What are the responsibilities and job description for the Coordintor/Assistant Director, Sewanee Outing Program position at Sewanee?
Salary
Depends on Qualifications
Location
Sewanee, TN
Job Type
Staff Full-Time
Job Number
202100429
Division
Student Success
Department
Sewanee Outing Program
Opening Date
03/21/2025
DESCRIPTION
BENEFITS
Position Overview
Primary Function:
The Sewanee Outing Program’s (SOP) overarching role is encouraging students to get active outside to engage in new experiences, have fun, make new friends, gain self-confidence and engage in healthy and substance-free activities. The SOP provides the student body with numerous healthy, confidence-building recreation and learning opportunities at all levels of experience. The SOP is a very successful program with the majority of the student body participating in their programming. Students can explore the 13,000 acres of campus and wilderness areas in other parts of the U.S.A leadership role in the SOP is one of responsibility first and foremost. This position requires both the interpersonal skills to create and nurture relationships with students and the technical skills to lead a wide variety of outdoor activities and to mentor students in safe protocols and group dynamics for these activities.
Success as the Coordinator/Assistant Director of the SOP requires nuanced assessments of multiple risk variables including, but not limited to, weather, terrain, and student strengths and weaknesses, all while simultaneously engaging and mentoring students in the complex art of navigating safely in different outdoor environments. Level-headed decision-making is an absolute necessity in order to maximize the students’ experience, safety, and learning.
In addition, the Coordinator/Assistant Director of the SOP works closely with the SOP Director and undergraduate students in planning, preparing, training, and leading outdoor trips. This aspect of the work requires adaptability, diplomacy, patience, openness to feedback, and genuine care and support for the students. These interpersonal skills are also called upon during informal contact with the public and at formal University events for prospective students and alumni.
Supervision Received:
Positions Directly Supervised:
Positions Indirectly Supervised:
Technically train, support and mentor 90 leaders in leadership, wilderness skills, risk management, teaching and environmental ethics needed to lead successful safe trips for our program. Manage groups of students on trips to ensure safety and that they all feel welcome and engaged even given their wide range of skill levels.
Opportunities for Leadership:
Position Appointment Details:
- Career Band; 2B/2C, depending on qualifications
Position Description
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:
- Mentors students (work studies, SOP student leaders and others on trip) by providing direction and training, giving feedback to achieve learning objectives, directly overseeing and leading trips and safety.
- Teach technical proficiency in climbing, caving, cycling, canoeing/kayaking, backpacking, and mountaineering. This involves all of the nuances of assessing multiple variables including but not limited to safety, personality, weather and terrain all simultaneously while engaging and teaching students the complex art of navigating safely in different outdoor environments. Excellent decision making is an absolute necessity and must be executed with skill in order to maximize the student experience and learning.
- Serve as an advisor to student groups and organizations related to the outdoors and recreation.
- Independently responsible for the organization of equipment and buildings.
- Maintain and manage equipment related to the outdoor program.
- Maintain the bouldering wall in the Fowler Center
- Operate the SOP Bike Shop
- Assist the Director with daily operations for the outdoor program and activities.
- Organize and lead day, weekend, and multi-day trips in the outdoors.
- Provide detailed map and trail information to departments such as OESS to ensure Sewanee students are able to fully enjoy the Sewanee trail system.
- Assist, when necessary, with other student life responsibilities.
- Assure consistent and accurate content in all publications and webpages for which responsible, either supervising this responsibility or directly updating content regularly while meeting style and design guidelines (established by the University and maintained by Marketing and Communications) and undergoing training as needed.
Judgment Required:
Independent ingenuity, creative problem-solving, and experienced decision-making in challenging outdoor settings that require continuous attention to detail.
Machines & Equipment Used:
- Use and maintenance of: SOP 12-passenger vans and canoe trailer,
- Bouldering wall. Caving and climbing ropes, hardware and gear,
- Canoes, kayaks and boating gear.
- Bicycles, bike repair tools and equipment.
- Winter mountaineering equipment and gear.
- Camping tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and gear.
University credit card used for trips, gear and food purchases. Monitors expenditures against budget; prepares budget data for review/approval by supervisor/department head.
Personal Interaction/Communications:
- Student Contact: Daily- Counseling, advising, and mentoring student leaders in one-on-one and small group settings. Encouraging and inspiring students to try new outdoor activities. Offering individualized assistance in planning, organizing, and outfitting trips. Providing instruction and guidance in the field to create an inclusive and supportive environment for student growth. Maintaining a friendly and welcoming environment in the office space. Rallying students to assist with repair and maintenance projects.
- Internal: Operations Committee, Faculty, Administrative department heads
- Occasional: Participating in fundraising efforts. Communicating with faculty regarding faculty labs assistance and gear needed. Involved in job searches for job candidates.
External: Visitors, parents, other institutions, colleges, or companies, suppliers
Attributes of a Successful Candidate
Education:
Bachelor’s degree required, M.A. in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
Experience:
- 3 years experience doing outdoor trips in at least three of the following disciplines (e.g. technical experience in caving, climbing, canoeing/kayaking, backpacking, cycling, and mountaineering).
- Coordinator level: 1 - 3 years experience guiding others in an outdoor environment.
- Assistant Director level: 3 years experience guiding others in an outdoor environment.
Job Related Skills:
- Leadership and interpersonal communication skills
- Outgoing, magnetic personality to successfully engage with students.
- Technical proficiency in a majority of the following: climbing, caving, cycling, canoeing/kayaking, backpacking and mountaineering and trail running.
Licenses/Certifications:
- Coordinator: Prefer training and license in wilderness advanced first aid or wilderness first responder.
- Assistant Director: Required training and license in wilderness advanced first aid or wilderness first responder.
Supplemental Information
Confidential Information:
Organizational plans, development programs, individual student issues.
Working Environment:
- Normal office environment and challenging outdoor terrain.
- Moderate travel, regular evening, weekend work and overnights in remote outdoor settings.
- Plus extensive and extended stays in outdoor terrain in a variety of environments and weather conditions including caves, cliffs, steep terrain, on trail/off trail, rivers, lakes, desert and alpine wilderness environments.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to stand for extended period of time.
- Must be able to walk for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to climb (many stairs, ladders).
- Must be able to crawl and or kneel.
- Must be able to push and/or pull objects.
- Must be able to navigate steep and rough terrain.
- Must be able to use feet for repetitive tasks.
- Must be able to use hands for repetitive tasks.
- Must be able to lift between 51-100 pounds (Heavy work).
- Must be able to carry between 51-100 pounds (Heavy work).
Any additional requirements specific to this position:
- Ability to run 5 to 13 miles regularly on trails.
- Ability to backpack with a 60lb pack at 11,000 feet of elevation.
- Ability to lead 5.9 (minimum) sport routes confidently and in good form.
- Comfortable with tight crawls within caves and with heights on cliffs and rock faces.
- Comfortable road cycling and canoeing for extended periods of time.
The University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee, comprises a nationally ranked residential College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology. The University is strongly committed to the values of intellectual inquiry, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and living and serving in community. Situated on 13,000 acres atop Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee is known for its stunning natural beauty while providing easy access to Chattanooga, Nashville, and Huntsville. The University is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and seeks to help employees of all backgrounds and identities flourish.
If you have questions about a position, the University application process, or if you are a person with a disability and would like to request an accommodation in the application and interview process, please contact Human Resources at 931.598.1381 or email us at hr@sewanee.edu.
DEI Institutional Statement
At the University of the South, our commitment to inclusion and belonging is grounded in our core values of community, courage, flourishing, and inquiry. We seek to build a community enriched by our diversity and centered on equity, justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.
Please find a statement of institutional commitment to DEI, resources, and contact information at the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of the South is an equal-opportunity educational institution that is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive campus environment.
Employer
University of the South
Address
735 University Avenue
Sewanee, Tennessee, 37383
Phone
9315981381
Website
https://new.sewanee.edu/hr/
