Associate Executive Director

Associate Executive Director – Outdoor Education Center

Lead the YMCA of Montclair's Outdoor Education Center as the strategic force behind camps, outdoor education, membership, and teen programs building experiences that change the lives of kids, teens, and families every single day.

Title: Associate Executive Director – Outdoor Education Center

Organization: YMCA of Montclair

Location: Montclair, NJ (travel to other YMCA locations as needed)

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Primary Function/Department: Outdoor Education Center

Leadership Level: Leader

Pay: $65,000 to $75,000

Top qualifications (3–5+ years leadership experience):

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Recreation, Education, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration), or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of progressive management experience in youth development, camps, outdoor education, membership-based or multi-program operations.
• Proven success managing budgets, leading teams, developing and scaling programs, and engaging volunteers in a mission-driven, nonprofit environment.
• Strong communication, strategic thinking, and relationship-building skills with staff, members, volunteers, and community partners.

This is a hands-on executive leadership role ideal for a program-savvy operator with 5+ years of management experience in youth- and family-focused, mission-driven settings.

At the YMCA of Montclair, we strive to be:

• The Employer of Choice
• A provider of World-Class Service
• The Charity of Choice in our community

Our goal is to be a place where employees are empowered and excited to come to work. All staff ensure that members and participants receive customer-centric, individual attention every day. We actively collaborate with community partners to identify and meet evolving community needs, grounded in the Y's core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational & Financial Leadership
  • Develop, manage, and monitor the annual budget and financial plan for assigned departments, ensuring sound fiscal stewardship and alignment with YMCA goals.
  • Ensure programs operate within available financial and human resources while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and member satisfaction.
• People Leadership & Culture
  • Recruit, hire, train, coach, evaluate, and supervise staff and volunteers across camps, membership, family & enrichment, and teen programs.
  • Clearly communicate performance expectations; ensure all staff meet required qualifications, safety standards, and compliance requirements.
  • Design and deliver ongoing staff training, including safety procedures, risk management, and compliance practices.
  • Foster a positive, inclusive, and mission-aligned culture that reflects YMCA values and supports staff growth and retention.
• Program & Member Experience
  • Provide leadership and direction for camps, membership, family & enrichment, and teen programs, with a focus on safety, program quality, and mission impact.
  • Ensure a high-quality portfolio of programs and services that meet current and emerging member and community needs.
  • Ensure Member Experience Representatives receive consistent training on service standards, best practices, and new initiatives.
  • Ensure programs, services, and the overall environment are inclusive, welcoming, and responsive to the diverse needs of the community.
• Marketing, Growth & Community Engagement
  • Lead and execute strategies to promote programs and services, including outreach, enrollment, and member engagement.
  • Coordinate advertising, direct marketing, promotions, and publicity as appropriate to drive participation and membership.
  • Engage and support volunteers and community partners; provide leadership and support for the Annual Campaign, including volunteer engagement and campaign implementation.
• Strategic & Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Partner with the COO to support daily operations and to develop, implement, and monitor operational plans and key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Develop and implement effective communication practices that strengthen collaboration among staff and enhance the member experience.
  • Collaborate with other YMCA departments and leaders to align strategies, share best practices, and support organizational priorities.
• Risk, Safety & Abuse Prevention
  • Attend required Abuse Risk Management training and adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising members and participants.
  • Follow employee and volunteer screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk.
  • Provide employees and volunteers with ongoing supervision and training related to abuse risk, boundaries, and policy adherence.
  • Respond quickly and confidentially to policy and procedure violations using YMCA disciplinary procedures and follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Other
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and operations of the YMCA of Montclair.

Qualifications

• Education
  • Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Recreation, Education, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration) preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Experience
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a management-related role, ideally within:
    • Youth development, camps, outdoor education, or membership-based programming
    • Multi-program / multi-site operations
  • Demonstrated experience managing budgets, leading teams, developing and scaling programs, and engaging volunteers.
• Leadership & Competencies
  • Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff and volunteers across diverse program areas.
  • Strong communication & influence skills—able to communicate vision, give clear direction, and build trust with staff, members, volunteers, and community partners.
  • Experience designing and delivering staff training, including safety, compliance, and member experience standards.
  • Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
  • Ability to lead and work with volunteer committees and support board/committee work as needed.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the YMCA mission and to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
• Certifications & Preferred Background
  • YMCA Multi-Team/Branch Leader certification required (or willingness to begin and complete the certification process once hired).
  • Experience working in a nonprofit organization strongly preferred.
  • Prior YMCA experience and previous supervisory experience preferred.
• Skills & Attributes
  • Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
  • High level of professionalism, integrity, dependability, and sound judgment.
  • Comfortable balancing strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Regular use of a computer, phone/smart device, and standard office equipment for extended periods.
• Frequent sitting, reaching, and the ability to move around indoor and outdoor work environments (e.g., program spaces, campgrounds, activity areas).
• As the Associate Executive Director, transportation to other YMCA locations is required; must have a valid driver's license and be able to travel within the service area as needed.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds occasionally.
• Specific vision abilities include close and distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.