Executive Director, Recreation and Wellness

🔍 Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation, Stanford, California, United States. Administration. Post Date:
Jan 09, 2026. Requisition #: 107995.

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 well-being of the campus community. This role will oversee the design and delivery of diverse offerings—from intramurals and club sports to aquatics, outdoor adventures, and wellness workshops—ensuring they align with Stanford’s health and student success goals.

The Executive Director will manage multimillion-dollar budgets, lead a high-performing team, and build cross-campus partnerships to foster student belonging, engagement, and resilience. A data-driven and innovative leader, this individual will champion operational excellence, financial sustainability, inclusive programming, and a culture of continuous improvement that reflects Stanford’s commitment to health, wellness, and community.

• Strategic Vision & Leadership
  • 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.
• Student Development & Wellbeing Integration
  • Intentional focus on student development, engagement, and belonging through recreation and wellness programs.
  • Connecting rec/wellness efforts to mental health, academic success, and resilience.
• Program Development & Delivery
  • 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.
• Operational Excellence
  • 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.
• 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 units—Student Affairs, Athletics, Counseling, Residential Life, and 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 high-risk activities.

• 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…