Associate Director, Campus Recreation and Wellness

About Us

Located in the fastest-growing region of the state, the University of North Georgia is a multi-campus university with an enrollment of over 20,000 students, making it one of the largest institutions in the University System of Georgia. UNG is focused on a mission of educational excellence, leadership development and community engagement opportunities that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. Through a variety of educational pathways that provide access and range from certificates and associate degrees to a professional doctoral program, UNG is responsive to regional education and economic development needs. Federally designated as a senior military college, one of the universitys signature leadership programs is its 800-member Corps of Cadets on UNGs Dahlonega Campus.

Job Summary

The University of North Georgia is accepting applications for an Associate Director, Campus Recreation and Wellness. The Associate Director of Campus Recreation & Wellness reports to the Executive Director of Campus Recreation & Wellness and serves as a member of the departments senior leadership team. This position provides strategic and operational leadership for Campus Recreation & Wellness on the Gainesville campus while serving as the department-wide functional lead for Competitive Sports programs across all campuses. Additionally, the Associate Director provides leadership and support for recreation and well-being programs, services, and initiatives on the Oconee campus, helping ensure a consistent, high-quality student experience across the university.

The Associate Director is responsible for the daily management of recreation facilities, programs, services, professional staff, student employees, contracted services, and operational logistics on the Gainesville campus. As the departmental lead for Competitive Sports, the position provides strategic oversight, program standards, assessment, policy development, and professional guidance for Sport Clubs, Sport Teams, and Intramural Sports across all campuses.

In partnership with the counterpart Associate Director, this position helps ensure consistency, quality, and alignment of programs, services, and operations across the department. The Associate Director develops and maintains collaborative relationships with campus and community stakeholders to enhance student engagement, expand access to facilities and programs, and support student success.

The position is responsible for managing assigned operating budgets, grants, and other financial resources related to campus operations and competitive sports initiatives, while contributing to departmental strategic planning, assessment, and continuous improvement efforts.

This is a 12-month, full-time, benefited position that requires travel between campuses as well as occasional evening and weekend hours.

In addition to background checks for all cardholders, O.C.G.A. § 50¿5¿83 requires a credit check on all employees issued a purchasing card. Additionally, credit checks must be run at the time of Pcard renewal.

Please be advised that any offer of employment is contingent upon your eligibility to work in the United States. The university is aware of recent federal changes that may significantly increase the cost of filing H-1B visa petitions.

As a public institution, the universitys ability to cover such costs is subject to budgetary constraints and state funding policies. Therefore, while we remain committed to supporting international faculty hires, we cannot guarantee payment of any newly imposed or increased visa-related fees.

If you have any questions regarding the visa policy, please contact Monica Arrendale at (706) 867-4470.

Responsibilities

• Campus Operations & Student Staff: Provide strategic and operational leadership for Campus Recreation & Wellness on the Gainesville campus, overseeing the daily operation of facilities, programs, services, risk management, customer service, and operational logistics to ensure a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment, including the supervision and development of student facility staff. Additionally, the Associate Director provides leadership and support for recreation and well-being programs, services, and initiatives on the Oconee campus.
• Competitive Sports Leadership: Serve as the department-wide functional lead for Competitive Sports programs across all campuses, providing strategic oversight for Sport Clubs and Intramural Sports; establishing program standards, best practices, training initiatives, and assessment measures; providing guidance and professional support to Competitive Sports staff across campuses; ensuring appropriate risk management, safety protocols, and policy compliance; and collaborating with the counterpart Associate Director to align program priorities, staffing needs, and service delivery across the department.
• Professional Staff Supervision: Provide administrative supervision for assigned professional staff on the Gainesville campus by recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, developing, and evaluating employees; fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment; enforcing performance expectations; supporting professional development; and partnering with the counterpart Associate Director to align staffing, priorities, and service delivery across campuses.
• Departmental Leadership: Serve as a member of the departmental leadership team by participating in strategic initiatives, institutional committees, and cross-campus planning efforts; travel between campuses to support operations, training, collaboration, and program oversight; work evenings and weekends as required.
• Budget, Assessment & Strategic Planning: Develop, administer, and monitor operating budgets, financial resources, grants, contracts, and program expenditures; collect and analyze assessment data and performance metrics to inform decision-making and resource allocation requests; prepare reports and recommendations; and contribute to departmental strategic planning, goal setting, and continuous improvement efforts, including developing and maintaining partnerships with campus and community stakeholders to promote participation in Campus Recreation & Wellness programs.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of collegiate recreation trends, competitive sports administration, risk management practices, and student development principles.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex operations in a higher education environment.

• Ability to supervise, develop, and evaluate professional and student staff.

• Ability to collaborate across functional areas and campuses to achieve shared goals.

• Ability to analyze data, manage budgets, and make informed operational and strategic decisions.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and respond effectively to changing needs and emergencies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required.
• CPR/First Aid & AED required or the ability to obtain within 30 days of employment.
• Three years of years of progressively responsible professional experience in campus recreation, competitive sports, wellness, and/or facility operations or a combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree preferred

Proposed Salary

• The proposed salary is: $58,887-$64,775.

Required Documents to Attach

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Contact Information for Three Professional References

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Institutional Values

The University of North Georgia, a regional multi-campus institution and premier senior military college, provides a culture of academic excellence in a student-focused environment that includes quality education, service, research, and creativity. This is accomplished through broad access to comprehensive academic and co-curricular programs that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. The University of North Georgia is a University System of Georgia leadership institution and is The Military College of Georgia. More details on the UNG Mission, Values, Vision, and Culture can be found at https://ung.edu/about/mission-vision-values.php

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of North Georgia, as determined by University of North Georgia in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of North Georgia, a unit of the University System of Georgia, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sex or national origin, age, disability, religion, genetics or veteran status. Georgia is an open records state. Also, UNG is a federal contractor and desires priority referrals of protected veterans.

Other Information

• This is a supervisory position.
• This position has financial responsibilities.
• This position will be required to drive.
• This role is considered a position of trust.
• This position requires a purchasing card (P-Card).
• This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time
• This position requires security clearance.

Please note: the University of North Georgia career board updates daily, positions are subject to be removed without prior notice or before the posting expires.

Background Check

• Position of Trust + Education & Credit