Assistant Director of the EDGE

Department: University Life - Mason Recreation

Classification: Education Administrator 1

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Manassas, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary range starting in the low $60k's; commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

About the Department:

Mason Recreation meets the diverse needs and interest of the Mason community by providing programs, services, and facilities that are innovative, comprehensive, inclusive, and of unsurpassed quality. Mason Recreation creates an atmosphere that encourages individuals to develop life-long involvement in recreational, fitness, and wellness activities through both structured and informal opportunities that meet the dynamic needs of our diverse community. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for the Mason community by fostering leaders, encouraging healthy lifestyles, promoting learning, and developing meaningful social interactions.

The EDGE serves schools, businesses, community and university groups with leadership, team building, and corporate development programs that will:

• Energize your team with active and engaging programs
• Develop skills for effective communication, collaboration and problem solving
• Grow individual and group leadership functions through practical experience
• Excel at identifying and capitalizing on your strengths for profound transformation

About the Position:

The Assistant Director, EDGE furthers the mission of The EDGE through the management of curriculum and program development; supervises daily operations, manages the coordination of program delivery; delivers programs; hires and participates in the planning for and the training of facilitation staff; and evaluates and coaches the facilitation staff's technical and program delivery to clients. This position reports to the Associate Director of Team Training and Leadership, Mason Recreation.

Responsibilities:

Program Coordination and Delivery:

• Works with the sales team and clients to identify each individual program's goals and desired outcomes;
• Manages agreements or ability to operate with federal, state, and local government entities;
• Manages affiliations with member organizations (AEE, ACCT, MBTI);
• Assesses appropriate program specifications, including module and/or model selections;
• Coordinates the programmatic needs of each client within The EDGE daily schedule;
• Supervises the scheduling and coordination of staff duties and responsibilities to effectively meet the requirements and needs of each program, client, and The EDGE;
• Supervises daily facilitation staff program schedules;
• Manages pre- and post-program and other briefings to program staff;
• Facilitates programs on a regular or as-needed basis;
• Delivers high-quality programs according to desired client outcomes;
• Delivers program information and schedule to staff in a timely and accurate manner; and
• Ensures programs run according to schedule.

Fiscal Management:

• With the guidance of the Associate Director of Business Services, develops and manages the EDGE budget;
• Develops and tracks specific budget categories (e.g. staff wages, training, special projects, equipment);
• Reviews and revises with sales assistant the program pricing structure on an annual or as-needed basis;
• Approves the accuracy of invoices and payments for group contracts;
• Develops and maintains diverse revenue streams;
• Provides accurate budget category data on a timely basis;
• Provides accurate research data for review of pricing structure in a timely manner; and
• Provides useful research, meets with potential clients, and develops program materials to help diversify revenue.

Risk Management:

• Ensures program complies with up-to-date risk management issues, including oversight of incident/accident reports, staff policies and procedures, acknowledgement of risk forms, and First Aid/CPR kit system and training;
• Ensures challenge course equipment readiness;
• Oversees and carries out reference and background checks on all employees, ensuring that these checks are administered before employment and providing references on request for former employees;
• Completes or makes available risk-related reports, procedures, and supplies in a timely manner and in keeping with established and emerging local and industry standards; and
• Readies challenge course equipment on a timely basis.

Staff Supervision and Evaluation:

• Supervision: Supervises sales assistants, staff and programs coordinators, facilitation staff, practicum students, and other selected wages employees. Supervises all staff in the absence of the Associate Director of Experiential Learning and Staff Development. Assists and delegates work to the staff as needed. Maintains all documentation related to supervision of staff;
• Recruitment and Hiring: Coordinates recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of staff. Ensures hiring practices meet Mason rules and regulations;
• Staff Training: Coordinates, designs, and leads trainings for new and current field staff. Ensures facilitation staff are trained to deliver set curricula, modules, and models within challenge course industry, Mason, Mason Recreation, Freedom Center, and The EDGE standard operating procedures (SOPs). Ensures facilitation staff are trained in sequencing and processing skills. Develops, writes, and edits training manuals. Coaches the continued professional development of each facilitation staff member's progression through individual professional development plans. Monitors facilitation staff mentoring program. Plans training calendar;
• Evaluations and Observations: Performs annual performance evaluations for Facilities Supervisor. Observes and evaluates wages staff performance and documents performance evaluations; and
• Oversees Human Resources Functions for direct reports: Works with the Mason Recreation Personnel and Office Manager to develop and monitor pay system for wages staff. Tracks timesheets to ensure accuracy. Tracks labor expenses Ensures employment paperwork is complete and on file. Ensures staff records are complete and on file.

Program Development and Design:

• Manages the curriculum development process for the entire program operation of The EDGE;
• Works with the sales team to transfer market research findings into program modules and curriculum;
• Proposes program or curriculum changes and additions to meet the mission of The EDGE;
• Drafts new modules and curriculum;
• Ensures current programs continue to meet the needs of existing clients;
• Designs and manages targeted “off-the-shelf” skill-development and curriculum-based programs;
• Tests all new programs and modules; and
• Works with the Associate Director of Programs, Well-Being, and Assessment and EDGE sales team to develop evaluation tools for facilitation staff, client, and program assessments.

Facilities Management:

• As supervisor of the Facilities Supervisor, ensures the facility (grounds, vehicles, challenge course, equipment and equipment sheds) meets functional and aesthetic needs of clients and program administration and staff; program and sustainability goals; and Mason, ACCT, and other relevant government or industry standards;
• Works with Facilities Supervisor to prioritize project schedules, identify new projects, and determine facility maintenance and repair needs;
• Coordinates with the Facilities Supervisor on timing and cost of facilities work and management of contracted work;
• Coordinates with Facilities Supervisor on work done by wages staff, practicum students, or volunteers;
• Coordinates Facilities Supervisor schedule with Mason Recreation staff (e.g. in the winter); and
• Acts as liaison to Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center and Science & Technology Campus.

Departmental Support/Other Duties:

• Attends Mason Recreation all-staff meetings;
• Attends University Life all-staff meetings;
• Conducts presentations about The EDGE;
• Demonstrates commitment to making an active and meaningful contribution to the university's well-being initiative;
• Supports and takes an active role in Mason Rec departmental special events;
• Participates in the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to support departmental improvement; and
• Performs other duties as requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience typically obtained in 3 years working as a Challenge Course Facilitator and experience equivalent to meet criteria for ACCT challenge course manager and practitioner certifications;
• Experience working with a diverse client base;
• Knowledge of The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) standards;
• Ability to communicate with participating groups (regardless of age or skill level) and provide necessary instruction to clients and facilitation staff;
• Ability to work outdoors with all age populations;
• Ability to work long and irregular hours, including early morning, late evening, and occasional weekend work;
• Ability to independently facilitate small groups through low and high ropes challenge course activities effectively;
• Ability to identify and mitigate risks related to challenge course program facilitation;
• Current CPR and First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire;
• Valid driver's license; must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review;
• Current ACCT Level 2 Challenge Course Practitioner's Certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire; and
• Current ACCT Challenge Course Manager's Certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience in training new facilitators, working with minors 5th - 12th grades, operation and maintenance of low ropes course, high ropes dynamic and/or static courses;
• Mastery of Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) standards, familiarity with American Camping Association standards, and basic knowledge of other standards or regulations as appropriate;
• Ability to train, teach, deliver, and develop programs for youth, and adult learners;
• Ability to manage day-to-day challenge course operations;
• Ability to supervise staff, enforce safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.
• Ability to effectively write and edit written policies, procedures, forms, emails, and other related attributes;
• Ability to manage client behavior through assessment, application of appropriate behavior management techniques, and enforcement of safety regulations and emergency procedures;
• Ability to identify and mitigate risks related to challenge course operations, environmental and other hazards related to activities and programs;
• Other attributes including manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination, corrected hearing, and vision to normal range; and
• Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid, course rescues, and course inspections, including stamina to stand and walk for extended periods and run to and from any point on campus.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Assistant Director of the EDGE at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date: May 7, 2024

Posting Close Date: May 21, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  No