The Miller Wellness Center (MWC) at South Dakota State University employs a team of four Graduate Assistants who work collaboratively with professional staff within an integrated wellness facility consisting of eight areas: Fitness, Aquatics, Competitive Sports, Outdoor Programs, Health Promotion, Nutrition Services, & the Student Health Clinic & Counseling Services. The MWC is dedicated to supporting academic success and personal development by promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles for the students and members of the SDSU community. The MWC strives to provide inclusive spaces and programs for all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, class, creed, disability, gender expression, age, or sexual orientation, and foster an inclusive environment that enables all to succeed.

Graduate Assistants will be responsible for staff supervision, administrative duties, project management, and event management.

Note: Please email the position contact in order to apply. Do not apply through Bluefish.

Position Duration:

• 9-month academic year position: approximately 20 hours/week
• Hourly summer position: approximately 40 hours/week.
• Positions are designed as two, one-year contracts covering the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years.

Graduate Program Options:

• Open to all graduate program options. Nutrition and Exercise Sciences or Sport and Recreation Administration preferred.
• Approximately 36 credit hours, depending on program

Facility Operations & Events

Direct Responsibilities

• Support the overall operation of a 110,000 sq. ft. facility that includes five multipurpose courts, climbing wall, fitness, and weight equipment, three group fitness studios, indoor pool, and two racquetball courts.
• Assist in the review and development of all risk management policies, procedures, and training of student staff to ensure quality customer service and safety for all patrons during open facility hours.
• Assist in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, and evaluating of student staff.
• Assist in the supervision of the member services desk operations including equipment inventory for rental and retail sale, Fusion software, and troubleshooting.
• Provide leadership within the Wellness Center by providing support to student staff, the Operations and Events Coordinator, and the other graduate and full-time staff.
• Develop and manage the Outdoor Program, specifically focusing on gear rentals, and climbing wall.
• Oversee regular wall programming and the annual Octboulderfest bouldering competition.
• Ensure accurate record keeping and reporting of day-to-day operations including patron counts, maintenance schedules, and repairs.
• Assist in the development of an annual budget reflecting all aspects of the facility and outdoor program, including student payroll, equipment purchasing, and operational expenses.
• Assist in the marketing and promotion of the Outdoor Program.
• Assist in the coordination of all facility reservations and events for internal programming, University affiliated organizations, and other non-affiliated entities.

Other Responsibilities

• Plan and implement the Miller Wellness Center’s all-staff training in collaboration with other Graduate Assistants
• Rotating weekend on-call schedule
• Collaborate and communicate with other University departments and auxiliary staff

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sport or Recreation Management or related field
• CPR/First Aid/AED Certified (or willing to obtain within 60 days of hire)

Preferred Qualifications

• NIRSA and/or AORE Student Member
• CPR/First Aid/AED Instructor certification
• Experience with Innosoft Fusion software & DoSportsEasy (DSE)
• Belay certified (or willing to obtain within 60 days of hire)
• CPR/First Aid/AED Instructor

Application process: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references to Chad Vossekuil, Assistant Director of Operations, at chad.vossekuil@sdstate.edu. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.

Fitness

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in the overall administration and management of personal training and fitness services programming.
• Assist with the recruitment, hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, and evaluation of approximately 30 student & community fitness program employees.
• Develop, organize and promote new and on-going group exercise, special event programs, and services.
• Serve as an active part of the group fitness schedule including subbing classes as needed.
• Assist with maintaining and organizing all group fitness & personal training spaces, including equipment organization and studio cleanliness.  
• Handle staff payroll and assist in program area budget development.
• Develop and lead in-service trainings for fitness program employees averaging a minimum of 1 hour of in-service training per month.
• Implement professional development opportunities for staff, certification classes, workshops, and continuing education credits.
• Maintain a fluid line of communication to staff, communicating via email. Meet with fitness program employees individually once a semester, checking in with each student employee.
• Assist with managing program evaluation, budget and marketing.
• Create resource guides, procedural manuals and other tools for employee reference.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution in Sport/Recreation Management, Exercise Science, Nutrition, or Related Field.
• Admittance into an SDState Graduate program
  • Nutrition and Exercise Sciences or Sport and Recreation Administration preferred
• Have an understanding and ability to teach a variety of group exercise formats and/or knowledge of proper personal training programming and equipment.
• Knowledge of testing procedures to conduct fitness services including body compositions and personal fitness.
• Successful completion of criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of fitness experience.
• Prior campus recreation experience.
• NIRSA student member.
• Experience with Fusion software.
• NCCA recognized certification (or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire) for group fitness.
  • Certifying bodies include: NSCA, NASM, ACE, NETA, AFAA, or ACSM.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work with and lead diverse groups.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience.
• Prior customer service experience.
• Competent knowledge of general computer programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.

Application process: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references to Jake Heidenreich, Fitness and Aquatics Coordinator, at jacob.heidenreich@sdstate.edu. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.

Aquatics

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in the overall administration and management of aquatics programming.
• Assist in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluation of approximately 20 student employees including  lifeguards, swim lesson instructors, water group fitness instructors and  head lifeguard.
• Coordinate and oversee aquatic special events and instructional programs to include group and private swim lessons, lifeguard training and other courses as appropriate.
• Manage the aquatics scheduling, teach or sub shifts as needed. 
• Handle staff payroll and assist in program area budget development.
• Develop and lead in-service trainings for lifeguards, averaging 4 hours of in-service training per month. Conduct live recognition drills to lifeguard staff.
• Implement professional development opportunities for staff; certification classes, workshops, and continuing education credits.
• Maintain a fluid line of communication to staff, communicating weekly to aquatics staff via email. Meet with aquatics student staff individually once a semester, checking in with each student.
• Assist with managing program evaluation, budget and marketing.  
• Create resource guides, procedural manuals and other tools for employee reference.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution in Sport/Recreation Management, Exercise Science, Nutrition, or related field.
• Admittance into an SDState Graduate program.
  • Nutrition and Exercise Sciences or Sport and Recreation Administration preferred.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard certified upon hire.
• Knowledge of American Red Cross lifeguard procedures, pool maintenance and swimming lesson management.
• Successful completion of criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two or more years of aquatics experience.
• Prior campus recreation experience.
• NIRSA student member.
• Experience with Fusion software.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire).
• American Red Cross Water Safety Instruction certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire).
• Certified Pool Operator (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work with and lead diverse groups.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience.
• Prior customer service experience.
• Competent knowledge of general computer programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.

Application process: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references to Jake Heidenreich, Fitness and Aquatics Coordinator, at jacob.heidenreich@sdstate.edu. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.

Competitive Sports and Esports 

Direct Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and management of a competitive sports program comprising of intramural sports, sport clubs, and esports.
• Lead student staff development including recruitment, hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, and evaluating.
• Develop and lead sport-specific official trainings.
• Develop and administer trainings for Sport Club members and officers.
• Develop and conduct regularly scheduled meetings for Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs.
• Coordinate members, travel, budget allocation, and policy development for all Sport Clubs through DSE.
• Assist with the development and execution of marketing and promotion of the Competitive Sports program.
• Oversee facility and equipment readiness including painting fields and equipment set up for all Intramural Sports and Sport Club facilities.
• Manage the Intramural Sports Greek League including tracking participation and awarding points.
• Assist in the assessment of Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs and use that feedback to make improvements.
• Oversee the Intramural Golden Whistle Program through tracking points and awarding whistles.
• Assist in the coordination of off-campus facilities.
• Assist with daily operations at the eSport facility.
• Schedule the eSport facility between intramural sports, sport clubs, and recreation.
• Update first aid kits and complete inventory checks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Responsibilities

• Plan and implement Wellness Center All Staff Common Training with the assistance of other Graduate Assistants.
• Rotating weekend on-call schedule.
• Collaborate and communicate with other University departments and auxiliary staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sport or Recreation Management or related field
• CPR/First Aid/AED Certified (or willing to obtain within 60 days of hire)

Preferred Qualifications

• NIRSA Student Member and/or AORE Student Member
• CPR/First Aid/AED Instructor certification
• Experience with Fusion/Fusion Play and DoSportsEasy (DSE)
• Officiating experience at the recreational, high school and/or collegiate level
• NIRSA Championship Series involvement

Application process: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references to Courtney Forrette, Competitive Sports Coordinator, at courtney.forrette@sdstate.edu. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.

General Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Passionate about student development and the mentoring of student employees.
• Demonstrate ability to work with students, student organizations, faculty/staff, and community groups.
• Demonstrate ability to lead diverse groups of individuals employing flexibility in management techniques, appropriate to a variety of situations.
• Knowledge and ability to manage multiple programs/events at multiple facilities.
• Strong time management and supervisory skills.
• Area specific knowledge built by previous hands-on experience.

Admissions Requirements

• No GRE required for Sport & Recreation Studies or Exercise Science; requirements for other programs may vary.
• 3.0 GPA over last two years required

About South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University is the largest university in the state with more than 12,000 students enrolled. Founded in 1881 as a Land-Grant institution, the University subscribes to the philosophy of education, research, and extension as its three-fold mission. The SDSU Graduate School offers 57 graduate programs in six academic colleges.The Wellness Center is dedicated to supporting academic success and personal development by promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles for all members. The Wellness Center is an integrated wellness facility consisting of 8 areas: Fitness, Aquatics, Competitive Sports, Outdoor Programs, Health Promotion, Nutrition Services, and Student Health Clinic & Counseling Services. The Wellness Center features over 110,000 square feet of recreation space including a 38,000 sq. ft addition, which opened in fall 2018.South Dakota State University is in Brookings, South Dakota, a community of approximately 24,300 near the east central border of South Dakota on Interstate 29. The city has an excellent parks and recreation system, is accessible to major medical facilities, has an active cultural and social environment, and has numerous lakes and parks within driving distance. It is 50 miles north of Sioux Falls, a city of close to 207,000.

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