This position collaborates in a cross-Divisional and cross-institutional approach to advance operational excellence, student employment development, and risk management for best practices that align with university policies and strategic priorities. The coordinator serves with a student-centered approach that contributes to a caring and safe campus life environment, supporting the holistic success of students through leadership development, professional growth opportunities and high-quality recreational experiences.

Characteristics of a successful candidate:

• Integrity, creativity, and decisiveness.
• Motivation to create an inclusive and safe student experience.
• Ability to serve with agility and manage multiple priorities.
• A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.
• Desire to collaborate with colleagues.
• A strong commitment to developing students holistically.

Responsibilities include:

Programming

• Responsible for the development, direction, and evaluation of a comprehensive outdoor recreation program that meets the needs of a variety of skills levels, abilities, and identities of the university community.

• Oversee all programs, events, and rentals within the Govs Outdoors program area, including Bouldering Competitions, Challenge Course and Rock Wall group requests, gear rentals, trip planning and facilitation.

• Enter and update all programs into the recreation management software system for registrations, sales, and reservations.

• In conjunction with the Assistant Director, create, identify, and assess program goals in support of University and Division missions and strategic plans.

• Monitor the industry trends for programming new and inclusive activities, and to inform future decisions.

• Assist with marketing as needed to promote Govs Outdoors

Fiscal and Facility Operations

• In concert with the Assistant Director, oversee the Govs Outdoors budgets, including payroll, program/maintenance expenses, equipment repair and replacement, and tracking revenue.

• Forecast and monitor all wages, staffing, expenses and revenue to prepare future budget requests, including equipment replacement, in concert with the Assistant Director.

• Coordinate facility-use and requests with the University Recreation leadership team.

Personnel and Leadership Development

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, develop and evaluate Govs Outdoors staff of 5-10 student and non-student/part-time employees, including Govs Outdoors Adventure Leaders and Rock Wall Attendants

• Develop and implement in-services for Govs Outdoors staff following best practices with a strong emphasis on skill-development, transferable work skills, staff empowerment, inclusion and leadership.

• Enforces and communicates university and department policies with employees and patrons.

• Create, identify, and assess student learning outcomes in support of University and Division missions and strategic plans.

• Provide high-quality service within department guidelines in all interactions.

Department and Division

• Collaborate with University Recreation staff to advance the departmental and divisional vision, mission, core values, and strategic plan

• Support the mission of University Recreation, Student Affairs, and APSU through active participation in departmental and campus-wide initiatives, and committees

• Remain competent and current through professional development and participation in professional organizations.

• Collaborate with APSU departments and community partners.

• Prepare timely and accurate reports.

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

• Demonstrated experience in outdoor recreation programming or operations, including experience with outdoor adventure programs, challenge course facilitation, climbing programs, or leading group outdoor trips.

• Experience supervising, training, or providing leadership to student employees, part-time employees, volunteers, or program participants.

• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification, or ability to obtain certification within a specified period following employment.

• Demonstrated knowledge of safety practices and risk management principles associated with outdoor recreation programs and activities.

• Ability to effectively lead, develop, and work with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

• Effective oral and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, programs, and activities.

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required to support Govs Outdoors programs, trips, and departmental or divisional activities.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Successful completion of a background check as required by the University.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Recreation Administration, Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Recreation, Higher Education, Student Affairs, Sport Management, or related field.

• Two or more years of professional or graduate-level experience in collegiate recreation, outdoor recreation, adventure education, or a related setting.

• Experience developing, coordinating, and assessing outdoor recreation programs, including adventure trips, climbing programs, challenge courses, equipment rental, or similar experiential programs.

• Experience recruiting, training, supervising, and developing student employees or part-time staff.

• Experience with outdoor recreation risk management, emergency action planning, incident response, and industry safety practices.

• Experience managing or assisting with program budgets, equipment inventories, purchasing, maintenance, and replacement planning.

• Experience using recreation management, registration, reservation, or point-of-sale software.

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification.

• Wilderness First Aid Instructor certification.

• Climbing Wall Instructor certification or comparable climbing-related certification.

• Experience with paddling and other outdoor adventure activities.

Physical Requirements

-Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

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Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.

Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at gloverj@apsu.edu | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.

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The Govs Outdoors Coordinator reports to the Assistant Director of Programs for University Recreation. This role provides coordination and has direct responsibility for all aspects of day-to-day Govs Outdoors programming and operations, including Rock Wall, Gear Rental, Low Ropes Challenge Course, Trip Program and Bike Repair program. This position supports Austin Peay State University’s commitment to fostering a vibrant campus life experience through safe, and well-managed recreational programs and facilities. The coordinator will be with a team that drives the strategy, vision, multidisciplinary and data-informed approach, and operational leadership to develop, inspire, and lead the care, standards, and wellbeing of student campus community.