The posting
General Function: Under the direction of the VP of Programs and Risk Management and in harmony with the mission, values, established policies, strategic priorities, and goals of the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas, the Executive Director of Risk Management provides executive leadership for the Association's child abuse prevention, enterprise risk management, safety, compliance, insurance, inspections, regulatory compliance, security strategy, and organizational readiness efforts.
The Executive Director serves as the organization's leader in creating and sustaining a culture where safety, child protection, compliance, security, and risk awareness are embedded into every aspect of YMCA operations. The Executive provides strategic direction, governance, policy oversight, training standards, investigation leadership, quality assurance, and accountability systems designed to protect YMCA participants, staff, volunteers, facilities, assets, and reputation. The Executive leads the Association Risk Management Cabinet and serves on the Board Risk & Child Safety Committee.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required. Y-USA Multi-Team Leader Certification (or equivalent) required within two years, and must begin working towards certification within six months. Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in risk management, compliance, safety, operations, child protection, insurance, legal administration, or a related field. Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives across multiple locations. Strong knowledge of child protection, risk management, insurance administration, compliance, emergency preparedness, organizational governance, transportation, fleet management, maintenance risk management, and security strategy. Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to use incident, injury, audit, inspection, and claims data in planning and decision-making. Ability to build collaborative relationships with executive leaders, center teams, legal counsel, insurers, regulators, law enforcement, and community partners. Ability to communicate effectively with staff members, volunteers, board members, and external partners at all levels. Certification in CPR/First Aid/AED/O2 required within 60 days of hire. Successful completion of criminal background and Child Protective Services screening.
Essential Functions:
Supports the mission, vision, values, and goals of the YMCA. Promotes character development and the values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith. Actively participates in Association task forces, committees, and other groups to promote center unity through Association policies, strategies, and goals. Promotes and participates in YMCA fundraising efforts, including Annual Campaign, Capital, and United Way campaigns.
Child Abuse Prevention & Youth Protection
Serves as the Association's executive leader for Child Abuse Prevention and Youth Protection initiatives. Works with the Childcare Executive to advance compliance with Praesidium Accreditation standards and YMCA Child Abuse Prevention requirements. Maintains enterprise-wide child protection strategies, policies, accountability systems, and operational standards. Leads organizational efforts to continuously strengthen child safety practices and culture. Oversees child abuse prevention practices across childcare, camp, sports, aquatics, transportation, teen, and community-based programming. Ensures appropriate response to all allegations, reports, and concerns involving child abuse, misconduct, boundary violations, or other child safety matters. Provides oversight of mandatory reporting procedures and coordination with Child Protective Services, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies. Works with the Childcare Executive to direct organizational audits and quality assurance efforts related to child protection standards. Partners with Childcare Executives on annual abuse prevention campaigns, educational initiatives, and staff development opportunities designed to increase awareness and accountability throughout the Association.
Enterprise Risk Leadership & Safety Culture
Leads the Association's Enterprise Risk Management strategy and framework. Facilitates identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of organizational risks. Leads the Association Risk Management Cabinet and other cross-functional safety committees and manages the related chart of work. Establishes organization-wide risk priorities, scorecards, benchmarks, and accountability measures. Champions a proactive culture where risk management and safety are integrated into daily decision-making. Develops and implements Association-wide safety initiatives, training programs, and communication strategies. Promotes leadership accountability for safety performance at all levels of the organization. Works with executive leadership to strengthen organizational readiness, crisis response capabilities, and emergency preparedness.
Incident Management & Organizational Readiness
Oversees investigation, documentation, trend analysis, and resolution of significant incidents. Works with the Executive Team to direct emergency response planning and readiness efforts, including facility, aquatic, transportation, camp, and program-specific risks. Maintains standards for incident reporting, escalation, corrective action planning, and communication. Analyzes injury and incident data to identify trends and implement strategies designed to reduce risk exposure. Works with the Executive Team to ensure routine safety audits, facility inspections, and emergency drills are conducted throughout the Association. Prepares statistical, analytical, and narrative reports regarding incidents, claims, audits, inspections, and organizational risk as needed.
Compliance, Legal & Governance
Provides leadership and oversight with the Childcare Compliance Executive for compliance with applicable local, state, federal, and YMCA standards. Ensures compliance with OSHA, transportation standards, employment regulations, and other applicable laws. Monitors regulatory changes and coordinates implementation of compliance requirements across operational departments. Develops and oversees corrective action plans resulting from audits, inspections, or compliance reviews. Partners with legal counsel regarding subpoenas, investigations, claims, contracts, and risk mitigation strategies. Provides leadership in evaluating organizational liability exposures and recommending risk reduction measures. Aids in contract review processes to ensure appropriate certificates of insurance, indemnification, and risk transfer provisions. Maintains policies and procedures that support legal compliance and effective risk management practices.
Insurance, Inspections & Operational Risk
Oversees the Association's insurance programs, claims administration, and loss prevention initiatives. Serves as the primary liaison with insurance carriers, brokers, adjusters, and risk management partners. Works with the VP of Programs and Risk Management to present risk, compliance, safety, and child protection updates to executive leadership and the Board of Directors. Maintains policies, standards, reporting systems, and governance structures supporting organizational risk management. Provides executive oversight for Association-wide inspection and maintenance risk priorities, including corrective action, follow-through, and accountability. Provides strategic oversight of transportation operations, regulatory requirements, and fleet management practices related to risk and safety.
Security Infrastructure
Works with the Property Executive on the Association's security needs assessment and security strategy. Provides strategic oversight for security camera systems and related monitoring technologies with the Director of IT. Coordinates safety and security infrastructure priorities across Association facilities. Establishes standards, accountability measures, and continuous improvement plans for security-related systems and practices.
YMCA Leadership® Competencies (Multi-Team Leader) Engaging Community, Communication & Influence, Inclusion, Collaboration, Emotional Maturity, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy, Change Leadership, and Fiscal Management.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Provides leadership, direction, and development to assigned risk, safety, compliance, or related staff and indirectly influences leaders and staff teams across the Association. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with YMCA policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include training, planning, assigning and directing work, coaching, performance management, and staff development. Establishes annual benchmarks that address the goals and objectives of both the centers and the Association.
Skills and Ability Requirements
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret policies, regulations, contracts, claims, reports, and other complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries, complaints, incidents, investigations, and sensitive organizational matters. Ability to apply mathematical and analytical concepts to insurance, claims, trend analysis, budget preparation, risk scoring, and operational planning. Ability to reason through difficult problems with limited direction as to means and results. Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and adapt to changing contexts and organizational needs. Ability to meet the physical demands of this position, including mobility for touring facilities, conducting or observing inspections, traveling to meetings and conferences, and participating in Association events.
Effect on End Result
A strong, proactive culture of safety, child protection, compliance, security, and risk awareness is sustained throughout the Association. Organizational risks are identified, assessed, monitored, and reduced through clear standards, effective controls, and accountable follow-through. Significant incidents, claims, allegations, audits, and regulatory matters are addressed promptly, consistently, and appropriately. Association programs, facilities, transportation operations, security systems, and business practices meet applicable YMCA, legal, regulatory, insurance, and safety requirements. Executive leaders, staff, volunteers, and board members receive useful information, training, and tools to support sound risk-informed decisions. A positive image of the YMCA is portrayed to members, staff, volunteers, partners, regulators, insurers, and the community.
