Supervises: Fitness Manager; Sports and Recreation Manager;
Indirect Reports: Group Exercise Coordinator; 8-12 Personal Trainers, 15-20 Sports & Recreation Staff
Key Partnerships: General Manager; Senior Director of Marketing, Communications & PR
Position Summary
The Tucson Jewish Community Center (the Tucson J) seeks an innovative, strategic, and mission-driven leader to serve as Senior Director of Fitness & Wellness. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, this leadership role drives the strategic vision, operational excellence, financial performance, and growth of the Tucson J's Fitness, Wellness, Sports, and Recreation departments.
As a vital member of the Senior Leadership Team (Yoatzim), the Senior Director helps shape organization-wide strategy and serves as a key thought partner to the CEO. This leader will inspire a culture centered on exceptional customer service, innovation, accountability, and community, ensuring that every member experiences the Tucson J as a welcoming environment that promotes healthy living and lifelong wellness rooted in Jewish values.
Essential Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team (Yoatzim), collaborating across departments to develop and execute the organization's overarching strategic plan.
- Model the Tucson J's core values and customer service philosophy, fostering an internal culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability.
- Identify emerging industry trends to position the Tucson J as Southern Arizona's premier community wellness destination.
- Increase fitness membership, program participation, and earned revenue while advancing the Tucson J's mission
Financial Management & Growth
- Hold full P&L accountability for the Fitness, Wellness, Sports, and Recreation departments, overseeing a budget exceeding $1M.
- Develop annual revenue plans and achieve agreed upon targets through personal training, programming, partnerships and member engagement initiatives
- Manage operational expenses and improve program profitability while aligning financial targets with membership retention strategies.
- Establish measurable annual goals and regularly report progress to executive leadership.
Member Experience & Partnership
- Partner closely with the General Manager to build a seamless end-to-end member journey, from initial onboarding through long-term retention.
- Collaborate on customer service standards, cross-selling programs, facility experience, member feedback systems, and integrated communications.
- Co-lead initiatives that ensure the fitness and recreation spaces serve as central hubs for deep community connection.
Program Innovation & Development
- Lead the design, implementation, and expansion of inclusive programming tailored to children, teens, adults, older adults, families, and adaptive recreation participants.
- Develop specialized wellness education and healthy aging programs that support the Tucson J's mission while contributing to long-term organizational sustainability.
Team Leadership & Talent Management
- Recruit, hire, mentor, and retain a high-performing team of managers, coordinators, and fitness professionals.
- Oversee performance management, staff engagement, professional development, succession planning, scheduling, and certification compliance.
- Cultivate a supportive, energetic workplace culture where staff thrive and members feel genuinely cared for.
- Develop managers through coaching, delegation, succession planning and ongoing leadership development
Operations & Risk Management
- Oversee day-to-day operations of the Fitness Center, Group Exercise studios, sports fields, and recreation spaces.
- Ensure the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, equipment maintenance, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and overall facility readiness.
- Ensure preventative maintenance programs are implemented for all fitness equipment
Community Partnerships & Data-Driven Improvement
- Establish strategic alliances with healthcare organizations, universities, professional sports organizations, schools, Jewish organizations, and corporate wellness partners to expand Tucson J's regional footprint.
- Define, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) regarding member satisfaction, retention, revenue, and participation to drive continuous operational improvement.
Minimum Qualifications:
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Business Administration, Sports Management, Recreation, Health Promotion, or a related field.
- 5+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in the fitness, wellness, or recreation industry.
- 3+ years supervisory experience; previous supervision of management-level and professional staff highly preferred.
- Proven success managing annual operating budgets exceeding $1 million, with a track record of driving revenue and managing expenses.
- Current CPR/AED certification required; a nationally recognized fitness certification (e.g., NASM, ACE, ACSM) or equivalent leadership experience in a commercial or community health club setting.
Preferred:
- Master's degree in a relevant field.
- Prior leadership experience within a JCC, YMCA, university recreation center, or similar nonprofit community hub.
- Technical proficiency with Daxko or equivalent member management software.
- Proven experience leading multi-department teams and cross-functional initiatives.
- A strong understanding of, or familiarity with, Jewish culture, values, and community dynamics.