Activities Director

Avery Village Senior Living

Activities Director – Job Description

Department: Life Enrichment / Activities
Position: Activities Director
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Executive Director / Community Administration

Position Summary

The Activities Director is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a comprehensive activities and life enrichment program that promotes the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual well-being of residents within our senior living community.

This is a hands‑on leadership position requiring creativity, organization, initiative, and consistent resident interaction. The Activities Director is expected to independently manage the activities department, actively facilitate daily programming, maintain an engaging community environment, and ensure residents have meaningful opportunities for participation and social connection.

The ideal candidate is energetic, compassionate, dependable, and self‑motivated, with the ability to balance administrative responsibilities and direct resident engagement while maintaining professionalism and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Activity Planning & Resident Engagement

• Develop, organize, and maintain a monthly activities calendar featuring a variety of meaningful, age‑appropriate programs.

• Personally lead and facilitate scheduled daily activities, ensuring consistent programming and resident participation.

• Plan activities that promote physical movement, cognitive stimulation, creativity, social interaction, emotional wellness, and spiritual enrichment.

• Adapt activities to accommodate residents with varying physical abilities, cognitive functioning, interests, and participation levels.

• Encourage participation through personal invitations, positive interaction, and relationship building.

• Provide individualized engagement opportunities for residents who are unable or unwilling to participate in group activities.

• Regularly evaluate resident interests, preferences, and feedback to improve programming.

• Ensure scheduled activities begin on time and are conducted as advertised whenever reasonably possible.

Calendar Management & Special Events

• Prepare, distribute, and display monthly activities calendars in a timely manner.

• Coordinate holiday celebrations, birthday recognition, themed events, entertainment, and community gatherings.

• Organize appropriate outings and coordinate transportation arrangements with administration when applicable.

• Develop relationships with local organizations, entertainers, churches, schools, and community volunteers.

• Coordinate special events while ensuring regular daily activities remain consistent.

• Maintain organized records of upcoming events, reservations, supplies, and activity preparation needs.

Department Budget & Supply Management

• Plan and execute activities within the established monthly departmental budget.

• Monitor spending, maintain purchasing records, and submit receipts and invoices according to community procedures.

• Purchase and maintain appropriate activity supplies while minimizing unnecessary expenses.

• Demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness when developing engaging, cost‑effective programming.

• Obtain appropriate approval before exceeding budget limits or making unapproved purchases.

• Maintain an organized, clean, and adequately stocked activities area.

Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain accurate records of resident participation, activity programming, and other required departmental documentation.

• Assist with identifying and documenting resident interests, preferences, and engagement needs.

• Ensure programming supports residents' individualized needs and applicable care plan objectives.

• Maintain required activity calendars, attendance records, and documentation in accordance with community policies and applicable regulations.

• Protect resident privacy, dignity, confidentiality, and individual rights.

• Communicate significant changes in resident participation, behavior, or engagement needs to appropriate care staff.

Department Leadership & Daily Operations

• Independently organize and prioritize daily departmental responsibilities.

• Maintain an active presence with residents throughout the workday.

• Ensure adequate preparation, setup, facilitation, and cleanup of scheduled activities.

• Manage administrative responsibilities efficiently without allowing them to routinely interfere with resident programming.

• Demonstrate flexibility when responding to changing resident needs or unexpected community events.

• Communicate scheduling conflicts, supply needs, and programming concerns to administration promptly.

• Take initiative in identifying opportunities to improve resident engagement and the overall activities program.

Professionalism & Interdepartmental Collaboration

• Maintain positive, respectful, and professional relationships with residents, families, coworkers, and administration.

• Collaborate with nursing, dietary, maintenance, and other departments when coordination is necessary for resident activities or community events.

• Respect established departmental responsibilities, reporting structures, and professional boundaries.

• Remain focused on assigned duties and avoid unnecessary involvement in matters outside the activities department.

• Address workplace concerns through appropriate supervisory channels rather than engaging in gossip, conflict, or disruptive discussions.

• Demonstrate professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in all workplace interactions.

• Support a cooperative work environment while maintaining accountability for assigned departmental responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Previous experience in activities, recreation, life enrichment, senior living, or a related field preferred.

• Experience working with older adults, including individuals with physical limitations or cognitive impairment, strongly preferred.

• Strong organizational, planning, communication, and time‑management skills.

• Ability to independently develop and facilitate engaging activities.

• Creativity, enthusiasm, patience, and a genuine interest in improving residents' quality of life.

• Basic computer skills, including the ability to create calendars, maintain records, and communicate electronically.

• Ability to manage a departmental budget and maintain appropriate purchasing documentation.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while following community policies and administrative direction.

• Willingness to participate in occasional special events or schedule adjustments as operationally necessary.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and perform activities throughout the workday.

• Ability to lift, carry, and arrange activity supplies and equipment consistent with position requirements.

• Ability to assist with activity setup, cleanup, and resident engagement.

• Ability to safely facilitate indoor and outdoor programming in a senior living environment.

Communication & Accountability

The Activities Director is expected to maintain consistent communication with administration regarding programming, resident participation, scheduling concerns, budget needs, and departmental operations.

This position requires dependable attendance, effective time management, personal accountability, and the ability to complete assigned responsibilities without continuous supervision.

The Activities Director must demonstrate appropriate judgment in prioritizing resident programming, addressing departmental needs, and maintaining professional workplace relationships.

Performance Expectations

Successful performance in this position includes:

• Consistent implementation of scheduled daily activities.

• Timely completion and distribution of monthly calendars.

• Meaningful resident engagement and efforts to increase participation.

• Responsible management of the approved activities budget.

• Accurate and timely completion of required documentation.

• Appropriate preparation, organization, and maintenance of activity supplies and spaces.

• Positive collaboration with other departments while respecting professional boundaries.

• Demonstrated initiative, reliability, professionalism, and accountability.

Resident Transportation & Medical Appointments

• Provide safe, reliable, and timely transportation for residents to and from scheduled medical appointments, including physician visits, specialist consultations, and other approved healthcare appointments.

• Coordinate transportation schedules with administration, care staff, residents, and families to ensure appointments are accommodated appropriately.

• Assist residents with entering and exiting community vehicles, including the safe use of mobility aids and accessibility equipment, within the employee's training and abilities.

• Ensure residents arrive at appointments on time and are safely returned to the community.

• Maintain appropriate communication with community staff regarding resident departures, expected return times, delays, and transportation‑related concerns.

• Follow all community transportation policies, vehicle safety procedures, and applicable licensing and insurance requirements.

• Maintain accurate transportation records and report vehicle maintenance or safety concerns promptly.

• Balance transportation responsibilities with scheduled activities to minimize disruptions to resident programming.

Operational Expectations

As the leader of the activities department within a small senior living community, the Activities Director must be comfortable independently managing all aspects of programming while remaining actively involved with residents.

This is not a primarily administrative position. Direct resident engagement, consistent activity facilitation, and daily departmental oversight are essential functions of the role.

The Activities Director is expected to use sound judgment, demonstrate initiative, remain productive throughout scheduled working hours, and prioritize responsibilities that directly support resident well-being and quality of life.

Our Commitment

At Avery Village Senior Living, we believe meaningful engagement is an essential part of providing quality care. Our Activities Director plays an important role in creating an environment where residents feel valued, connected, stimulated, and involved in their community.

Through creativity, compassion, consistency, and dedication, the Activities Director helps make every day at Avery Village an opportunity for connection, enjoyment, and purpose.