Project SOAR Program Director

Company Description ACCESS of Wilmington (Accessible Coastal Carolina Events, Sports, and Services, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2008 to expand inclusive recreation opportunities in Wilmington, NC. The organization developed the Miracle Field and Playground at Olsen Park, including BRAX Stadium PPD Miracle Field, a 33,000-square-foot rubberized field used by hundreds of children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. ACCESS also created the Kiwanis Miracle Playground, the largest wheelchair-accessible playground in North Carolina and a model for accessible play spaces in the region. Beyond Miracle League baseball, ACCESS increases opportunities for veterans with physical and invisible disabilities through Project SOAR, a collaboration with the University of North Carolina Wilmington funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The organization further supports inclusive wellness through ACCESS Fit, a growing fitness and wellness program for community members with disabilities, including individuals in rehabilitation and care facilities.

Role Description The Project SOAR Program Director is a full-time, on-site role based in Wilmington, NC, responsible for leading, managing, and expanding the Project SOAR initiative serving veterans with physical and invisible disabilities. This position oversees program planning and daily operations, including scheduling activities, coordinating events, supervising staff and volunteers, and ensuring safe, inclusive participation. The director builds and maintains partnerships with the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the Department of Veterans Affairs, community organizations, and veteran-serving agencies, and supports grant reporting and compliance requirements. The role includes developing and monitoring program budgets, tracking outcomes, collecting data, and preparing reports to demonstrate impact and inform program improvements. The director will also engage in outreach, participant recruitment, and communication efforts, while collaborating with ACCESS leadership to align Project SOAR with the organization’s broader mission.

Qualifications

• Program leadership and management skills, including experience overseeing community, recreation, or wellness programs and supervising staff or volunteers.
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with universities, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Experience working with veterans and/or individuals with physical, intellectual, or invisible disabilities, with a commitment to inclusive and trauma-informed practices.
• Administrative skills in budgeting, grant or contract compliance, data collection, and reporting to funders and organizational leadership.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, outreach, and presentation abilities for diverse audiences.
• Organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple programs, events, and schedules in a dynamic environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (such as social work, recreation management, public health, education, or nonprofit management) or equivalent combination of education and experience.