Center Operations Manager

ABOUT US

The nonprofit YMCA of Western North Carolina strengthens local communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1889, we engage more than 100,000 people – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the regions health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support the community. We do this through seven YMCAs, dozens of program sites, and YMCA Camp Watia. As the states largest provider of licensed school-age childcare, we give more than 1,000 children a day the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. We are made up of people of all ages, from all backgrounds, working side by side to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential with dignity. Thus, we are For All. Our core values are caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, and they guide everything we do. We are committed to being an organization that exposes and addresses social constraints that limit and/or negatively affect all humans from all walks of life. We recruit staff who are passionate about giving back to the community, helping people, and upholding our core values. For more information, please visit ymcawnc.org .

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ABOUT THE ROLE

The Center Operations Manager strengthens the Asheville YMCA by supporting service-line leaders, coordinating shared priorities, and ensuring important work moves from planning through completion. This position organizes information, anticipates barriers, clarifies responsibilities, coordinates communication, and follows through on projects and operational needs that affect multiple departments and the member experience.

The role also supports annual campaign development, donor and workplace wellness prospecting, membership and incident follow-up, and essential center systems such as cash controls and shared calendars. The Center Operations Manager is expected to actively seek answers, identify opportunities and risks, recommend solutions, and build productive relationships with staff, members, businesses, donors, and community partners.

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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

- Service-Line Support, Organization, and Planning: Partners with center and association leaders to organize priorities, develop work plans, coordinate timelines and communication, anticipate barriers, and ensure assigned initiatives are completed.

- Donor and Workplace Wellness Support and Administration: Supports annual campaign and workplace wellness strategies by researching prospects, collecting discovery information, maintaining pipeline records, scheduling meetings, coordinating outreach activities, and ensuring timely handoffs and follow-up.

- Membership and Incident Follow-Up and Administration: Coordinates assigned member follow-up, reviews incident reports for completeness and routing, tracks required actions, maintains appropriate documentation, and escalates significant concerns to authorized leaders.

- Center Operations and Administration: Coordinates cash-control processes, shared calendars, operational communications, assigned purchasing, center supplies, meeting logistics, and administrative support for center events and the Asheville Advisory Committee.

- May contribute to the budget process if needed; serves as a good steward of association resources.

- Coordinates cross-department projects, association initiatives, support member retention initiatives, promotions for YMCA supported causes, new programs, and center events by clarifying responsibilities and managing execution through completion.

- Identifies recurring member and operational concerns, recommends practical improvements, and coordinates solutions across affected departments.

- Builds strong relationships with members, staff, volunteers, employers, donors, and community partners while serving as a visible member of the Center Leadership Team and as Leader on Duty when assigned.

- Follows and reinforces YMCA policies, procedures, and safety expectations and performs other duties assigned by the Executive Director that are consistent with the purpose and level of the position.

ABOUT YOU

Qualifications

- Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.

- Associate or bachelors degree in business, nonprofit management, operations, hospitality, recreation, or a related field preferred.

- Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in operations, project coordination, customer service, community engagement, sales support, fundraising support, or a related field preferred.

- Experience coordinating work across multiple teams and managing projects or detailed processes through completion.

- Must obtain within 90 days and maintain required certifications in CPR, AED, oxygen, First Aid, and Child Abuse Prevention which are provided by the YMCA.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to prioritize competing demands, anticipate dependencies, and meet deadlines.

- Pro-active problem-solving skills with demonstrated initiative, curiosity, sound judgment, and consistent follow-through.

- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

- Ability to build relationships and coordinate work across departments without relying on direct supervisory authority.

- Ability to research prospects, gather discovery information, coordinate meetings, and accurately maintain sales or fundraising pipeline activity.

- Ability to recognize matters requiring immediate escalation and handle sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

- Working knowledge of cash controls, recordkeeping, calendars; Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.

- Ability to learn and effectively use YMCA systems related to membership, incident reporting, purchasing, scheduling, communication, and prospect management.

- Ability to remain organized and responsive in a high-volume environment with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE JOB

- The physical demands described here represent those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Regularly and effectively moves throughout the YMCA facility to engage with staff and members and monitor operational conditions.

- Regularly communicates in person, by telephone, by email, and through virtual platforms.

- Frequently performs work at a computer or workstation for extended periods.

- Occasionally stands, walks, bends, stoops, kneels, reaches, or moves throughout the facility.

- Occasionally lifts or moves supplies, equipment, and event materials weighing up to 30 pounds.

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FULL-TIME BENEFITS

Full-time employees receive medical, dental and vision insurance, group life insurance and long-term disability paid by the Y; short-term disability, term life insurance and dependent life insurance is available for purchase; generous paid time off, retirement plan with employer contribution of 12% of salary (subject to eligibility requirements), free YMCA membership, free afterschool childcare and summer day camp and program discounts.

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The YMCA of Western North Carolina is committed to equal opportunity in terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, faith, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.