Executive Director - Northwest & Ballentine YMCA

Lead Communities. Develop People. Strengthen the Mission.

The YMCA of Columbia is seeking an experienced, community-focusedExecutive Director for the Northwest YMCA and Ballentine YMCA to lead two thriving branches dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative leader who is passionate about building strong teams, fostering meaningful community partnerships, driving membership and program growth, and advancing the Y's mission through fundraising and volunteer engagement. As a key member of the association leadership team, you will oversee branch operations, financial performance, staff development, and strategic initiatives that strengthen the impact of the YMCA throughout the Northwest and Ballentine communities. 

Located in the heart of South Carolina, Columbia offers Southern hospitality, vibrant culture, and an exceptional quality of life. Enjoy boating on Lake Murray, exploring Congaree National Park, attending athletic events, or taking a short drive to the beaches and mountains. With excellent schools, growing communities, a thriving arts and dining scene, and an affordable cost of living, Columbia is an ideal place to make a lasting impact both professionally and personally.

This position is ideal for a visionary, relationship-driven leader who is ready to inspire staff and volunteers, cultivate community partnerships, advance philanthropy, and help shape the future of the YMCA of Columbia.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Ensures successful operation of the Northwest Family Branch and Ballentine Family Branch of the YMCA of Columbia, including facility development, membership, program development, volunteer, staff supervision, community relations, strategic local partnerships, annual fundraising campaigns recruitment, budgeting, and financial results.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Directs the Northwest Family Branch and oversees the operational performance and facility alignment of the Ballentine Family Branch to assure sound operations.
• Models relationship-building skills in all interactions with staff, volunteers, members, local business partners, and civic leaders throughout the community.
• Leads the planning, execution, and strategy of the YMCA’s Annual Campaign across both branches, driving board engagement, donor stewardship, and staff campaign initiatives to meet and exceed annual fundraising goals.
• Actively builds, cultivates, and maintains strong collaborative relationships with local schools, civic organizations, corporate sponsors, and community leaders to enhance the Y's presence and impact in the Northwest and Ballentine communities.
• Leads and supervises all facility development/property maintenance, repair, and overall upkeep for the assigned branches to meet the needs of current and potential members and the Y's safety, service, and security objectives.
• Coordinates the development of branch advisory boards and committees, leveraging local volunteer leaders to support campaign efforts and community outreach.
• Directs and oversees the volunteer activities (policy and program) of the two branches.
• Develops, manages, and monitors operating budgets and meets or exceeds budget targets.
• Ensures the operational growth of the YMCA through program expansion, member recruitment and retention, pricing strategies, corporate sponsorships, and community collaborations.
• Ensures high performance and success of annual contributions goals and participates in major capital initiatives.
• Oversees the selection, training, and supervision of branch staff and volunteers.
• Identifies potential areas for programming to accomplish YMCA goals and works with staff groups to develop and implement programs.
• Fosters a climate of innovation to develop member-focused programs and leads branch staff in the planning, development, and implementation of new program initiatives and community engagement activities.
• Perform other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Multi-Team Leader):

• Mission Advancement: Incorporates the Y’s mission and values into the organization’s vision and strategies. Ensures community engagement; promotes the global nature of the Y. Leads a culture of volunteerism ensuring engagement, inclusion, and ownership. Leads a culture of philanthropy by inspiring staff, board members, and donors to participate actively in the Annual Campaign.
• Collaboration: Advocates for and institutionalizes inclusion and diversity throughout the organization. Initiates the development of relationships with influential leaders to impact and strengthen the community. Is recognized as an inspirational community leader who navigates complex political and social circles with ease. Communicates to engage and inspire people within and outside the YMCA. Ensures that a talent management system is in place and executed effectively.
• Operational Effectiveness: Possesses penetrating insight and strong strategic and critical thinking skills. Invests resources in well-designed innovation initiatives. Creates a structure to deliver organization-wide results to achieve objectives. Develops and implements stewardship strategies for members, partners, and donors. Determines benchmarks and ensures appropriate leadership to meet objectives.
• Personal Growth: Creates a learning organization. Effectively drives change by leveraging resources and creating alignment to expand organizational opportunities. Shares authority and demonstrates courage and humility. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in human services, business, social services, or equivalent.
• Five or more years of professional experience in the YMCA or another nonprofit preferred.
• Proven track record in annual fundraising campaigns, donor cultivation, board development, and community engagement.
• Knowledge and experience in all aspects of operations, including staff supervision and development, successful membership practices, quality program development and implementation, volunteerism, facility and property management, and sound financial practices.
• Understanding of the mission and cause of the YMCA and the respective roles of volunteers and staff.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; track record of building authentic, constructive relationships with community leaders and stakeholders.
• Ability to handle multiple demands and priorities and achieve organizational objectives.
• YMCA Multi-Team Leader certification preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.