Chief Executive Officer - CEO

YMCA
Salary
$145,000.00
$160,000.00
How to Apply
Apply Online
Resumes Accepted Until
The Yakima YMCA is an equal opportunity employer committed to a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive workplace...
Job Description

Equal Opportunity Statement:
The Yakima YMCA is an equal opportunity employer committed to a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive workplace where every team member is valued, respected, and empowered to advance our mission.

Exceptional Opportunity to Lead a Vibrant YMCA
For more than 175 years, the YMCA has stood for something bigger than fitness: strengthening healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

From its founding in 1906, the Yakima Family YMCA has been a fixture in downtown Yakima for youth and adults across the Yakima Valley, especially in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. The 21st century has seen dramatic change with the construction of a second facility, the YMCA & Yakima Rotary Aquatics Center, which offers amenities that fill a longtime need in the Valley. What has not changed is the YMCA’s commitment to the downtown area that it first called home.

The Yakima YMCA seeks a leader to guide our Futures 2 Committee initiative to determine the best way to leverage the downtown building—now an underutilized asset—into one that best serves an area in transition and the families and kids of the downtown and Eastside communities.

The Yakima YMCA is seeking a seasoned, mission-driven executive to lead a community-centered organization focused on whole-person and whole-community impact; creating belonging; supporting families; developing young people; and improving health and well-being across the Yakima Valley.

The Board is looking for an inspiring, purpose-driven leader who is firmly committed to the Y’s unique whole-person approach, and who will promote and advance what sets the YMCA apart from any other gym: a mission that strengthens individuals and communities in spirit, mind, and body. The CEO will turn vision into action through strategic planning, measurable outcomes, and sustainable growth, ensuring that every strategy, program, and partnership advances community well-being and belonging.

With the current CEO preparing to retire, the Board is seeking its next leader to build on a proud legacy of service. The incoming executive will be the 11th CEO in the association’s 120 year history.

This leader will build and sustain strong relationships with civic and nonprofit partners, schools, health systems, funders, and volunteers; develop a high-performing team; and elevate philanthropic efforts that expand access, strengthen facilities, and increase long-term community impact.

About the Yakima YMCA

  • Downtown YMCA (approximately 90,000 sq. ft.)
  • YMCA & Yakima Rotary Aquatic Center (opened in 2019, 67,000 sq. ft., $27M capital project)
  • Camp Dudley, a 13 acre year round camp and outdoor school
  • Jewett Child Development Center serving infants through pre-K
     

Mission, Cause, and Values
Our Mission:
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Our Cause & Values:
To strengthen the foundations of community through caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Commitment to Inclusion:
The Yakima YMCA is committed to strengthening the foundations of our community through intentional efforts to ensure all people feel welcome, included, and supported. We strive to remove barriers to access, promote understanding across differences, and create a sense of belonging for individuals and families of all backgrounds.

Key Strategic Initiatives

  • Futures 2.0 Committee focused on how to best adapt the Y’s downtown facility—now an underutilized asset—to sustainably serve the surrounding neighborhood and area in transition
  • Exploration and development of key partnerships and collaborations to increase both services and sustainability
  • Development of a new strategic plan
  • Organizational Overview

Membership:
Total Members: 11,571
Total Membership Units: 7,000

Core Programs: 

  • Aquatics
  • Youth Sports
  • Group Exercise
  • Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
  • Resident Camp & Outdoor School
  • Outreach
  • Adult Sports


Annual Support Campaign: 

Prior Year’s Total: $353,291
Current Year’s Goal: $280,000

Staffing:

FT: 29
PT: 180
Seasonal: 30

CEO Direct Reports:

  • Associate Executive Director
  • Controller
  • Facility Director
  • Development Director

Board of Directors:

17 governing board members with active committee engagement

Financial Overview

Annual Operating Budget: $6M+
Current Debt: $741,000
Endowment: $3.7M across four investment accounts

Recent Operating Results:

Most recent year: $47,184 surplus
Prior year: $82,381 surplus
Prior year: $925,621 surplus (included ERTC funding)
Community Information

Community Population & Demographics:

Community demographic and population data can be found through U.S. Census and Yakima County data sources. 

U.S. Census QuickFacts (Yakima city, Washington):
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/yakimacitywashington/PST045224  

Yakima County Data Summary:
https://www.yakimacounty.us/2404/Data-Summary  

About the Area:

Yakima is a family friendly Central Washington community located just east of the Cascade Mountains, offering abundant outdoor recreation, strong schools, and a vibrant agricultural economy. The Yakima Valley is known for its four season access to hiking, biking, golf, river recreation, and winter sports at nearby White Pass. Yakima is approximately a two and a half hour drive from Seattle, providing access to major metropolitan amenities while maintaining a lower cost of living and strong community feel. Yakima is one of the more affordable cities in the Pacific Northwest and offers a welcoming environment for individuals and families.

Washington is a state of striking contrasts. West of the Cascade Mountains, the climate is shaped by abundant rainfall, evergreen forests, and a lush landscape. East of the Cascades—in the mountains’ rain shadow—the climate is sunnier and more arid, with four distinct seasons. Yakima sits in the heart of this region, where agriculture thrives through irrigation supplied by Cascade Mountain snowpack and the Yakima River system. The Yakima Valley is internationally recognized for apples, cherries and other tree fruits, grapes, and a wide range of vegetables—and it produces a significant majority of the nation’s hops, fueling a celebrated craft beer industry alongside world class wines.

Information Sites
Yakima YMCA website: https://www.yakimaymca.org  
City of Yakima website: https://www.yakimawa.gov  
County website: https://www.yakimacounty.us  
Tourism/Visitor Bureau: https://visityakima.com  
Chamber of Commerce: https://www.yakima.org  
Community college: https://www.yvcc.edu  
University: Pacific University of Health Sciences https://www.pnwu.edu  
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy: www.cowichecanyon.org  
Outdoor recreation club: https://cascadians.org  
White Pass Ski Area: https://skiwhitepass.com  
Hospital system: https://www.multicare.org  
School system: https://www.ysd7.org  
Yakima County Development Association: https://chooseyakimavalley.com  
YMCA of the USA: https://www.ymca.org  
State Alliance: https://www.washingtonymca.org  

Qualifications
  1. Accredited 4-year college degree and or equivalent work experience.
  2. Fiscally sound business management approach with a proven track record of budgetary and fiscal management more than $6M or more annually.
  3. Minimum seven years prior experience in a senior management role with a YMCA or related experience at a comparable organization with direct supervision of multiple levels of staff and employees.
  4. Must be able to develop and strengthen community relationships.
  5. Strategic planning and Fundraising experience including annual campaigns and the securing of grants.
  6. Fiscally sound business management approach.
  7. A proven record of accomplishment of progressive budgetary leadership and advanced fiscal management practices.
  8. YMCA Organizational Leader Certification or ability to achieve within 3 years.
Essential Functions

Key Skills and Abilities of Our Next CEO: 
The Board believes its new CEO should be an experienced leader who has the background and qualities needed to achieve excellence in the following roles:

Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan: Work effectively with volunteers, community leaders, and key staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the communities served by the Y and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management
Fiscal Management: Use high-level financial analysis to forecast financial trends, growth, and stability, while consistently leading the organization to balance or surplus operations by growing earned revenue and contributions and controlling costs. Empower and guide staff leaders to lead their departments to successful financial operation. Develop and implement stewardship strategies that will lead to long-term financial success. Key competencies: Fiscal Management, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy
Improve Operating Performance: Engage the board and appropriate staff to develop an annual tactical plan for identifying and achieving key goals and objectives towards operating with safe, relevant, and sustainable practices. Quickly address issues that may arise, forecast future needs, and manage and direct the Y’s operations and activities. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Innovation
Position the Y as a Vital Partner for Community Change: Serve as an ambassador for the mission, purpose, and vision for the YMCA within the community. Possess the ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds, while always upholding the highest standards and values of the Y. Ensure your Y is seen as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other. Key competencies: Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration
Build and Lead Staff: Ensure a talent development system is in place and executed that is affirming, culturally competent and effective. Hire, motivate, nurture, retain, and hold staff accountable for key objectives. Work towards recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting staff that represent the diversity of the communities you serve. Encourage the team by creating a spirit of camaraderie, inclusion, and sense of mission and purpose. Create a learning organization to help staff achieve their highest potential. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership
Steward Fundraising Efforts: Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan that will establish the YMCA as a leading nonprofit organization within the community through the engagement of members, volunteers, staff, and donors. Identify the need for successful capital fundraising, while taking the organization to a new level of effectiveness and impact in annual giving and endowment. Key competencies: Philanthropy, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence
Cause-Driven Leadership: Inspires and mobilizes staff, volunteers, members, community members and community partners to strengthen communities for all. Bring together people from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and generations to ensure access to the opportunities, relationships, and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive. Creates a welcoming, equitable, affirming, genuine, hopeful, and nurturing environment dedicated to making the communities they serve stronger. Positions the Y as a vital partner in the community in building partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders and like-minded organizations. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration

Residency, Compensation, and Benefits
Residency Expectation:
The CEO is expected to reside within the Yakima YMCA service area or relocate within a reasonable timeframe.

Salary, Benefits:
We offer competitive compensation based on experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes a retirement plan with employer contributions, health coverage, and paid vacation.

Salary Range:
$145,000 to $160,000.

Search Process
Target Dates:

Applications accepted through: May 22nd, 2026
Preliminary interviews (virtual): July 1st, 2026
In person interviews: July 22nd and July 23rd, 2026
CEO selection announced: Week of July 27th, 2026
Anticipated start date: Week of August 30th, 2026

Dates are subject to change.

HOW TO APPLY 
References, Background Check, and Organizational Leader Certification:
Candidates must submit (pdf format only) the following in their online application: a resume, cover letter. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Candidates who advance to final interviews will need to submit six references (four professional and two personal). References checked only with prior notification. Successful candidate accepting the offer must pass a background check and must have a current Y-USA’s Organizational Leader Certification or obtain certification within the first three years from start date as the CEO. The YMCA's personnel policies may require further screening. 

Candidates must apply via the following website: https://tinyurl.com/yakima-family-ymca-ceo  

Questions About the Search Process:
Shea Boschee – Director, Executive Leadership/CEO Search, YMCA of the USA
[email protected]  

Questions About the YMCA:
Derek Smith – CEO, Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
[email protected]