Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Recreation, sport and fitness program and service directors oversee recreational, sports and fitness programs. They plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of:
- Recreational, sports and fitness programs and services
- National or provincial sports-governing agencies
- Professional athletic teams
Recreation, sport and fitness program and service directors work for municipalities, community and private recreational and fitness organizations, sports-governing agencies and professional athletic team organizations.
Job Titles
Duties
Recreation, sport and fitness program and service directors:
- Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of recreation, sports and fitness programs and services
- Provide technical and professional advice on recreation, sports and fitness matters
- Prepare budget estimates and develop policies and procedures to create programs
- Manage the operations of a sports-governing agency
- Organize and administer national and provincial training, coaching, officiating and other programs associated with a particular sport
- Manage operations of a professional athletic team
- Recruit professional coaches and athletes
- Direct fundraisers and arrange for sponsorships from public and private organizations
- Develop plans and negotiate business contracts
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,950% Employed Full Time
63%Work in this field is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office or school.
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- A university degree in recreology, physical education, sports administration or a related field or A college diploma in recreation management or sports administration is usually required
- Several years of experience in an occupation related to recreation and sports administration, consulting or programming are usually required
- Some directors of recreation may be required to have a Municipal Recreation Director's Certificate
- Executive directors of sports governing agencies may be required to have coaching certification in a particular sport
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services
- Human Kinetics/Kinesiology/Physical Education
- Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management
- Recreation Leadership Related
- Sports and Fitness Administration/Management
- Kinesiology/Physical Education/Sport
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,950Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 45 | 2.3% |
| Kootenay | 55 | 2.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,090 | 55.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | 30 | 1.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 305 | 15.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 400 | 20.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,350Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 1.5% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 1.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 790 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.3% |
| Northeast | 20 | 1.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 220 | 1.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 230 | 1.1% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 1,110 |
| Educational Services | 90 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 50 |
| Public Administration | 50 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 50 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a recreation director does in a day.
Watch the video below to see what a recreation director does in a day.
