Director Of Programming Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Overview: The Director of Programming is a strategic, people-first, and results-driven leader responsible for the culture, performance, and quality of Sender One's Programs Department across all gym locations. This role oversees Programs Managers, Head Coaches, Youth Programs Coaches, Yoga/Fitness Instructors, and Climbing Instructors, and is accountable for consistent, high-quality delivery of Youth Instruction, Adult Instruction, and Yoga/Fitness programming company-wide.

The Director of Programming works in close partnership with Programs Managers and Head Coaches, who oversee day-to-day on-site execution, staffing coverage, and space management for programs at each location. This role also partners closely with the Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Growth Marketing to align program strategy, pricing, enrollment campaigns, and launch strategy with broader company growth goals.

Responsibilities:

People Leadership and Culture:

• Serve as the organization's expert on all responsibilities of a Programs Manager, Head Coach, Youth Programs Supervisor, Climbing Instructor, Yoga Instructor, and Fitness Instructor.
• Build and maintain a high-performance, values-aligned leadership bench across all programs.
• Lead, coach, and develop Programs Managers, Youth Programs Coaches, Yoga/Fitness Instructors, and Climbing Instructors.
• Set clear expectations, goals, and accountability frameworks for Programs and Instructional staff.
• Conduct monthly check-ins and complete development plans with all direct reports.
• Foster a culture of trust, psychological safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the Programs Department.
• Lead ongoing training, education and professional development initiatives for all direct reports. 

Programs Operations Performance:

• Oversee the Programs Department to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of Youth Instruction, Adult Instruction, and Yoga/Fitness programming.
• Ensure programs are aligned with company vision, safety standards, and revenue goals.
• Create a cohesive curriculum, training framework, and staffing structure.
• Work with the Vice President of Operations, Routesetting, and Gym Managers to ensure seamless program execution on site, including staffing, customer experience, and space management.
• Set and maintain consistent scheduling standards for coaches and instructors across all locations, ensuring adequate coverage and adherence to Sender One's SOPs.
• Develop and maintain standardized coaching and instruction curriculum across Youth Programs, Adult Instruction, and Yoga.
• Set coaching and instruction standards for safety, quality, progression, and competition preparation, grounded in a mastery-oriented motivational climate that fosters curiosity, learning, and a continued development of craft; emphasizing effort, growth mindset, and learning from setbacks over comparison or outcome-only measures of success.
• Ensure compliance with risk management policies, certifications, and youth safety requirements, including SafeSport training and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Program (MAAPP) standards for all coaching staff.
• Oversee competition team structure, season planning, and event coordination through the Head Coaches.
• Develop and strengthen the adult instruction pathway.
• Act as subject-matter expert for climbing instruction, technique, yoga programming, and long-term athlete development.
• Integrate yoga and fitness programming (mobility, flexibility, breath work, and injury prevention) as a strategic complement to climbing.
• Build instructor and coach advancement pathways across all programs, identifying staff ready for expanded roles such as workshop facilitation, series leadership, or specialty training partnerships.
• Partner with the Director of Growth Marketing to ensure program pricing, promotions, and strategies reflect enrollment goals and market positioning.

Forecasting and Budgeting:

• Accountable for the fiscal performance of the Programs Department, including revenue, labor, and budget targets across Youth Programs, Adult Instruction, and Yoga.
• Review financial reports and work with Program Leads to identify revenue opportunities and cost efficiencies.
• Participate in annual budgeting and forecasting for the Programs Department in partnership with Finance.
• Monitor labor spend, program profitability, and enrollment trends to guide strategic decision-making.
• Set dates and registration targets for youth programming, including Kid's Climb, Seasonal Camps, Climbing Academy, and Recreational/Competitive climbing teams, at all locations.
• Set dates and registration targets for adult programming, including Foundations I/II, Adult Climbing Club, Intro to Lead I/II, Yoga and Fitness classes/workshops, and other adult offerings, at all locations.
• Share registration targets, seasonal priorities, and program calendars with the Director of Growth Marketing to inform acquisition campaigns and enrollment-driving initiatives.
• Conduct ongoing competitive benchmarking of programs, formats, and pricing against peer studios, gyms, and fitness facilities in each market to inform positioning and growth strategy.
• Identify longer-horizon growth opportunities across programs, including new location integration, studio/space buildouts, and partnership revenue streams (e.g., teacher training, corporate wellness).

Accountability:

• Accountable for Programming's Net Promoter Score (NPS) and overall member/guest experience across Youth Programs, Adult Instruction, and Yoga.
• Set the standard for consistent, proactive coach-to-family communication as a core driver of trust and retention across all youth programs.
• Lead all Program KPIs, including enrollment, retention, athlete progression, competition results, coach and instructor development, class/session utilization, and program profitability.
• Maintain program dashboards enabling consistent performance comparison across locations and programs, and present data-driven recommendations to the Executive Team and Gym Managers.
• Maintain a strong weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting cadence.
• Identify risks early and develop corrective actions for programs that are off-track.
• Attend the Operations meeting to inform other leaders of changes, updates, and/or blockers within the Programs department.
• Lead regularly scheduled meetings with Programs leadership to discuss changes, upcoming events, and action items.

Cross Functional Leadership:

• Work with Operations, Facilities, Routesetting, and Risk and Safety teams to maintain a consistent, safe, high-quality member experience.
• Partner with the Director of Gyms and Gym Managers to ensure seamless on-site program execution across all locations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Growth Marketing and Marketing Department to ensure strong on-site execution of campaigns, promotions, program launches, and community events.
• Partner with the Director of Growth Marketing on messaging, seasonal promotions, and outreach initiatives that support youth, adult, and yoga program enrollment.
• Provide program content, subject-matter expertise, and staff availability to support photoshoots, video content, and brand storytelling led by the Director of Growth Marketing.
• Partner with the CEO and Executive Team on long-term strategic planning for gym expansion, programs evolution, and staffing models.

Profile:

• 5+ years of leadership experience in youth programs, coaching, or instructional program management;
• An experienced and trusted advisor for staff - discover & connect with others;
• Delegates and communicates with staff clearly and respectfully;
• Passionate about climbing, yoga, working with kids, and instructing;
• Ability to harness imagination and find novel approaches to shared responsibilities;
• Ability to learn and grow from each task, challenge, and interaction while seeing them through to the end;
• Open to receiving & providing feedback, guidance, insight, assistance, and perspective in a professional manner;
• Work with a team, provide support to fellow team members, share ideas, and earn trust;
• Take initiative and have the drive to grow professionally.

Experience:

• Top rope & lead belay and climbing experience;
• Proven leadership ability in an educational, fitness, or professional coaching setting;
• Experience managing department-level budgets, forecasting, and fiscal reporting;
• Experience recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training coaches and instructors;
• Knowledge of SafeSport training and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Program (MAAPP) standards;
• Critical and strategic thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills;
• Knowledge of Google Suite – Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Drive, etc.;
• Knowledge of Paycom & interviewing experience;
• Knowledge of Rock Gym Pro reporting & data handling;
• Knowledge of Basecamp;
• Experience with USAC competition format and rules.

Salary & Time Commitment:

• $90,000 - $100,000 + performance based bonuses
• Minimum of 40 hours per week (Sun–Sat); available on weekend days as needed to support gym programming
• Attend regular Manager meetings and All Staff meetings
• Expected to be physically present in gyms 3+ days per week to support operations
• Presence at competitions to support Youth Program teams

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Programming Net Promoter Score (NPS);
• Program Enrollment & Retention;
• Program Profitability;
• Coach & Instructor Development Rate.

For Sender One Perks and Benefits, please visit our Careers page (located under the Open Positions)