Associate Director - Adventure WV

Adventure WV with West Virginia University is seeking applications for an Associate Director. The Adventure WV Associate Director (AD) works with the Adventure WV Director to fulfill the mission, values, and goals of the Adventure WV (AWV) program, in support of the Division of Student Life and West Virginia University. The AD has direct oversight, management, and responsibility for the operations and related activities of the Adventure WV First Year Trips program and year-round trips programs. The AD coordinates yearly review of AWV trips policies, procedures, and curriculum, updating as necessary based on industry standards, emerging trends, and collaboration with other AWV staff members. The AD researches, develops, proposes, and coordinates programs in new disciplines and locations, as requested by the Director. The AD is a contributing member of and leader within the AWV team, working on program priority projects, serving as on-call personnel, and providing supervision and leadership of staff and projects as requested by the AWV Director.

In order to be successful in this position, the ideal candidate will:

First Year Trips & Year-Round Trips

• The AD bears responsibility for the leadership, goal-setting, assessment, and operations of the First Year Trips program and year-round trip-based operations (to include day, weekend, overnight, expedition-based, and international trips). To coordinate these processes, the AD supervises all trip staff, including two Program Coordinators, Program Manager, Graduate Assistants, and 50+ student staff. The AD works with this team to coordinate key projects such as participant recruitment, leader recruitment, leader training, program design and scheduling, enrollment management, curriculum, staffing, academic course management, and student and stakeholder communication. The position coordinates with the AWV Program Support Specialist to ensure all logistics needs of programs are adequately met (food, equipment, vehicles) and with the AWV Media Specialist to effectively market programs. The AD also coordinates communication with and support of all AWV professional and GA staff who assist in the management of FYT and trip programs. The AD is responsible for annual budget analysis, projection, and management, along with all other annual and other reporting on the FYT and year-round trips programs. The AD is responsible for coordinating with the Director to prioritize retention-based initiatives and other programs that reflect key institutional priorities and to ensure FYT and trip enrollment and outcomes are meeting key goals and metrics for success. The AD works with their staff team to propose and coordinate new programs in alignment with key AWV and WVU priorities.

AWV Policies, Procedures, and Curriculum

• The AD coordinates the annual review of Adventure WV trip policies, procedures, and curriculum for all trip programs and all activities (excluding challenge course operations). Activities may include: backcountry travel, water-based programming, rock climbing, cycling, and van and trailer driving. The AD coordinates with the AWV Director and other staff members in this process, bearing the responsibility for updating and finalizing policies, procedures, and curriculum that reflect AWV trends, industry trends, and the input from various stakeholders. Ensures all staff (student, graduate, professional) are properly trained on policy, procedure, and curriculum.

AWV Leadership & Team Functions

• The AD serves as a member of and leader within the Adventure WV professional staff team. They assist, as requested by the Director, in the fulfillment of the mission and goals of the AWV program, Student Life, and WVU. They provide supervision to two Program Coordinators and a Program Manager, student staff, and other professionals as need may arise. They maintain expertise in relevant fields of practice and assists the Director in making key decisions regarding AWV. They are also responsible for contributing to various AWV priority projects and initiatives and is responsible for adhering to relevant AWV and WVU policies at all times. Some examples of AWV priority projects and sample duties include (but are not limited to): academic course management, Welcome Week programs management, Outdoor Education Center programing, Fall Family Weekend programming, intake and custom program design, extended programs leadership and management (domestic and international), involvement with WVU Student Life initiatives, and other special projects and duties as they arise. Furthermore, the AD contributes as requested and relevant to updates to various AWV policies, procedures, standards, and processes.

Qualifications :

• Master’s degree preferred in Outdoor Education, Recreation, or other relevant field. Commensurate experience and education may also be considered.
• Three (3) years of experience in the following:
  • Professional experience in outdoor education, outdoor recreation, and/or experiential education, preferably within higher education (Graduate Assistantships are included as professional experience).
  • Experience in outdoor orientation program management.
  • Experience in group outdoor trip planning/leading in backpacking and challenge course, and at least one of the following: paddling, skiing, winter programming, biking.
  • Experience is facilitating, teaching, and debriefing.
  • Experience in programmatic risk management.
  • Experience in supervision of student staff.
  • Experience in outdoor equipment maintenance.
• Experience in a diversity of programmatic settings providing outcomes related to recreation, education, skill development, and personal development—with a special emphasis on the higher education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a generalist in support of multiple program areas (I.e. solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and abilities across multiple program areas, outcomes, and disciplines).
• Staff supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated university teaching experience.
• Ability to design short-term outdoor educational and recreational opportunities.
• Ability to design effective trainings for student staff.
• Knowledge of indoor climbing wall management.
• Knowledge of outdoor orientation programming and programming for students in transition in higher education, both from a practical and theoretical perspective.
• Knowledge and experience managing challenges course activities and programming.
• Ability to forecast, monitor, and interpret financial reports and budgets.
• Ability to address issues faced by college students and to counsel students.
• Knowledge of proper use and care of many types of outdoor recreation equipment.
• Knowledge of Wilderness First Aid protocols and industry standards.
• Demonstrated skills in facilitating, debriefing, counseling, and group dynamics and other essential foundations of outdoor education, experiential education theory, leadership theory, and risk management theory.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and lead in a variety of outdoor settings and disciplines for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate a personal computer with knowledge of basic office software.
• Ability to use computer systems for registrations, budgets, etc.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively as a member of a goal-oriented team.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Experience developing and maintaining professional partnerships with organization and institutions.

• Valid Class D Driver’s License-- Industry standard and Supervisor’s preference.
• Wilderness First Responder, or adequate skills, experience, and ability to obtain—Industry standard and Supervisor’s preference.
• CPR or adequate skills, experience and ability to obtain—Industry standard and Supervisor’s preference.
• Preferred—WV DRN whitewater guide—Industry Standard and Supervisor’s preference.
• Preferred—additional technical skill certification (i.e. AMGA, ACA)—Industry standard and Supervisor’s preference.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley — the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu . View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu .

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.