General Manager of Health, Membership and Recreation

The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick responds to critical social needs in the community and works to provide solutions. By nurturing the potential of children, youth and adults, the YMCA connects people to life-building opportunities, as well as to each other and enhances their quality of life. The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick as a charity offers a diverse set of programs at 18 locations in the city and surrounding municipalities. There are 450 employees and 400 volunteers. In 2025, the YMCA engaged more than 100,000 people in its health, newcomer, childcare and camp programs.  Health, Membership and Recreation is a key pillar within the YMCA family; it has been the driver of our mission for over 170 years.  We are a membership-based organization that is open to all.

Position Overview

The General Manager of Health, Membership and Recreation (HMR) is a member of the Senior Leadership Team at the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick, and reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer. The GM is responsible for the overall management of the Health, Fitness and Aquatics and Membership sales at the Regional YMCA as well as operations at the Glenn Carpenter Centre, Camp Glenburn and the Irving Oil Field House.  The total budgets are over $6 million, with 100+ staff.

The GM must have strong operations management experience, including: leading and motivating staff/volunteers, program delivery, scheduling, managing organizational change, executing strategy, creating and maintaining budgets, developing key external relationships, and remaining current with changing trends in the health membership industry. The GM is expected to create fiscal accountability for the department and focus on member involvement/retention through adhering to the Y Way standards. 

The GM will be required to work a flexible schedule to ensure a front-line presence on site, including early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays to ensure overall support of the YMCA staff team.

Responsibilities

Drive membership sales and ensure quality programs/connections that support strong membership retention;

Strategic oversight of Irving Oil Field House.  Ensure model is successful through engaging user groups, creating new programs and facilitating a strong community hub of activities;

Strategic oversight of Outdoor Education programs and opportunities at the Glenn Carpenter Centre and Camp Glenburn

Strategic Oversight of Heathy Living Program designed to support individuals with preventative disease, managing chronic health issues and transitioning from clinical care with a focus on physical activity.

Responsible for the success of core operations and meeting targets in all key areas including performance, financial, registration levels, sales, risk, quality, staffing, and contribution level;

Maintain a high level of service delivery by setting annual sales and retention targets, monitoring service and program quality according to YMCA Best Practices;

Develop, manage and monitor HMR annual operating plans in support of Association strategic plan and inclusion in operating budgets;

Develop and manage operational budgets, analyze and interpret financials, identifying variances to guide operational decisions;

Maintain a positive working relationship with membership and program participants by addressing input from surveys and other tracking documents; expedient response to complaints in a professional manner and evaluating and implementing changes to feedback systems.

Monitor the success of National Program initiatives such as Y Way, Child Protection and specific YMCA programs. Provide leadership as changes or adjustments are needed.

Ensure a front-line presence during the day, evening and weekend hours.

Monitor and analyze and respond to membership trends, user and community needs.

Ensure training and systems in place for emergencies;

Hiring and coaching staff required to deliver the programs and recruitment of volunteers;

Ensure effective and proactive staff scheduling and on-call rosters in all areas;

Foster cross-departmental relationships and opportunities for collaboration;

Host and plan staff meetings to engage, train and inspire the team.

Support culture change by cultivating principles of diversity, collaboration and cross-organizational communication.

Ability to create a philanthropic culture among members, staff and volunteers and incorporating the YMCA's core values through the YMCA Strong Communities Annual Giving Campaign.

Work closely with Maintenance personnel and program staff to ensure all program areas are clean, well-maintained environments for participants, employees, volunteers and the general public;

Make recommendations for future capital purchases for the department;

Skills and qualifications

University Degree from an accredited institution in related field

5-7 years’ experience in a senior management role 

Data informed decision making with a focus on results and organizational performance

Demonstrated success in recreation leadership and YMCA experience considered an asset

A proven track record of managing a large staff team, multiple departments and diverse complement of programs.

Ability to work within a busy, member-centered environment.

Strong relationship building skills and problem-solving skills.

Strong understanding of finances, organizational strategy, revenue drivers and sustainability

Strong communications skills; both written and verbal

Well respected and able to establish credibility with internal stakeholders and external partners

Ability to develop programs and integrate knowledge of YMCA programs

Current First Aid and CPR (or willing to obtain)

Current Police Reference and Vulnerable Sector Check

Competencies

Commitment to Organization Vision and Values: Demonstrates and promotes a personal understanding of and appreciation for the mission, vision, strategic outcomes and values.

Leadership: Ability to develop and direct performance of others to achieve desired results. Leads by example at all times.

Results Focused: Demonstrates the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. The capacity to make decisions that produce high-quality results.

Effective Interpersonal Communications: Ability to speak, write, listen, and secure information in a variety of settings.

Self-Management: Ability to direct personal performance to achieve desired results.

Flexibility/Managing Change: Strong political acumen with ability to understand the environment and initiate and respond effectively to changing conditions.

 What We Offer:

YMCA membership

In-house training and professional development opportunities

Uniform and uniform allowance

Wellness Days

Competitive compensation package, including benefits and pension plan

Opportunities for career growth

Opportunities for cross-training across departments

Paid job-related certifications (i.e. First aid/CPR)

Required:

Employment is contingent on having a clean Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search.

Interested in Joining Us?

Interested candidates are invited to apply with us online at Careers | YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick. We ask all applicants to submit their cover letter and resume. The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick appreciates the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

We value the unique perspectives and contributions of each individual and are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workforce.

Duty to Accommodate

The YMCA is committed to creating inclusive and accessible environments for all. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the application or employment process, we encourage you to let us know so we can ensure equitable opportunities for all.

We ask qualified applicants to submit their cover letter and resume by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026. The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick appreciates the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.