George Mason University has 3 Graduate Professional Assistant Positions that are open for the 2023-2024 Academic Year.

For Full Consideration, Apply by: January 22, 2023.

Remuneration:

Each Graduate Professional Assistant position will consist of a $26,400 compensation package that includes a stipend payment of $16,800. The remaining compensation will be applied towards tuition, evenly distributed between the Fall and Spring semesters. The position will be from August 10, 2023 to May 9, 2024.

Graduate Professional Assistant of Aquatics

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and schedule lifeguard and swim instructor staff;
• Assist with staff development through the development and implementation of new employee orientations, in-service trainings, safety audits, and staff meetings;
• Aid in the editing and maintaining of operational manuals to include customer service, staff development, and employee expectations and responsibilities;
• Facilitate employee incentive and appreciation program; and
• Disseminate a comprehensive body of information to employed student wage and wage staff to ensure effective team functioning through newsletters, staff meetings, etc.

• Review and track staff communication logs, aquatic chemical and oxygen contracts, and budgets;
• Track and maintain inventory of safety equipment, first aid supplies, event equipment, chemicals, and recreational swim equipment;
• Manage cleanliness of pump room to include chlorinators, lint and hair strainers;
• Review and maintain daily cleaning logs, pump room log, and equipment safety checks to include lane lines, ladders, etc.;
• Perform minor pump room repairs to include re-starting pool pumps, acid feeders and chlorinators;
• Learn day to day operations of facility; and
• Serve as lifeguard when needed.

• Oversee the administration of our swim lesson programs to increase offerings;
• Track and maintain all aquatic assessments to include swim lesson and safety course registrants, patron usage, etc.;
• Coordinate and collaborate with university peers for aquatic events to include dive in movies, RA events, and others as requested;
• Assist with planning and coordination of annual Splash Night event;
• Assist with all event set up and serve as part of event administrator rotation; and
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited college or university. Preference will be given to candidates specializing in Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Kinesiology, or other related field;
• Students must be admitted to a graduate degree program at George Mason University;
• Graduate Assistants must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours each semester and maintain a 3.0 GPA;
• This position requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week, and is eligible for renewal upon mutual agreement; and
• Must become American Red Cross Lifeguard and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Certifications within 6 weeks of employment.

• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Certifications;
• Current American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification; and
• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification.

Graduate Professional Assistant of Outdoor Adventures and the EDGE

• Assist the Assistant Director, Outdoor Adventures with operation of the Outdoor Adventure (OA) program. Collaborate with Mason Recreation and other departments on campus to expand the outreach of OA on campus;
• Develop and lead OA programs that have a focus on the well-being initiative of Mason Recreation and the University;
• Assist with recruitment, interviewing, hiring, training, and supervising student trip leaders, 10-20 per semester;
• Mentor and guide OA student trip leaders in their professional and leadership development;
• Take a leadership role in marketing and administering the equipment rental program, including equipment logistics and tracking;
• Responsible for supervision of trip leaders and office staff. Develop a staff schedule based on availability and work needed;
• Assist in planning a comprehensive and complete calendar of OA events throughout the year. Provide a mixture of day and overnight trips and in-person and virtual programs;
• Plan and co-lead an extended break trip for Mason students in 2023. This 3 to 5 day trip will be offered in the US or Canada. The Graduate Assistant will work with a variety of departments on campus, such as Risk Management, Study Abroad, and student organizations to develop a trip that will be educational in scope in an outdoor setting;
• Lead and assist with adventure trips;
• Collaborate with Mason Recreation and other departments on campus to expand the outreach of OA on campus;
• Assist with developing and marketing OA summer adventure camps;
• Assist as needed with the development of Mason’s Outdoor Orientation program Project Peak, which is offered in collaboration with New Student and Family Programs;
• Register students for trips and gear rental in Fusion, send trip confirmations, and prepare pre-trip paperwork for staff leading trips. Communicate with staff about the logistics for weekly trips;
• Overnight and weekend work will be required; and
• Assist with departmental special outreach events, as assigned.

• Facilitate virtual, low ropes, portable, and high ropes challenge and team building programs, as needed during the Fall and Spring semesters;
• Conduct outreach to Mason student groups. Develop collaborations with a variety of departments across Mason and create specific curricula as needed; and
• Assist with marketing and special events to enhance the outreach of EDGE to the Mason community.

• Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited college or university. Preference will be given to candidates specializing in recreation, physical education, adventure education, or a related field;
• Students must be admitted to a graduate degree program at George Mason University;
• Graduate Assistants must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours each semester and maintain a 3.0 GPA;
• This position requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week, and is eligible for renewal upon mutual agreement;
• Previous experience with trip leading;
• Personal and professional experience participating in two or more of the following: rock climbing, hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, orienteering, biking, or other related outdoor activities;
• Proven supervisory experience and good customer service skills; and
• Must be able to become CPR/ First Aid/ AED certified and Wilderness First Aid certified within 3 months of employment.

• Previous experience with challenge course facilitation and rental center operations;
• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor or PCIA Top Rope Climbing Instructor;
• ACA Level 1 Canoe Instructor or higher;
• ACCT Level 1 facilitator;
• Wilderness First Responder; and
• American Red Cross First Aid/CPR instructor.
  
  

Graduate Professional Assistant of Well-Being

• Assist with campus-wide well-being programming, to include furthering the connections between diversity and inclusion initiatives;
• Assist in developing a calendar of well-being programs, activities, and initiatives for each semester in collaboration with various campus offices and departments and Mason Recreation staff;
• Work collaboratively with Recreation Assistant Director for Marketing and other offices to market and promote well-being programming and initiatives;
• Assist in updating and maintaining a collaborative file of well-being resources involving contributions from multiple departments and offices;
• Assist with Mason Recreation departmental events, committees, and initiatives as assigned;
• Assist with programming execution and workshop facilitation;
• Assist with staff development through trainings, and meeting facilitation;
• Assist with assessment and reporting on the progress of Mason Recreation Well-Being, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives;
• Collaborate with various departments on well-being related projects and programming;
• Assist in advising wage staff on program planning to establish well-being components and strategies;
• Assist in mentorship and training of undergraduate student interns as they learn well-being fundamentals in a college environment;
• Serve on related committees to encourage campus well-being;
• Able to work some evening and weekend hours as required; and
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited college or university. Preference will be given to candidates specializing in Health, Higher Education, Physical Education, Recreation, Kinesiology, or other related field;
• Students must be admitted to a graduate degree program at George Mason University;
• Graduate Assistants must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours each semester and maintain a 3.0 GPA;
• This position requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week, and is eligible for renewal upon mutual agreement;
• Must be able to become CPR/ First Aid/ AED certified within 6 weeks of employment;
• Must have a positive outlook and be reliable, responsible, self-motivated, confident, sincere, flexible, dedicated, and considerate;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including competency in Microsoft Office and other software programs;
• Must take initiative and utilize critical thinking skills in order to coordinate programs, initiatives, and consider multiple issues, needs, possibilities, etc.;
• Must have an ability to maintain effective working relations with others from diverse backgrounds;
• Must have the willingness and skill to co-facilitate small group workshops;
• Must exhibit exceptional professionalism and a strong work ethic;
• Must be available and accessible for the time commitment involved;
• Knowledge of a variety of topics and practices related to Recreation, Well-Being, and Diversity and Inclusion;
• Ability to work independently, follow-up on assignments, and take initiative on projects;
• Demonstrated ability to assist students on the continuum of holistic health and well-being;
• Must have a background in programming;
• Must have strong organizational skills; and
• Must work well within a team.

About George Mason University

George Mason University is the largest public research university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Here at Mason, we are setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of our students and communities. With a student population of over 38,000, representing more than 130 countries, our campus is an organically diverse environment! George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment. Mason Recreation oversees three facilities on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University including the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC), the Aquatic Fitness Center (AFC), and Skyline Fitness Center. These facilities boast four gymnasiums, racquetball/squash courts, several locker rooms, fitness galleries and dedicated rooms for yoga, cycling, group exercise, and marital arts/self-defense classes. We house and maintain a recreation and competition pool, sauna, whirlpool, and several exterior facilities including a pavilion, turf and grass fields, jogging/walking trails, ...and a team challenge course on our Science and Technology Campus. We provide the following programs and services for the campus community: Fitness, Aquatics, Outdoor Adventures, Intramural Sports, Club Sports, the EDGE (team building programming), as well as a Summer Youth Camp.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at George Mason University