The Director of Recreational Services provides leadership for the daily operations and programming of the Highland Community College Wellness Center. This position is responsible for creating a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environment that promotes student success through recreation, wellness education, healthy lifestyles, and campus engagement. The Director develops and coordinates wellness initiatives, recreational programming, and campus events that support students' physical, mental, and social well-being while also serving the recreational needs of the college and surrounding community.
The Director oversees facility operations, student employees, memberships, scheduling, and special events while collaborating with Student Affairs, Athletics, Residence Life, Student Activities, Academic Affairs, and community partners to foster a vibrant campus culture centered on wellness and belonging.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Student Engagement and Wellness
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Create a welcoming, inclusive, and student-centered environment that encourages participation, belonging, and healthy lifestyles.
- Develop, implement, and assess student engagement opportunities that promote physical activity, wellness, stress management, and personal development.
- Plan and coordinate recreational leagues, intramural sports, fitness challenges, wellness campaigns, tournaments, and special events that increase student involvement.
- Collaborate with the Student Activities Director, Housing Director, Athletics, Counseling Services, faculty, and student organizations to provide holistic wellness programming that supports student success.
- Develop and promote health and wellness initiatives focused on physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being, including programs during Welcome Week, Finals Week, National Wellness Month, and other campus-wide initiatives.
- Recruit, train, mentor, and supervise student employees while fostering leadership development, customer service skills, and professional growth.
- Utilize student feedback, participation data, and campus needs assessments to develop new programming and continuously improve wellness initiatives.
- Promote Wellness Center programs through campus communications, social media, and collaboration with Marketing to increase student awareness and participation.
- Support student retention by creating opportunities for students to build relationships, reduce stress, and engage in healthy campus activities.
Facility Operations
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Assist in creating and maintaining a safe, clean, and inviting environment for students, employees, and community members.
- Provide appropriate supervision of users of the facility.
- Coordinate scheduling of all classes, athletic practices, campus events, community events, and facility reservations while maintaining the Wellness Center master calendar.
- Coordinate with the Maintenance Department regarding preventative maintenance, facility improvements, and equipment repairs.
- Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to facility operations, risk management, equipment usage, and safety protocols.
- Ensure fitness equipment is properly maintained, sanitized, and inspected according to established procedures.
- Maintain, order, inventory, and repair fitness and recreational equipment as necessary.
- Manage the Wellness Center membership database, including membership sales, renewals, and reporting.
- Evaluate facility usage and prepare reports regarding participation, memberships, program effectiveness, and operational outcomes.
Event Planning and Community Engagement
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Coordinate campus and community events hosted within the Wellness Center.
- Work collaboratively with Student Affairs departments to support orientation programs, student organization events, residence life programming, and campus traditions.
- Develop partnerships with local healthcare providers, fitness professionals, community organizations, and public health agencies to expand wellness opportunities for students.
- Assist with emergency preparedness, facility risk management, and compliance with institutional safety procedures.
- Serve on college committees that support student engagement, campus wellness, and student success initiatives.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Directly supervises the Administrative Assistant to the Wellness Center and 2-3 student workers. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include participating in the interviewing and hiring process established by the Human Resource Department, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's Degree required; master’s degree preferred. Related experience desired. Computer experience required.
Language Skills
Ability to read and respond to common inquiries or complaints from students, management, or members of the community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to students, recruits, management, public groups, and/or board of directors.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to work with mathematical concepts. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but may be loud on occasion.
