It’s part of the Young Men’s Christian Association, one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening the foundations of communities through cause driven programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
MORE: Great Wolf Lodge in Mason hiring for approximately 100 jobs
Great Miami Valley YMCA employs more than 700 full-time and part-time staff members and serves nearly 50,000 people throughout its eight locations. It is hiring for more than 35 positions, including jobs ranging from lifeguard to group exercise instructor. For a complete list of available positions, visit www.gmvymca.org/career-opportunities.
We spoke with Boyce Swift, director of human resources and talent management association services, to gauge the hiring challenges facing Great Miami Valley YMCA. Here’s what he said:
Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing your organization and others in the industry and how is the organization uniquely positioned to address that challenge?
A. “The Great Miami Valley YMCA offers more part-time than full-time positions in its operational model. This is ideal for high school & college students, parents of young children and those who wish to be only semi-retired. The YMCA offers a competitive benefits package and is uniquely positioned in the community with a myriad of robust collaborations that result in a deeper sense of community for our employees, volunteers and members, and a connected feeling of being involved in a mission larger than oneself, that possesses huge potential to positively impact your specific community.”
MORE: Oxford call center to hire 50 new employees
Q: Some job seekers are concerned about the limits of advancement within an organization. To what degree can your employees advance from entry-level roles to be promoted to greater positions within the organization?
A: “YMCA employees who possess the attributes of humble, hungry and smart (see author Patrick Lencioni), are given the opportunity for additional responsibility such as: leading community projects; leading new or enhanced internal offerings or procedures; involvement and leadership in the creation and establishment of community program development, and critically thinking how the Y can best meet the needs of the community with the community. At the Y, it’s all about relationships.”
Q: What’s the most prevalent roadblock you encounter when it comes to hiring and what can jobseekers do to remedy that situation?
A: “Our biggest challenge is remaining competitive in the current job market. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the lowest rate since 2000. With such low unemployment, it puts pressure on wages. Our competitive edge is that we offer employees much more than a paid wage. We offer employees an opportunity to be leaders within their community.
“Employment with the YMCA also comes with other benefits like health care, life/disability insurance, child care, YMCA retirement benefits, employee wellness programs, YMCA membership, and paid leave benefits. With our continued focus on leadership development we also offer our employees countless opportunities for personal and professional development including training, professional development plans, performance reviews, succession planning, job coaching and mentoring.”
MORE: Employment expert shares how to make a seasonal job permanent
About the Author
