills, with the ability to coach, motivate and hold staff accountable.
• Strong operational judgement with the ability to make timely decisions related to staffing, safety, programming, and daily floor operations.
• Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for families and participants.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Collaborative approach to working with staff and leadership to address challenges continuously improve program operations.
• Strong interpersonal and written skills to effectively engage with staff, families, and leadership.
• Adaptable and proactive, with the ability to respond effectively to changing staffing, programming, and operational needs.

Requirements

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in recreation, sports management, education, kinesiology, business, or related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of gymnastics coaching or instruction experience, with a strong knowledge of safe coaching, spotting, and class management practices.
• 2+ years of supervisory, team lead, or management experience, including experience coaching, developing, or providing feedback to staff.
• Experience working in gymnastics, youth athletics, children's enrichment, recreation, fitness, or youth development programs .
• Experience with staff scheduling, onboarding, training, and performance management.
• Experience supporting the delivery of classes, camps, events, or other youth-focused programming.
• Excellent customer service, communication, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively manage daily floor operations, staff coverage, and multiple program priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a clean, safe, positive, and engaging environment for participants , families, and staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of how program quality and customer experience impact member satisfaction, retention, and enrollment.

Work Schedule & Environment

• Onsite presence required to support daily gym operations.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends as needed for classes, camps, events, or peak programming times.
• Active, energetic gym environment with frequent interaction with children, parents, and staff.
• Fast-paced and dynamic setting, requiring adaptability to shifting program and operational needs.
• Collaborative, team-focused culture committed to safety, excellence, and fun.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly standing, walking, and moving throughout the gym and facility.
• Frequent lifting, moving, and adjusting of gymnastics/ninja equipment (up to 50 lbs).
• Ability to assist with spotting and participate in floor activities when needed.
• Comfortable working in a lively environment with children and families.
• Ability to use a computer and other technology to complete scheduling, communication, recordkeeping, and administrative tasks.

The company is an equal opportunity employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA

regulations as applicable.

Salary Description

$55,000-$65,000