Executive Director, Recreation and Wellness

Executive Director, Recreation and Wellness Join to apply for the Executive Director, Recreation and Wellness role at Stanford University About Stanford Recreation & Wellness Stanfords Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER) is the premier intercollegiate athletics and recreation program in the country. We are the proud Home of Champions and the universitys physical education, recreation and wellness initiatives. Aligned with Stanford University's pioneering spirit, Stanford Recreation and Wellness is committed to bold and purposeful engagement. We ignite a culture of belonging and well-being through movement, adventure, play, and learning. Our fifty fulltime staff and over 400 parttime staff manage eight recreation facilities at one of the worlds most beautiful universities. Hosting over a million visits annually, we work cohesively, lead with courage, and pursue and revere excellence. We are building a community that is inclusive and a diverse team that is committed to excellence. We take risks. We are willing to lead. We do the right thing. We create innovative solutions. We develop our employees. We promote a culture of gratitude and recognition. We have fun. If that sounds like you, join us. The Role The Executive Director of Recreation & Wellness will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for a comprehensive recreation and wellness program that supports the holistic development and wellbeing of the campus community. This role will oversee the design and delivery of diverse offeringsfrom intramurals and club sports to aquatics, outdoor adventures, and wellness workshopsensuring they align with Stanfords health and student success goals. The Executive Director will manage multimilliondollar budgets, lead a highperforming team, and build crosscampus partnerships to foster student belonging, engagement, and resilience. A datadriven and innovative leader, this individual will champion operational excellence, financial sustainability, inclusive programming, and a culture of continuous improvement that reflects Stanfords commitment to health, wellness, and community. Core Responsibilities Strategic Vision & Leadership Develop and execute a multiyear strategic plan for recreation and wellness, aligned with DAPERs mission and Stanfords broader health objectives. Serve as a thoughtleader, galvanizing stakeholders around bold, evidencebased programming that drives participation and satisfaction metrics across campus and in the community. Student Development & Wellbeing Integration Intentional focus on student development, engagement, and belonging through recreation and wellness programs. Connect rec/wellness efforts to mental health, academic success, and resilience. Program Development & Delivery Oversee all recreational offeringsintramurals, club sports, aquatics, group fitness, outdoor adventure, mindbody studios, and wellness workshops. Oversee strategic marketing and communications to increase awareness, engagement, and participation across all demographics. Operational Excellence Manage an ~$11M budget for facilities, staffing, and equipment; optimize resource allocation to maximize ROI and user experience across functional areas. Ensure toptier facility maintenance and developmentgyms, pools, courts, trailsby collaborating with Capital Projects and Facilities teams. Develop and manage revenuegenerating programs (e.g., memberships, external rentals, partnerships) to support longterm financial sustainability. Team Building & Talent Management Recruit, mentor, and lead a diverse team of directors, program managers, and frontline staff. Instill a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth. Data & Assessment Leverage participation analytics, satisfaction surveys, and health outcome data to iterate programs and demonstrate impact. Report quarterly to COO on KPIs: participation rates, retention, health metrics, and equity measures. Partnerships & Outreach Forge strategic alliances across Stanford unitsStudent Affairs, Athletics, Counseling, Residential Lifeand external community organizations. Compliance & Risk Management Uphold NCAA, Title IX, ADA, and Stanford policy compliance across all recreation and wellness operations. Lead risk assessments and emergency response planning for outdoor and highrisk activities. Required Qualifications Education: Masters degree required, preferably in Sports Management, Recreation Wellness, Kinesiology, Public Health, Recreation Management, or a closely related field. Experience: 10+ years in progressive leadership roles within collegiate or largescale recreation/wellness programs; minimum 5 years managing multimilliondollar budgets. Leadership: Proven track record building highperformance, inclusive teams and driving measurable outcomes. Data Fluency: Strong analytical skills to turn numbers into narrativecomfortable with dashboards, surveys, and outcome studies. Collaboration: Demonstrated success partnering with campus units, external vendors, and community stakeholders. Compliance Expertise: Deep knowledge of intramural and club sports, NCAA regulations, Title IX, ADA requirements, and risk management protocols. Current CPR, AED and First Aid certification or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire. Preferred Attributes Champion innovative technology integrationappbased engagement, online programming, and user analyticsto enhance accessibility and participation. Lead DEIB initiatives in recreation and wellness by designing inclusive programs, reducing participation barriers, and partnering with campus identity centers. Experienced with Recreation and Wellness services integrated into Athletics. Core Competencies Visionary Thinking: You see beyond standard offeringscrafting programs that inspire lifelong wellbeing. Bold Communication: Direct, clear, and culturally resonantyour messaging moves people. Operational Savvy: You balance big ideas with flawless execution; no detail is too small. Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates empathy, adaptability, and interpersonal acuity in leading diverse teams and navigating stakeholder relationships. Innovators Mindset: Brings a forwardthinking approach to recreation and wellness, embracing bold ideas, emerging trends, and techdriven solutions to meet evolving campus needs. WORK STANDARDS Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations. Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the Universitys Administrative Guide. The expected pay range for this position is $206,749251,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs. At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website ( provides detailed information on Stanfords extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process. The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr