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Job Posting Title:

Coordinator of Trips and Challenge Course Operations

Position Type:

Professional / Unclassified

Department:

LSUAM AA - SA - H&WB - URec - PO - Adventure and Experiential Education (J.C. Miller (00075256))

Work Location:

0102 Student Recreation Complex

Pay Grade:

Professional

Job Description:

COORDINATOR OF TRIPS AND CHALLENGE COURSE OPERATIONS

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation, the Coordinator for Trips and Challenge Course Operations is tasked with developing and overseeing UREC’s outdoor trips and challenge course operations. This position ensures safety, high-quality experiences, and the effective management of student facilitators, providing participants with transformative outdoor experiences that foster leadership, growth, and connection.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE:

• Plan and organize challenge course operations for multiple groups within the LSU, Baton Rouge, and Louisiana communities.
• Plan and organize local trips for kayaking, biking, and other outdoor experiences on and around the LSU campus.
• Coordinate trips and outings that highlight Louisiana and the Gulf Coast cultures.
• Hire,train,supervise,and support student trip leaders and challenge course facilitators.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP:

Be innovative in our approach to challenge course facilitation.

In September 2023, UREC opened a new challenge course. The addition to UREC has given us the opportunity to strategize how we plan our challenge course facilitation. This coordinator will play a pivotal role in building challenge course experiences that help individual students, teams and organizations develop and explore skills they can apply during their time at LSU. Additionally, this person will collaborate in creating a plan to communicate the benefits of the Challenge Course so to increase the number of students participants.

Develop unique and exciting outdoor trip experiences centered on Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

Our outdoor recreation trips focus on engaging students with the unique culture and natural wonders of south Louisiana. This position will play an integral part in researching, administering and evaluating these trips. Through participating in these trips, students will feel more connected with their surroundings in Louisiana and feel more connected to other students here at LSU.

ATTRIBUTES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:

• Views outdoor recreation through a lens of creativity and play.
• Can articulate how outdoor recreation experiences serve as an avenue to facilitate learning, growth, development, and overall success.
• Motivates student employees to facilitate trips and challenge course programs engagingly.
• Evaluates risks while planning high-quality programs and events.
• Experienced in teaching the proper use of outdoor equipment and engaging with the environment.

ABOUT THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS PRIORITIES:

Three priorities guide our work in the Division of Student Affairs. Foremost, we maintain a commitment to quality which is rooted in the belief that LSU students deserve our best effort. Every interaction we have with students should communicate care, relevance, polish, and attention to detail. We work to ensure every space, place, and staff-to-student interaction communicates a sense of home to students. Finally, we design programs, services, events, and experiences with everyone in mind.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative Support (40%)

• Responsible for day-to-day operations for the challenge course and student trips through administrative management. Manage operations, maintenance, and inspections of the UREC Challenge Course while ensuring operations align with participant needs and safety standards. Plan,organize,and facilitate outdoor trips that highlight the Baton Rouge community, Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast region. Responsible for overseeing and managing the financial operations related to challenge course rentals, including budgeting, invoicing, expense tracking, and ensuring financial compliance.

Direct Student Support (30%)

• Recruit, train, and supervise student facilitators responsible for leading trips and facilitating challenge course groups. Serve as the liaison between students and the leadership in the unit. Provide leadership training and mentorship, empowering facilitators to deliver engaging and safe experiences. Monitor and evaluate staff performance, offering feedback and support for continued professional growth.

Program Support (15%)

• Responsible for operations of one or more services, events, and/or experiences. Strategically enhance the challenge course and student trips based on user feedback and national outdoor recreation trends. Collaborate with marketing to ensure operations and services are effectively promoted to students and the community.

Quality Control (10%)

• Ensures all aspects of operational and facility outputs including administrative tasks, implementation, and overall design exudes a high degree of quality. Embraces and executes the marginal gains approach and seeks to improve the level of all services, events, and experiences in department for continuous improvement every academic year. Contributes to the work environment by developing and maintaining positive relationships that support a culture of teamwork and cooperation.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Other duties as assigned by UREC leadership or Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation. This includes but not limited to efforts that support broad division and institution efforts including at least40hoursperyearspenthelpingdivisionalinitiatives such as Move-In Day, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Career Expo, Disability Services Finals Testing, other special projects, etc.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• Related experience
• LSU is dedicated to fostering an environment where our employees feel appreciated for their skills and individuality. If a candidate does not meet the minimum qualifications as listed but has substantial experience in the key job responsibilities, we encourage them to apply.

MINIMUM CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

Valid Driver’s License

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Sport Management, Parks and Recreation, Kinesiology, Higher Education, Business, Public Administration, or related field.
• 2 years of experience in outdoor and experiential education, with a focus on facilitating team building activities for groups of varying backgrounds and perspectives.

DESIRED CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

• Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid
• ACCT Challenge Course Practitioner I or II
• American Red Cross – CPR/First Aid for Professional Rescuers Instructor certification

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/EXPECTATIONS:

Ability and willingness to work evening and weekend hours. We support, when appropriate, the ability to have a flexible work schedule. Ability to lift to 50 lbs. overhead. Due to the position's physical requirements, a pre-employment physical examination will be required per FASOP: HR-04. Due to the nature of the position and/or responsibilities, this position shall be subject to drug/alcohol testing in accordance with University Police Statement 67.This position regularly engages in financial matters including handling credit card, cash, grant funds, or other university funds and must undergo a credit check per FASOP HR-04 This position and/or position's responsibilities require work directly with minors. Finger printing and National Sex Offender Registry check required per FASOP HR-04. As with all LSU employees, due to this position title and/or responsibilities, this position has an obligation to assist students in the acquisition of necessary services. Should a student appear in need of or seek assistance with issues of an emotional, behavioral, or mental health related matter they should be referred to the proper service within the Student Health Center. In situations where the student creates an impression that they are a danger to themselves or others, the advisor should immediately contact the Care Team, the Dean of Students, or the appropriate law enforcement agency. The employee outside of those rights contained within FERPA should create no impression of client or patient confidentiality.

Additional Job Description:

Special Instructions:

Applications will be accepted online on the LSU Careers website. Please direct all nominations and inquiries for the position to JC Miller, Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation. The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. However, to ensure the fullest consideration, candidates are encouraged to have complete applications submitted by January 31st, 2025. Requested application materials include a letter of interest or cover letter; resume or curriculum vitae; and the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three professional references. All applications, nominations, and inquiries will remain confidential. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Posting Date:

January 15, 2025

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

Additional Position Information:

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Essential Position (Y/N):

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and SAME Agency:

LSU is designated as a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency and provides assistance to persons needing accommodations or with the accessibility of materials. For those seeking such accommodations or assistance related to this search, we encourage you to contact the Office of Human Resource Management (hr@lsu.edu).

HCM Contact Information:

For questions or concerns related to updating your application with attachments (e.g., resumes, RS:17 documents), date of birth, or reactivating applications, please contact the LSU Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-8200 or email HR@lsu.edu. For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact the department using the information provided in the Special Instructions section of this job posting.

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