Program Support Specialist - Adventure WV

The Department of Adventure WV at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Program Support Specialist.

About the Opportunity:

The Adventure WV Outdoor Recreation Center Program Coordinator (ORCPC) works at the direction of the Adventure WV Director in five key areas:

• Coordinate and develop the various critical support functions and operational elements that enable the delivery of all Adventure WV programs - including First-Year Trips, Outdoor Education Center, and all other trips, clinics, experiences, and workshops under the Adventure WV umbrella.
• Coordination of Outdoor Recreation Center and Morgantown Adventure Outfitters (MAO) facility management
• Coordinate and oversee all Outdoor Recreation Center and Morgantown Adventure Outfitters program development, delivery, and equipment rentals.
• Coordinate student staff training, development, and certification, primarily with the Outdoor Recreation Center and Morgantown Adventure Outfitters program locations.
• Direct coordination of Adventure WV extended international and domestic program offerings

Within each of these areas, the ORCPC coordinates the development of relevant policies and procedures, oversees the management and coordination of facilities, operations, and programs, keeps detailed and accessible records, and is timely and thorough in communication and task completion. The ORCPC also contributes to the AWV team, working on program priority projects (i.e., First Year Trips, Welcome Week, Fall Adventure Activities) and serving as On-Call personnel.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Departmental Program Support Systems and Operational Duties
The ORCPC, under the direction of the Adventure WV Director, will coordinate all departmental support systems and work jointly with the Associate Director and Assistant Director on the operational duties and workflow management tasks that involve the delivery and support of all programs and Adventure WV-sponsored events. Program support and operational responsibilities include but are not limited to maintaining and reviewing departmental equipment inventories, allocations, and replacement schedule systems to ensure trips are appropriately outfitted with adequate gear, creation of menus that address program needs and participant dietary considerations, coordination of food purchasing systems that consider trip budgets and proper food storage, fleet management operations that implement and monitor vehicle scheduling, tracking, maintenance, and overall use, oversite and development of relevant budgets to ensure Adventure WV adheres to allocated amounts to support all programs, and the development of departmental operational workflows that manage tasks associated with pre-program planning, issue and post return reconciliation.

Departmental Programming & Rentals
Under the direction of the Adventure WV Director, the ORCPC will collaborate with the Associate Director, Assistant Director, Program Coordinator, Program Manager, and Graduate Assistants to propose, enroll, and staff a robust year-round calendar of events, programs and rental program opportunities at both the ORC & MAO locations. While these programs will have the main objective of serving AWV's student retention and engagement efforts, emphasis is also placed on the development and delivery of public-facing programs. The ORCPC creates and manages the processes for each location, including hiring/training/scheduling/management of student staff and two Graduate Assistants, the development and delivery of programs, front-line customer service, program registration, rental system processes, equipment maintenance, managing staff requests, sale of AWV merchandise, and decision-making regarding equipment offerings, pricing, etc. All programs must be proposed and run according to Adventure WV's internal processes and standards. The PC AWV Media Specialist is needed to market programs effectively.

Departmental Staff Training, Development, and Certification
Under the direction of the Adventure WV Director, the ORCPC will act as the primary coordinator for all training events occurring at both the ORC and MAO and will work jointly with their direct Graduate Assistants to oversee their implementation. The ORCPC will work to coordinate, plan, and deliver location-specific training that adheres to both industry standards and state regulatory criteria and will act as the primary point of contact for aligning the internal training curriculum with the industry's best standards. The ORCPC will also contribute to the broader Adventure WV student-staff training schedule and will work directly with the Associated Director and Assistant Director to fulfill needs as they arise. Training responsibilities of the ORCPC include but aren't limited to, staff onboarding and orientation, single-day freshers and skill development meetings, semester-based credit opportunities, week-long non-credit-based programs, and ongoing staff development opportunities. The ORCPC will also directly coordinate the tracking of student staff qualifications and certifications and will work with other departmental Coordinators and Managers to implement a system for feedback, improvement planning, discipline & termination, and process improvement.

ORC & MAO Facility Management & Operational Systems
The ORC Program Coordinator, under the direction of Adventure WV's Director, will manage the real physical assets and facilities associated with the Outdoor Rec Center and Morgantown Adventure Outfitters locations. Facility management and operational duties include, but are not limited to: program staffing management and oversight, oversight of the development and implementation of program operational plans, coordination of special facility arrangement, facility scheduling and program site designation, coordination and management of program area accommodations as determined by visiting groups, coordination and dissemination of on-site communications and signage, oversite and coordination of day-to-day facility and program element and equipment maintenance and upkeep, direct coordination with campus-level partners to ensure facility and program element arrangements are appropriately arranged in advance group arrival, direct coordination and implementation of all technological platforms (e.g. iAuditor/Qualtrics/Basecamp/) that are related to program coordination and operational oversight, and direct coordination of all facility maintenance and grounds upkeep, coordinating with WVU Facilities and the City of Morgantown as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field. Master's degree in Outdoor Education, Recreation, or other relevant field preferred
• A minimum of two (2) 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 group outdoor trip planning/leading in backpacking and challenge courses, and at least one of the following: paddling, skiing, winter programming, biking
  • Experience in facilitating, teaching, and debriefing
  • Experience in programmatic risk management
  • Experience in supervision of student staff
  • Experience in outdoor equipment inventory management, maintenance, and purchasing.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• 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 create and implement new programs
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and update existing programs
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a generalist in support of multiple program areas (I.e., solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and capabilities across various program areas, outcomes, and disciplines).
• Staff supervisory skills
• Demonstrated university teaching experience
• Ability to design short-term and long-term outdoor educational and recreational opportunities
• Ability to design practical training for student staff
• Experience with rental facility operation/facilitation and risk management issues.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a multi-faceted facility and its various operational, mechanical, and fleet components.
• Experience with facility rentals, departmental operations group scheduling, and managing work schedules
• Knowledge of outdoor orientation programming and programming for students in transition to higher education, both from a practical and theoretical perspective
• 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, 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

Physical Demands:

• Must meet Adventure WV Essential Eligibility Criteria - Seasonally
  • https://adventurefirstyear.wvu.edu/essential-eligibility-criteria

• Valid Driver's License
• 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 - additional technical skills certification (i.e. AMGA, ACA)

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.