Assistant Director of Campus Recreation (Outdoors)

Association for Experiential Education; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the Blue Ridge Mountains is seeking an Assistant Director of Campus Recreation (Outdoors) to oversee an outdoor leadership program. This role involves managing budgets, training staff, teaching courses, and fostering a diverse and inclusive program environment. Candidates with strong leadership, organizational skills, and outdoor certifications are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree with significant experience preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in campus recreation required.
• Experience in administering outdoor leadership programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage comprehensive outdoor leadership programs.
• Recruit, hire, train and coach student staff.
• Teach undergraduate-level courses in outdoor leadership.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organization

Time management

Leadership abilities

Education

Master’s Degree in Recreation, Sport Management or related field

Bachelor’s degree with significant equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Apps

Job description

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, UNC Asheville is the designated public liberal arts campus in the University of North Carolina system. UNC Asheville is nationally known for the quality of our student-centered teaching, mentoring of undergraduates in research, interdisciplinary learning, and striving to be an inclusive campus community.

UNC Asheville is committed to promoting diversity and a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and the ability to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds. Staff members are encouraged to take an active role to engage in the institution’s efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the workplace. The successful candidate is expected to foster an inclusive work culture where uniqueness of beliefs, backgrounds, talents, capabilities and ways of living are respected and welcomed.

Recruitment Range $45,000 - $46,575

Work Schedule and Hours
The work schedule will be flexible based on the activities for which this person is responsible. There will be significant evening and weekend hours.

Position Summary
The Assistant Director of Campus Recreation (Outdoors) has responsibility to develop, plan, implement, supervise, and evaluate a comprehensive outdoor leadership program for UNC Asheville Campus Recreation. The outdoor program comprises outdoor trips, outdoor guide training and development, youth outdoor experiences, the rental and gear center, bike shop, team building and pre-orientation programs.

The Assistant Director develops and expands current program offerings, develops and manages budgets, and implements, supervises, reviews, and administers the outdoor program activities and operations. The employee recruits, hires, trains, and develops student guides, bike mechanics, outdoor gear technicians, and team building facilitators. They also design, develop, and implement a comprehensive training and leadership development program for students. Training topics such as safety and risk management, travel, wilderness medical and emergency response, rock climbing (including anchor building and top rope site management), orienteering, backpack and camp skills, leave no trace, permit and trip planning, winter skills and water activities such kayaking, canoeing, and swift water safety shall be incorporated into the program.

The position is directly responsible for incorporating student development theory, learning outcomes and assessment into the outdoor program design, as well as marketing and recruitment of participants. The incumbent works in collaboration with other members of the department and campus community for special events and to provide content for group and custom programs.

The position is also responsible for teaching undergraduate level courses in outdoor leadership, which includes curriculum development, lectures, small group discussions, skill labs, and field experience.

Required Education/Experience/Skills
Master’s Degree. May also consider a Bachelor’s degree with significant equivalent experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills
Master’s degree in Recreation, Sport Management, Exercise Science, Higher Education Administration or a related field plus 1-3 years of experience working in a campus recreation or equivalent programs.

Experience administering a comprehensive outdoor leadership program, budgeting, knowledge and adherence to national standards and best practices for the outdoor industry, experience developing student learning outcomes, leadership development, facilitation skills, and applying college student development theory, evaluation and assessment in a higher education environment.

Experience and certifications preferred includes:
- Understanding of the theories of college student development and how they can be implemented in university outdoor programming.
- Student learning outcome assessment, analysis and implementation.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities.
- Experience working with college-age population including hiring, training, supervising and evaluating student staff.
- American Mountain Guide Association Trainings.
- Leave No Trace Training/Certifications.
- American Canoe Association Instructor Certifications.
- Wilderness First Responder.
- Swiftwater Rescue Certification.
- Wilderness EMT or ability to teach wilderness medicine certification courses.
- FA and CPR Instructor Certification.
- Challenge Course or team-building trainings/experiences.
- Bike mechanic trainings/certification

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Excellent communication, organization and time management skills.

Proficient in Microsoft office, Google Apps, and knowledge or ability to learn other computer software programs.

Additional skills and abilities include leading and teaching facilitation skills, team building, wilderness medical care, climbing, caving, hiking, backpacking, whitewater paddling, flat-water paddling, open water paddling, stand-up paddle boarding and cycling/mountain biking.

Apply directly with UNC Asheville at hr.unca.edu. Priority review will begin June 5th.