About the Opportunity:

The Program Manager for Adventure WV plays a vital role in supporting the year-round delivery of educational and experiential programs. The Program Manager will also support climbing program operations, lead field experiences such as extended trips and trainings, and manage web-based applications, including websites and registration platforms.

In addition to contributing to training and overseeing student staff for various programs, the Program Manager supports First-Year Trips during the summer, coordinating logistics and communications with staff to ensure successful programming. The role also includes participation in key Adventure WV projects and initiatives.

This position requires expertise in experiential and leadership theory, experience in training leaders across technical disciplines, and a commitment to fostering a culture of feedback and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do:

• Support the Adventure WV Program Coordinator and Associate Director in proposing, enrolling, and staffing a year-round calendar of educational and experiential programs.

• Oversee and contribute to the climbing program operations. These duties include ensuring the facility operates according to internal processes and standards, along with relevant industry standard, overseeing route-setting, supporting student staffing and oversight, training, payroll and budgeting, and managing the inspection timeline and expectations.

• Support outdoor climbing operations, training, and program delivery.

• Plan and lead various field experiences like break and extended trips, field trainings, and any other experiences deemed necessary by the AWV leadership.

• Manage web-based applications, including maintaining AWV-owned websites, registration platforms, and other necessary online systems required for the effective operation of our programs.

• Contribute and coordinate necessary student staff training for multiple programs within AWV like Guided Trips, Climbing, and First-Year Trips.

• Support First-Year Trips operations during the summer and fall season. These duties include contributing to training and working with student and professional staff to manage the details and communications throughout the summer to ensure effective programs. In addition, the PM will contribute to the grading, occasional teaching, and logistical components of the 1-credit course associated with FYTs in the fall semester.

• Serve as On-Call Personnel

• Other duties assigned by leadership include, but are not limited to, contributing to AWV priority projects and initiatives, assisting with updates and maintenance of AWV policies, procedures, and standards, and supporting Student Life initiatives throughout the year like Welcome Week and other student-facing events. In addition, there will be an occasional need for facilitation at our Outdoor Education Center.

Qualifications:

A minimum of two (2) years in the following:

Professional experience in outdoor education, outdoor recreation, and/or experiential education, preferably within higher education (Graduate Assistants are included as professional experience)

Experience in programmatic outdoor and indoor rock-climbing management

Experience in group, planning/leading extended outdoor trips, and experience in at least one of the following: backpacking, paddling, skiing, winter programming, biking

Demonstrated skills in facilitating, debriefing, counseling, and group dynamics and other essential foundations of outdoor education, experiential education theory, leadership theory, and risk management theory.

Experience in programmatic risk management

Experience in supervision of student staff

Demonstrated ability to serve as a generalist in support of multiple program areas (I.e. solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and abilities across multiple program areas, outcomes, and disciplines).

Knowledge of proper use and care of many types of outdoor recreation equipment.

Ability to operate a personal computer with knowledge of basic office software.

Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively as a member of a goal-oriented team.

Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.

Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Education, Recreation, or other relevant field required, Master’s preferred.

Wilderness First-Aid or Wilderness First-Responder certification or ability to obtain upon employment.

AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor, or adequate skills, experience, and ability to obtain-industry standard amid supervisor's preference.

About West Virginia University

West Virginia University is a doctoral, highest research activity, land-grant institution founded in 1867 with locations spanning the state and a main campus of 1,456 picturesque acres along or near the Monongahela River. The City of Morgantown, which is often ranked among the best small cities in the United States, is conveniently located 75 miles south of Pittsburgh, and 200 miles west of Washington, DC. Campus Recreation at WVU manages a 34 million-dollar, 177,000-square-foot recreation facility, six on-campus recreation fields, auxiliary gymnasium space and access to an adjacent, 10 acre athletic field and indoor sports complex at Mylan Park. The WVU campus community is provided a comprehensive menu of recreational and educational opportunities designed to meet the needs of a diverse population. West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

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