Alamance County Community YMCA - Chief Executive Officer

EXECUTIVE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
ALAMANCE COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA

Position: President/CEO

THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE ALAMANCE COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA
Following the tenure of a long-standing and respected leader, the Alamance County Community YMCA is entering a pivotal moment, one defined by momentum, stability, and significant opportunity for transformation. With a highly engaged Board of Directors, a passionate and committed staff team, and deep community roots, the YMCA is exceptionally well-positioned for its next CEO to build on a strong foundation while leading the organization into its next era of growth, innovation, and expanded community impact.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a trusted community institution ready to think bigger, reach further, and serve more people in more meaningful ways. This leader will champion opportunities that expand access, enhance member experiences, and position the YMCA as a trusted, community-centered hub for all.

The Chief Executive Officer serves as the strategic and operational leader of the YMCA, responsible for advancing its mission through visionary leadership, community engagement, and organizational excellence. The CEO will drive sustainable growth, foster a culture of innovation, strengthen relationships across the community, and identify new opportunities that position the YMCA as a leading force for positive change in Alamance County.

This is more than a leadership position. It is an opportunity to shape the future of community well-being in Alamance County. The next CEO will honor a strong legacy while leading boldly into a future defined by growth, innovation, and expanded impact.

KEY SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF OUR NEXT CEO
The board believes its new CEO should be an experienced leader who has the background and qualities that will permit him or her to achieve excellence in the following roles:

Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan: Work effectively with volunteers, community leaders, and key staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the communities served by the Y and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management


Build and Lead Staff: Ensure a talent development system is in place and executed effectively with cultural competence. Hire, motivate, nurture, retain, and hold staff accountable for key objectives. Work towards recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting staff. Encourage the team by creating a spirit of camaraderie, connection, and sense of mission and purpose. Create a learning organization to help staff achieve their highest potential. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership

Improve Operating Performance: Engage the board and appropriate staff to develop an annual tactical plan for identifying and achieving key goals and objectives towards operating with safe, relevant, and sustainable practices. Quickly address issues that may arise, forecast future needs, and manage and direct the Y's operations and activities. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Innovation


Fiscal Management: Use high-level financial analysis to forecast financial trends, growth, and stability, while consistently leading the organization to balance or surplus operations by growing earned revenue and contributions and controlling costs. Empower and guide staff leaders to lead their departments to successful financial operation. Develop and implement stewardship strategies. Key competencies: Fiscal Management, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy


Position the Y as a Vital Partner for Community Change: Serve as an ambassador for the mission, purpose, and vision for the YMCA within the community. Possess the ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds, while always upholding the highest standards and values of the Y. Ensure your Y is seen as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other. Key competencies: Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration


Organizational Risk: Lead your Y through building and maintaining a process that identifies, analyzes and prioritizes potential risks to the organization, encompassing strategic risk, compliance and regulatory risk, safety risk and operational risk. Develop policies and procedures and conduct annual assessments to ensure a safe environment for members, program participants, staff and community. Key Competencies: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Communication & Influence

Steward Fundraising Efforts: Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan that will establish the YMCA as a leading nonprofit organization within the community through the engagement of members, volunteers, staff, and donors. Identify the need for successful capital fundraising, while taking the organization to a new level of effectiveness and impact in annual giving and endowment. Key competencies: Philanthropy, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence


ABOUT THE ALAMANCE COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA
The Alamance County Community YMCA traces its roots back to 1943, when community leaders first organized the effort to bring a YMCA to Burlington. However, progress was delayed by World War II, and it wasn't until the mid-1950s that the vision became reality.

In 1954, the organization hired its first professional director, W. M. Flowe, who helped lead fundraising and construction of the original facility on South Main Street. The YMCA officially opened its doors in 1955, offering programs such as youth sports, adult fitness, educational classes, and community gatherings-quickly becoming a central hub for community life.
Over the decades, the YMCA expanded both its facilities and impact. A major milestone came in 1998, when a successful capital campaign funded renovations and modernization of the building, ensuring the Y could continue meeting the evolving needs of the community.

Today, the Alamance County Community YMCA remains a longstanding pillar of Burlington and Alamance County, dedicated to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. They accomplish this impact by building relationships and through developing and delivering quality programs to the community. It is the work they do together that sets them apart. The Y is a vibrant organization made up of people who are inclusive, determined, nurturing, genuine, hopeful and welcoming.

Our Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Our Vision
A non-profit organization, the Alamance County Community YMCA strives to be a true community center where people of all ages and circumstances may work towards fitness of spirit, mind and body in a safe, friendly environment. We are committed to providing activities that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities through quality programs in the area of fitness, youth, aquatics, sports and family.

Our Guiding Principles
These principles guide our daily activities as we work towards accomplishing our mission.

• Faith: Christian faith is our foundation.
• Inclusiveness: The YMCA welcomes the membership and participation of men, women, and children of all ages, incomes, ethnicity, religions and abilities.
• Family: The family is the basic unit of the community. Assisting in developing strong family relationships is a vital function of the YMCA.
• Character: Our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility are critical to our mission and are to be reflected in all activities and relationships.
• Leadership: Board members, staff, and volunteers are expected to adhere to high ethical standards and to lead with integrity.
• Relationships: The YMCA will be most effective in achieving its mission through the meaningful relationships we build with our members, community and one another.

Our Cause & Values
To strengthen the foundations of community and instill the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Our Culture:

• The Y Experience - The Y Experience is built from our mission and encompasses the values and philosophy by which we serve and operate.
• Welcoming - We are open to all. We are a place where you can be yourself and find yourself in others.
• Genuine - We value you and embrace your individuality.
• Hopeful - We believe in you and your potential to do good in the world.
• Nurturing - We support you as you become the best-version-of-yourself.
• Determined - Above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.

Membership:

• Total Number of Members in the Association: 9,764
• Total Number of Membership Units in Association: 5,415
  • Youth/Teen: 3.4%
  • Adults: 18.1%
  • Household: 26.4%
  • Seniors: 7.3%
  • Third Party Insurance: 44.7%

Branch Information: One main facility

• After School
• Summer Day Camps (Onsite and Offsite)
• Youth Sports (Basketball and Volleyball)
• Year-Round Swim Team
• Personal Training
• Number of Program Participants: 9,514

Annual Support Campaign:

• Prior Year's Total: $116,000
• Financial Assistance Provided: $135,761

Staff:

• FT: 10
• PT: 175-200

CEO Direct Reports:

• Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Director of Finance and Human Resources

Board of Directors: 14 members with the following standing committees:

• Executive
• Capital Visioning Task Force
• Abuse Prevention Task Force

Financial Snapshot:

• Current Annual Budget Size: $3,000,000
• Current Debt: $49,000 (Line of credit balance)
• Current Endowment: $422,634
• 3-year annual surplus/deficit:
  • 2024: +$27,912
  • 2023: -$37,918
  • 2022: +$752,285

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY
Nestled in the heart of Alamance County, this vibrant community blends small-town charm with forward-thinking momentum. Anchored by the welcoming city of Burlington and the innovation-driven energy of Elon, the county offers a strong sense of place where history, education, and economic growth intersect. The city of Burlington offers a unique "sweet spot" advantage, positioned almost perfectly between Raleigh (58 miles) and Greensboro (76 miles), it blends accessibility, affordability, and quality of life in a way that's hard to beat.


Home to Elon University, Alamance County benefits from a steady pipeline of talent, cultural vitality, and community engagement. Its strategic location between the Triad and the Triangle provides easy access to major markets while maintaining an affordable, high-quality lifestyle. Residents and businesses alike enjoy a supportive environment, a growing economy, and a commitment to community well-being.


With scenic outdoor assets like the Haw River and miles of greenway trails, alongside a rich historical heritage, Alamance County offers a balanced lifestyle that attracts families, professionals, and entrepreneurs. It's a place where opportunity meets livability-and where communities continue to grow, connect, and thrive.

Community Population & Demographics:
Alamance County is a growing and increasingly diverse community of approximately 185,000 residents, reflecting steady population gains driven by its strategic location and quality of life. The county's age distribution is well-balanced, with a median age near 40, supporting both a stable workforce and a gradually expanding senior population, an important indicator of long-term community sustainability. As the largest city in Alamance County with a population of 64,000, Burlington promotes an historic downtown revitalization to family-friendly staples like Burlington City Park. The city blends tradition with progress filled with events, local shops, and civic pride to keep the community tightly connected.

Demographically, Alamance County continues to evolve as moderately diverse: countywide about 60% White, 20% Black/African American, and 15% Hispanic. This increasing diversity contributes to a richer cultural fabric and broadens community perspectives across the county.

Economically, the county reflects a moderate-income profile, with median household incomes in the mid-$60,000 range and a workforce supported by a solid educational foundation. Nearly nine in ten residents have completed high school, and about one-third hold a bachelor's degree or higher-strengthening the region's capacity for economic growth and innovation.

Blending urban accessibility with rural character, Alamance County offers a mix of residential settings that appeal to families, professionals, and retirees alike. Overall, its population trends and demographic profile position the county as a stable, evolving, and opportunity-rich community within North Carolina.

Information Sites:
(Alamance County Community YMCA)
(Towns and Villages of Alamance County)
(Burlington-Alamance County Convention and Visitors Bureau)
(City of Burlington)
(Alamance County Parks and Recreation)
(Alamance County Visitors Bureau)
(Alamance-Burlington School System)
(Alamance Community College)
(Elon University)
(Cone Health)
(Duke Health)
(YMCA of the USA)
(North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs)

SALARY, BENEFITS, & CRITERIA

Salary Range: $110,000 to $125,000 annually. The exact compensation will be commensurate with experience and will consider the candidate's expertise, professional track record, and alignment with the role's requirements.

Benefits:

• Y Retirement (12% percent paid by Y) contribution once eligibility is met.
• Y Retirement 403B Savings Account eligible on first day of employment.
• PTO:
  • Vacation Days
    • After 6 Months 1 week
    • After 1 Year 2 weeks
    • After 5 Years 3 weeks
    • After 10 Years 4 weeks
  • Paid Holidays (8 recognized and 2 Floating)
    • Personal Leave: Accrued 1 day per month after 90 days of continuous employment
• Health plan: All full-time, continuous employees are eligible to enroll for benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, STD and LTD) at the time of their employment at no cost to the employee. Full participation may be subject to meeting the plan-requirements of specific benefits
• YMCA Membership and Program Benefits:
  • Health Club membership for employee/spouse and dependents
  • Programs and classes: Free for family except programs that have associated direct expenses or fees to the YMCA.
• Other benefits per personnel policy.

Residency Expectation : It is expected for the CEO to live in Alamance County and be engaged fully in the communities the Y serves.

Criteria for Candidates:

1. Accredited 4-year college degree and or equivalent work experience.
2. Fiscally sound business management approach with a proven track record of budgetary and fiscal management of $3M or more annually.
3. Minimum five years prior experience in a senior management role with a YMCA or related experience at a comparable organization with direct supervision of multiple levels of staff and employees.

SEARCH PROCESS TARGET DATES

• Resumes accepted through: June 12, 2026
• Preliminary Zoom interviews scheduled: July 21-22, 2026
• In-person interviews: August 10-11, 2026
• New CEO on board (anticipated): September 15, 2026

*dates subject to change

HOW TO APPLY

References, Background Check, and Organizational Leader Certification:
Candidates must submit (pdf format only) the following in their online application: a resume, cover letter. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Candidates who advance to final interviews will need to submit six references (four professional and two personal). References checked only with prior notification. Successful candidate accepting the offer must pass a background check and must have a current Y-USA's Organizational Leader Certification or obtain certification within the first three years from start date as the CEO. The YMCA's personnel policies may require further screening.

Candidates must apply via the following website:


QUESTIONS

About the Search Process?
Shea Boschee
Director, Executive Leadership/CEO Search
YMCA of the USA
View email address on click.appcast.io


About the YMCA?
Bruce Griffin, Senior Consultant
North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs
View email address on click.appcast.io