Area Director - Mardak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Member Experience Officer, the Area Director provides leadership, guidance, and support to multiple Club sites within an assigned geographic area to ensure excellence in Club leadership, member experience, and operational performance. The Area Director partners with Club Managers to develop high-performing teams and foster environments where youth receive exceptional programs and experiences.

The Area Director is responsible for providing oversight and coaching related to Club operations, financial stewardship, staffing, program quality, safety, member recruitment and retention, and compliance with organizational standards. Working collaboratively with Member Experience leadership and cross-functional departments, the Area Director uses data to assess performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and support the successful implementation of organizational initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.

The Area Director models and promotes Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s core values of Safety, Empathy, Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation and Accountability, building strong relationships with staff, youth, families, schools, neighborhoods and community partners. Through consistent leadership and coaching, the Area Director helps ensure each Club provides a safe, welcoming, and high-quality environment where young people can learn, grow, and thrive.

Key Responsibilities:

Create a Club Experience Defined by Safety, Belonging, and Joy

• Coach and support Club Managers to cultivate environments where every young person feels physically and emotionally safe, welcomed, valued, and inspired to participate.
• Ensure Club environments consistently reflect the organization’s commitment to Safety, Empathy, Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation, and Accountability.
• Monitor Club quality through regular site visits, observations, and performance reviews, providing coaching and support to strengthen the member experience.
• Partner with Club Managers to identify and remove barriers to participation, including transportation, accessibility, inclusion, and family engagement.
• Ensure Clubs deliver high-quality, developmentally appropriate programs that meet organizational standards, grant requirements, licensing regulations, and continuous quality improvement expectations.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by using member, family, and staff feedback along with performance data to strengthen Club experiences.
• Ensure compliance with all organizational policies and applicable licensing and regulatory requirements, including DCF, DPI, BGCA and other governing agencies.

Strengthen Clubs as Anchors of Community Engagement

• Support Club Managers in developing meaningful relationships with schools, families, community organizations, and neighborhood partners that enhance opportunities for youth.
• Represent the organization within assigned communities and foster partnerships that increase awareness, access and community support.
• Serve as a liaison between Club leadership and internal support departments to strengthen communication, coordination, and organizational effectiveness.

Foster a Positive Employee Experience

• Lead, coach, and develop Club Managers to build engaged, high-performing teams committed to youth development excellence.
• Partner with Human Resources to recruit, onboard, and retain talented staff.
• Conduct regular performance coaching, goal setting, and evaluations that promote accountability, professional growth, and leadership development opportunities that strengthen leadership capacity, operational excellence, and employee engagement.
• Model the organization’s values and cultivate a culture of trust, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Advance a Culture of Excellence, Collaboration, and Innovation

• Use operational and program data to monitor Club performance, identify trends, and implement strategies that improve member outcomes and organizational effectiveness
• Partner with Member Experience leadership and cross-functional teams to implement organizational initiatives and continuously improve systems, processes, and practices.
• Encourage innovation and the sharing of best practices across Clubs to improve the quality, consistency, and impact of the member experience.
• Promote collaboration among Club leaders and organizational departments to achieve shared goals and strengthen organizational performance.

Support Financial Stability and Sustainable Growth

• Partner with Club Managers to develop and manage annual operating budgets, ensuring responsibility stewardship of organizational resources.
• Monitor financial performance, membership trends, attendance, Wisconsin Shares participation, and other key performance indicators, implementing corrective action when needed.
• Support organizational fundraising efforts through donor engagement, site visits, grant implementation, and storytelling that demonstrates Club impact.
• Collaborate with Mission Advancement, Finance and Data teams to provide operational insights, performance metrics, and outcome reporting that support funding opportunities and organizational sustainability.
• Drive achievement of organizational goals related to membership growth, average daily attendance, frequency of attendance, program participation, and other established performance measures.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Human Services, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Nonprofit Management, Recreation Management, or a related field required; equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible leadership experience may be considered.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience leading people and developing leaders in a multi-site organization may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Wisconsin Child Care Administrator Credential or must complete the credential within six (6) months of hire.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, education, nonprofit, or a related field, including responsibility for multiple programs or sites and supervision of leaders.
• Demonstrated success coaching and developing managers to achieve organizational goals and deliver high-quality experiences.
• Experience using performance data, key metrics, and continuous improvement practices to strengthen outcomes and operational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, build collaborative relationships, and achieve results through influence, coaching, and shared accountability.
• Experience management budgets, allocating resources, and ensuring responsible fiscal stewardship.
• Experience building partnerships with schools, families, community organizations, and other stakeholders is preferred.

Skills:

• Strong leadership and coaching skills with the ability to develop high-performing leaders and teams.
• Ability to foster a culture grounded in the organization’s values of Safety, Empathy, Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation, and Accountability.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, identify trends, make informed decisions, and implement continuous improvement strategies.
• Effective project management, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Financial acumen, including budget development, monitoring, forecasting, and resource management.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to navigate complex situations while maintaining positive relationships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other organizational technology platforms; ability to learn and effectively utilize new systems and apps.
• Ability to represent the organization professionally and build positive relationships with community partners, schools, families, funders, and internal stakeholders.
• Valid Wisconsin driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and proof of insurance meeting statement minimum requirements

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

This position requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, speaking, hearing, and using hands to operate a computer and other office equipment. The employee may occasionally be required to reach, bend, stoop, or lift and move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Regular travel between Club locations, schools, and community sites is required. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus

Work Environment:

The Boys & Girls Club is a dynamic, youth-centered environment where employees work directly with children, teens, families, volunteers, community partners, and colleagues. The pace of work is fast-moving and collaborative, requiring flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.

This position regularly works in Club facilities, schools, and community settings and requires frequent travel between assigned locations. The work environment includes moderate to high levels of activity and noise typical of youth programs, including indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, classrooms, gyms, cafeterias, and community events.

The Area Director is expected to maintain a visible presence within Clubs, providing coaching, support, and leadership to staff while fostering environments that reflect the organization's values of Safety, Empathy, Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation, and Accountability. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required to support Club operations, staff development, family engagement, community partnerships, and organizational events.