Personal Trainer - Student Hourly

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Kansas is hiring Student Personal Trainers for Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. You will guide a diverse KU community in setting goals and delivering progressive training programs across mobility, strength, and cardio.

Key duties include teaching proper technique, ensuring safety, maintaining records, and coordinating with the Training Program Manager. This is an hourly, on-site position requiring about 6 hours per week with some events and meetings.

Qualifications

• Current CPR/AED certification with in-person skills assessment, or willingness to obtain within 4 weeks.
• ACE Personal Training Program completion taught through KU Recreation Services with NCCA CPT exam within 6 months, or already NCCA-certified.
• Experience using cardiovascular and resistance training equipment (selectorized, plate-loaded, free weights).
• Student hourly employment requires average of 6 hours per week.
• Complete concussion training within 4 weeks of employment.
• Excellent communication skills as evidenced in application materials and interview.
• Ability to lift and carry 45 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive training program including mobility, flexibility, resistance training and cardiovascular components.
• Teach proper technique, mitigate risk, enforce policies, and re-rack weights.
• Document session dates/times and track client progress and payments; maintain training records.
• Attend staff meetings/trainings and assist with events; general troubleshooting.

Skills

CPR/AED certification

Communication skills

Experience with cardio and resistance 

Ability to lift 45 pounds

Education

NCCA-accredited CPT certification

ACE CPT program completion

Job description

Position Overview

Personal Trainers work at Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. They provide exercise guidance to members of the KU community including students, staff, faculty, KU affiliates, retirees, spouses, and domestic partners to help them meet their health and fitness goals.

Job Description

Duties include, but are not limited to:

50% - Programming

• Defining specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time orientated goals.
• Developing, leading, and instructing clients through a comprehensive and progressive training program, which could include mobility, flexibility, resistance training, and cardiovascular components.
• Knowledge of various mobility, flexibility, resistance training, and cardiovascular exercises and equipment.
• Answer clients’ questions about health, fitness, and nutrition within a CPT’s scope of practice.
• Build rapport with clients.

35% - Risk Management

• Mitigating risk of injury or damage to facility or equipment.
• Teaching, demonstrating, and ensuring client uses proper technique.
• Enforcing policies and procedures.
• Re-racking weights and cleaning equipment used by clients.
• Spotting lifts for clients.
• Implementing emergency action procedures as needed.
• Obtain and maintain an NCCA accredited Certified Personal Training (CPT) certificate such as ACE, NASM, NSCA, ACSM, etc.
• Obtain and maintain CPR/AED certification.

10% - Administration

• Communicate with the Personal Training Program Manager and program supervisor.
• Documenting session dates and times and deduction of sessions.
• Ensuring payment has been received for packages/sessions.
• Maintaining training records and notes for each client.

5% - Other

• Required to attend staff meetings and trainings.
• Assisting with special events.
• General troubleshooting.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

1. Possess a current CPR/AED certification with an in-person skills component assessing all CPR/AED steps, or willing to obtain within 4 weeks of employment.
2. Either completion of ACE Personal Training Program taught through KU Recreation Services and pass a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) exam accredited by the NCCA within 6 months of hire OR currently possesses a NCCA accredited personal training certification prior to applying for this position.
3. Experience using cardiovascular and resistance training equipment such as selectorized machines, plate loaded machines, and free weights.
4. Personal Trainers are required to work an average of 6 hours a week
5. Complete concussion training within 4 weeks of employment.
6. Excellent communication skills,as evidenced by application materials/interview.
7. Ability to pick up and carry 45 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Currently possesses an NCCA accredited personal training certification such as ACE, NSCA, NASM, ACSM, etc.
• Previous personal training experience.
• Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Health or related major.
• Prior experience taking initiative, demonstrating good time management, and organizational skills as demonstrated in the application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: 1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or be enrolled in summer session or be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments)Employment Conditions(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.

(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following are required to be considered for this position:

• Resume
• Cover letter

To ensure consideration, apply before the application review date of 10/26/26.

Contact Information to Applicants

Miranda Kolenda

[e-mail]

785-864-1822

Advertised Salary Range

$15.40 to $18.45 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Monday November 30, 2026