Director of Activities (Senior Living)

About Discovery Management Group

Discovery Management Group leads one of the nation’s most purpose-driven and people-centered senior living organizations, managing and enhancing senior living communities across the United States. With a focus on operational excellence, lifestyle personalization, and culture-driven leadership, we proudly serve residents and families with more than 15,000 units nationwide and growing.

As part of one of the largest senior living families in the U.S., our communities have earned Great Place to Work® certifications from 2022–2027. At Discovery Management Group, purpose guides our work, culture fuels our success, and growth defines our future. We continually aspire and invest in learning and development opportunities that support our team members’ professional growth, ensuring every team member has the tools to build a meaningful and rewarding career.

Discover Your Purpose with Us at Heartlands Senior Living Ellicott City!

As  Director of Activities , you’ll play an essential role in enriching the lives of seniors, creating meaningful connections, and making a difference every single day.

Your Role:

As the  Director of Activities , your role includes developing and leading a vibrant lifestyle program that promotes health, wellness, active aging, engagement, and growth for residents across all levels of service.

Position Highlights:

• Status: FULL TIME 
• Schedule: Traditional leadership workweek with flexibility required based on business and operational needs that includes Manager on Duty hours as well as on call for emergency situations
• Location: Ellicott City, MD
• Rate of Pay: $65-70K annually plus potential 10% annual target bonus
• Travel: 10-20%

Why You'll Love This Community:

HeartLands Senior Living at Ellicott City is a warm and welcoming Independent Living and Assisted Living community set on 49 acres of scenic grounds. Here, residents enjoy resort-style amenities, including an indoor pool, chef-inspired dining, and rich social events for everyone to enjoy. Surrounded by history and heart, HeartLands offers comfort, connection, and the freedom to live life your way.

What You’ll Do:

• Plan, schedule, and facilitate lifestyle programs that provide physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual opportunities for residents
• Organize and lead holiday celebrations, special events, and mixed-group activities that foster connection and community spirit
• Prepare, publish, and distribute the monthly activity calendar and community newsletter
• Maintain a robust public relations program, building partnerships with outside organizations, service groups, and independent contractors
• Oversee resident facing technology to ensure team members and resident are trained and the information is kept up to date
• Provide leadership to Activities Coordinators, supervising daily operations and ensuring program excellence across service levels
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to senior living programming
• Monitor participation and satisfaction through surveys, quality assurance tools, and resident feedback to continuously improve programming
• Manage Celebrations department budget, including purchasing and maintaining equipment and supplies
• Organize and oversee the community library, communication displays, and resident information boards
• Represent the community in internal and external meetings, delivering engaging presentations to residents, families, and partners

Qualifications:

• Associate degree in Recreation, Education, Gerontology, Social Work, Adult Education, or a related field preferred
• Three to five years of experience in lifestyle programming or resident services within senior living or a related field
• At least two years of supervisory/management experience
• Strong leadership, organizational, and team-building skills
• Wellness certificate a plus (ICAA Leadership in Wellness)
• Ability to plan and execute diverse programming that meets a wide range of resident interests and abilities
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage residents, staff, and external partners
• Creative, resourceful, and resident-focused approach to program development

Why Join Us

Discovery Senior Living Earned Coveted Great Place to Work Certification for 2025-2027!

A large part of what makes Discovery different from other companies in this industry is our willingness to embrace change. At Discovery Senior Living, we are constantly challenging how we are doing things to ensure the lifestyle we are offering our residents is absolutely the greatest value proposition in the marketplace. It’s just as important to us that the environment and culture for our team members are constantly refreshed. In addition, embracing and even encouraging change brings a never-ending supply of new energy to our business and our culture. That energy translates to other far-reaching positive impacts on our residents as well as our team members.

Find out what makes working at Discovery unique in the world of senior living. Discover Your Purpose!

Our Culture & Values

So often, what brings people together is deeply rooted in who we are and what we stand for. And at Discovery Senior Living, we’re unified by certain, core values, which we call our “Pillars of Excellence.” They make up the fabric of our company, and include TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, HARD WORK and CREATIVITY.

Individually, they are our virtues, and together, they make up a roadmap which helps us foster innovation and success.

Benefits You’ll Enjoy

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive pay, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid time off and holidays, a 401(k) with employer match, paid training and career growth opportunities, wellness-related benefits, and additional support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. EOE D/V

A Note to Applicants

This job description outlines the general nature and level of responsibilities for this role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Qualified individuals with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation, as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Agency Policy

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies. Please refrain from contacting hiring managers directly.

Employment Scam Warning

We only post jobs on our official careers site and accept applications through that platform. We do not conduct interviews via text or social media or ask for personal or banking information.

Regulatory Compliance & Background Screening

Discovery Senior Living complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory requirements governing hiring practices, background screening, and workforce eligibility. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of state-mandated and/or federally required background screenings, which may include criminal history checks, fingerprint-based screening, Level 2 background screening, registry verification, and other screenings required for healthcare and senior living roles with direct or indirect resident access.

Certain positions may be subject to additional requirements under federal programs, including CMS, Medicare, and Medicaid regulations, as well as state-specific licensing or regulatory agencies. Screening requirements vary by role and jurisdiction, and candidates must meet all applicable standards as a condition of employment. These measures support regulatory compliance and help maintain a safe, secure environment for residents, families, and team members.

Employment in Florida is contingent upon completion of a Level 2 background screening in accordance with Florida AHCA requirements. Applicants will be required to complete fingerprinting and background screening through the AHCA Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit: .