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Inside Higher Ed · 3 days ago

Executive Director, Recreation and Wellness

Palo Alto, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$207K/yr - $251K/yr

10+ years exp

Stanford Recreation & Wellness is a leading program committed to holistic development and well-being. The Executive Director will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for a comprehensive recreation and wellness program, overseeing diverse offerings and managing multimillion-dollar budgets.

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Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for recreation and wellness, aligned with DAPER’s mission and Stanford’s broader health objectives

Serve as a thought-leader, galvanizing stakeholders around bold, evidence-based programming that drives participation and satisfaction metrics across campus and in the community

Intentional focus on student development, engagement, and belonging through recreation and wellness programs

Connecting rec/wellness efforts to mental health, academic success, and resilience

Oversee all recreational offerings—intramurals, club sports, aquatics, group fitness, outdoor adventure, mind-body studios, and wellness workshops

Oversee strategic marketing and communications to increase awareness, engagement, and participation across all demographics

Manage a ~$11M budget for facilities, staffing, and equipment; optimize resource allocation to maximize ROI and user experience across functional areas

Ensure top-tier facility maintenance and development—gyms, pools, courts, trails—by collaborating with Capital Projects and Facilities teams

Develop and manage revenue-generating programs (e.g., memberships, external rentals, partnerships) to support long-term financial sustainability

Recruit, mentor, and lead a diverse team of directors, program managers, and frontline staff

Instill a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth

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

Forge strategic alliances across Stanford units—Student Affairs, Athletics, Counseling, Residential Life, and external community organizations

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 high-risk activities

Qualification

Strategic planningBudget managementData analysisCompliance expertiseTeam leadershipRecreation managementProgram developmentCollaborationBold communicationVisionary thinkingInnovator's mindsetEmotional intelligenceInterpersonal skills

Required

Education: Master's 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 large-scale recreation/wellness programs; minimum 5 years managing multi-million-dollar budgets

Leadership: Proven track record building high-performance, inclusive teams and driving measurable outcomes

Data Fluency: Strong analytical skills to turn numbers into narrative—comfortable 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

Champion innovative technology integration—app-based engagement, online programming, and user analytics—to 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

Benefits

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.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.

The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees.