Safety & Risk Management Director

The YMCA of Greenville is a dynamic and rapidly growing association that seeks to strengthen the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The Safety & Risk Management Director supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This role provides strategic leadership and oversight for the YMCA of Greenville’s risk management, safety, compliance, and volunteer processes.

The Director ensures the Association upholds the highest standards of workplace, aquatics, and child safety, while maintaining regulatory compliance. Serving as a subject matter expert and thought partner for Association leadership, this position drives a proactive, risk-aware culture through staff mentorship and cross-departmental collaboration.

Candidates with strong programmatic leadership experience—particularly in aquatics, camp, youth development, or other high-safety environments—are encouraged to apply, as these backgrounds provide valuable expertise in building safety culture and effective risk management practices.

Not only will you be part of amazing mission-driven work, we offer the following Full-Time benefits:

• Work Today, Get Paid Today!!! Instant access to your earned wages before payday
• 12% Retirement Contribution, once fully vested
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan
• Separate Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Medical Benefits
• Company Paid Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 11 Company Paid Holidays
• Household Membership to the YMCA of Greenville
• 50% Discount on Programs, including Childcare, Sports, Personal Training, and Aquatics

We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. 

We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. 

We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. 

We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. 

We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day.

*Compensation will be determined commensurate with qualifications and experience.*

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Safety, Compliance, Public Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in risk management, workplace safety, or compliance. or a programmatic leadership role with significant safety and risk responsibilities (e.g., aquatics, youth programs, camp operations).
• Proven knowledge of OSHA, aquatic safety, and child abuse prevention standards.
• Strong knowledge of workers’ compensation, liability claims, and insurance processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, develop culture, and manage cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and analytical skills.
• Experience in nonprofit or youth-serving organizations strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, risk management platforms, and volunteer systems.

Strategic Risk & Compliance Leadership

• Develops and leads a comprehensive risk management and compliance strategy for the Association.
• Monitors organizational compliance with OSHA, state/federal safety regulations, YMCA-USA membership standards, and insurance requirements.
• Conducts high-level risk assessments across all branches and programs, including aquatic and youth-serving environments.
• Oversees incident response, investigations, and corrective action planning.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for risk-related incidents, ensuring proper escalation, documentation, and resolution.
• Manage all aspects of each claim, including informal hearings and small claims litigation, and maintain a high level of productivity, confidentiality, and customer service.
• Monitor and enforce compliance with OSHA regulations and YMCA safety policies. Makes necessary changes to the program, such as increasing safety measures when needed.
• Analyzes accident/incident statistics, identifying trends and suggesting improvement plans.
• Provide technical support to Senior Management on any safety-related subjects.
• Liaises with client partners, insurance providers, and medical professionals to ensure prompt and appropriate response to workplace injuries or illnesses.
• Facilitates workers' compensation claims process for employees, providing support and guidance as needed.
• Reviews and updates Risk Procedure Manuals to ensure accuracy.
• Provides counsel to the VP and Executive Leadership on emerging risks, liability exposure, and mitigation strategies.
• Partners with insurers, legal counsel, and regulators to resolve complex risk and safety matters.
• Partner with the YMCA Branches and the Purchasing Department to ensure that safety equipment (e.g., PPE, first aid kits, eye wash stations) is adequately stocked and maintained.
• Creates, modifies, and enforces policies to comply with regulations.

Aquatics & Child Safety Oversight

• Provides executive oversight of Aquatics Safety compliance, ensuring implementation of the YMCA Aquatics Safety Plan.
• Leads strategy for aquatic risk reduction, including audits, drills, and certification processes for lifeguards and aquatic staff.
• Serves as a key liaison with Red Cross, health departments, and regulatory agencies.
• Supports the Child Protection Team and drives ongoing advancement of child abuse prevention practices.

Training, Safety Programs & Culture Development

• Coordinates/Directs Association-wide safety training, including CPR, First Aid, AED, aquatic safety, driver safety, and workplace emergency response.
• Partners with HR to integrate safety into onboarding and ongoing staff development.
• Develops a safety-first culture by coaching leaders, training managers, and embedding risk reduction into daily operations.
• Develop and implement emergency drills in collaboration with YMCA branches.
• Oversee and coordinate driver and vehicle safety programs, including compliance tracking and training initiatives.

Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Oversees risk management systems and databases, ensuring accuracy and integrity of incident, compliance, and volunteer records.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry into risk management systems and reports; responsible for the entry, maintenance, and integrity of data within various forms, systems, and databases.
• Conduct audits, recommend solutions, and assist in implementing corrective actions.
• Analyzes safety data to identify trends and implement preventative solutions.
• Provides regular reports and strategic recommendations to the Executive Team and Board Committees.
• Uses data to guide continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and training.

Volunteer Risk & Process Oversight

• Provides leadership for volunteer risk management, onboarding, and compliance processes.
• Oversees VolunteerMatters and ensures all volunteer programs align with YMCA standards.
• Partners with branch teams to ensure consistent volunteer screening, training, and supervision.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervises and mentors safety/risk staff and provides coaching to branch operations leadership.
• Collaborates with HR, Finance, IT, and Branch Operations to embed risk and safety practices into all functions.
• Serves on Association committees, including Advancing Our Cause (AOC), Child Protection, and Safety/Aquatics councils.

Other Expectations

• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers.
• Attend/complete required abuse risk management training.
• Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Adhere to job-specific abuse risk management responsibilities.
  • Maintenance Employees-ensure unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitor high-risk locations (locker-rooms and bathrooms), etc.
  • Front Desk Personnel- ensure consumers are properly signed in and out, ensure only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, etc.
• Follow employees and volunteers screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk.
• Provide employees and volunteers with ongoing supervision and training related to abuse risk.
• Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with consumers.
• Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
• Respond quickly to policy and procedure violation using the organization’s progressive disciplinary procedures.
• Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their consumer from abuse.

• Program Project Management.
• Change Leadership.
• Collaboration.
• Operational Effectiveness.
• Personal Growth.