Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program and Services Directors

(NOC 0513)

in All Management

Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of recreation, sports and fitness programs and services, national or provincial sports governing agencies and professional athletic teams. They work for cities and towns, community and private recreation and fitness organizations, sports governing agencies and professional athletic team organizations.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 75 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Management

  • Estimate 2445 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5900 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$24.04

Minimum

$27.47

Median

$33.65

Maximum

Annual Pay

$12,979

Minimum

$45,470

Median

$72,706

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$22.50

Minimum

$43.80

Median

$66.20

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of recreation, sports and fitness programs and services, national or provincial sports governing agencies and professional athletic teams. They work for cities and towns, community and private recreation and fitness organizations, sports governing agencies and professional athletic team organizations.

Job duties

Managers in this group: Manage the operations of recreation, sports and fitness programs and services.

  • Give technical and professional advice on recreation, sports and fitness matters.
  • Prepare budget estimates and develop policies and procedures to implement programs.
  • Manage the operations of a sports governing agency.
  • Organize and administer national and provincial training, coaching, officiating and other programs associated with a sport.
  • Manage the operations of a professional athletic team.
  • Recruit professional coaches and athletes.
  • Direct fundraising drives and arrange for sponsorships from public and private organizations.
  • Develop long range plans and negotiate business contracts.

Sample job titles

  • amateur sport manager
  • bingo hall manager
  • casino operations manager
  • cruise ship director
  • director of recreation
  • fitness centre manager
  • fitness programs director
  • physical education programs director
  • professional hockey team manager
  • professional sports team manager
  • recreation administrator
  • recreation director
  • sports association director
  • YMCA general director

Skills

  • You need good organizational and managerial skills. An ability to work under pressure is important. You must be decisive. You need to work well with others. Effective spoken and written communication skills are important.

Job requirements

  • A university degree in recreation, physical education, sports administration or a related field or a college diploma in recreation management or sports administration.
  • Several years of experience in an job related to recreation and sports administration, consulting or programming are usually required.
  • Some directors of recreation may need to have a Municipal Recreation Director's Certificate.
  • Executive directors of sports governing agencies may need to have coaching certification in a specific sport.

Other considerations

None

By the numbers

Quick look

390

employed in 2016

91.0%

employed full-time

10.3%

self employed

57.7%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
42.3%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.5

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
59.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

39.7%

Halifax

$41,312 median annual income
21.8%

North Shore

$41,775 median annual income
21.8%

Annapolis Valley

$44,442 median annual income
9.0%

Southern

$59,904 median annual income
7.7%

Cape Breton

$51,613 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

47.9%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

16.9%

Public administration

16.9%

Health care and social assistance

8.5%

Educational services

7.0%

Other services (except public administration)

What is the age of Employment?

27.0%

45-54

27.0%

55-64

20.0%

35-44

14.0%

25-34

9.0%

15-24

4.0%

65+

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

37.2%

Bachelor

$52,211 median annual income
24.4%

High school

$30,117 median annual income
21.8%

College Diploma

$41,853 median annual income
6.4%

Trade Certification

N/A
3.8%

Master

N/A

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income
20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income
9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Health and Wellness

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to assume roles as health/wellness professionals in private business and industry, community organizations, and health care settings. They include courses in personal health, community health and welfare, nutrition, epidemiology, disease prevention, fitness and exercise, and health behaviours.

Institutions providing this program

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Organizational Leadership

College or University Program

These programs focus on leadership skills that can be applied to a business, government, non-profit, or educational setting. They include courses in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, finance, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication and other management skills.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to develop and manage park facilities and other indoor and outdoor recreation and leisure facilities. They include courses in supervising support personnel, health and safety standards, public relations, and basic business and marketing principles.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Physical Education Teaching and Coaching

College or University Program

These programs prepare individuals to teach physical education programs and/or to coach sports at various educational levels.

Institutions providing this program

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Recreation Nova Scotia
Bedford, NS
Canadian Institute of Management - Maritimes
Various, NS
Communities, Culture and Heritage - Sport and Recreation Funding Programs
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.