Senior Director of Health & Wellness

Summit Area YMCA; Berkeley Heights (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Summit Area YMCA seeks a strategic Senior Director of Health & Wellness to lead dynamic wellness programming and a team across multiple branches. This role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits while fostering an inclusive environment aimed at community health transformation.

Benefits

Subsidized medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off for vacation

Free YMCA family membership

Ongoing professional training and development

12% employer contribution to retirement plan

Qualifications

• Familiarity with ACSM guidelines and exercise modification.
• Certification in ACSM, NSCA, NASM, ACE, AFAA, or ISSA is a plus.
• Demonstrated record of growing PT revenue.

Responsibilities

• Lead health and wellness operations across branches.
• Manage team including Group Exercise Director and Wellness Center Manager.
• Develop and grow programs, analyze trends for improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Data-driven decision-making

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in health-related or fitness field

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

Description

Lead with purpose. Build healthier lives. Champion community wellness at the Summit Area YMCA.

The Summit Area YMCA is seeking an experienced, strategic, and inspiring leader to serve as our Senior Director of Health & Wellness. This role oversees a $1 million department budget and leads all aspects of health and wellness programming across both our Summit and Berkeley Heights branches.

The Senior Director will supervise and support a team that includes a Group Exercise Director, Wellness Center Manager, and Personal Training Administrator, as well as dozens of wellness professionals across multiple disciplines. Together, this team delivers exceptional experiences to our members through personal training, small group training, group exercise, chronic disease prevention, and teen wellness programs.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a mission-driven health and wellness professional to shape a vibrant, inclusive, and results-oriented department that reflects the Y’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

You Might Be the Right Fit If You…

• Inspire and empower diverse teams through thoughtful leadership and accountability.
• Thrive in fast-paced environments and lead with a hands-on, solution-oriented approach.
• Believe in wellness as a tool for community transformation.
• Are energized by daily interaction with staff and members, both on the floor and in planning sessions.
• Value data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Excel at building cross-functional relationships and leading with empathy and clarity.
• Embrace inclusive programming and a member-first mindset.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead health and wellness operations across both branches, ensuring excellence in member service, staff development, program delivery, and operational efficiency.
• Oversee a dynamic team including a Group Exercise Director, Wellness Center Manager, and Personal Training Administrator.
• Manage and grow programs such as: Personal Training (PT) Small Group Training (SGT) Group Exercise (75+ weekly classes) Chronic Disease Prevention (Livestrong at the Y) Youth and Teen Wellness Programs Virtual Fitness Studio
• Maintain high safety standards and ensure staff certifications, risk protocols, and equipment readiness.
• Drive growth through innovative wellness offerings, targeted marketing, and cross-department collaboration.
• Analyze trends and member feedback to inform program enhancements and staffing decisions.
• Integrate data and technology to support member engagement, tracking, and strategic planning.
• Support broader membership strategies in collaboration with membership and marketing teams.

Salary & Benefits

This full-time, exempt-level position generally works Monday–Friday during standard business hours, with occasional evening or weekend responsibilities. The Salary range for this position is $70,000 – $80,000 annually, based on experience.

The Summit Area YMCA offers a generous benefits package that includes subsidized medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance. Paid time off for vacation, wellness, and holidays, Free YMCA family membership, discounts on YMCA programs and services (including childcare), Ongoing professional training and development and a 12% employer contribution to the YMCA retirement plan upon eligibility.

At the Summit Area YMCA, we are committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. Our main purpose is to strengthen community. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone can reach their full potential and we strive to live our cause with purpose every day. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we believe that we’re stronger when we come together.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in health-related or fitness field or comparable work experience required. Familiarity with basic anatomy, contraindicated exercises, exercise modification for all populations and ACSM guidelines for frequency, intensity, duration and mode.
• Certification from a NCCA-sanctioned organization in a related field, such as, ACSM, NSCA, NASM, ACE, AFAA, or ISSA a plus.
• Demonstrated record of growing revenue. Revenue growth in PT a plus.
• Innovative, creative thinker demonstrated problem-solving skills, ability to develop and successful implement short and long-term plans, and supervise and direct all H&W operations with the Y’s risk, quality, revenue goals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large staff team and to establish effective relationships with staff and volunteers.
• Sound judgment in appropriately delegating responsibilities to staff and volunteers to accomplish necessary duties.
• Ability to write reports, procedures, and correspondence, and read, analyze and interpret business periodicals
• Computer literacy (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Comfortable using and implementing new and existing technology and systems to deliver a high quality member experience.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Demonstrate a desire to serve others.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic backgrounds, as well as physical and mental abilities.
• Bi-Lingual a plus.

About the Summit Area YMCA:

We were founded as the Young Men's Christian Association in 1886, but today, we are The Y. Part of a world-class organization, we are one of the area’s leading nonprofits, that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. The Summit Area YMCA is committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other. Working locally, we focus on empowering young people, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, we ensure that we all have access to the opportunities, relationships, and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive.