First Year Experience Coordinator

The Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP) at Montana State University is part of a dynamic and growing Recreational Sports and Fitness Team. As part of Recreational Sports and Fitness the ORP provides support to all MSU students who are interested in learning more about outdoor adventure. We work with a variety of other entities on and off campus to help connect MSU students to all of the outdoor recreation opportunities that exist in South West Montana. A growing area of the Outdoor Program is our first-year outdoor orientation trips program, Expeditions MSU.
Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe First Year Experience Coordinator will work to facilitate our Expeditions MSU program throughout the summer. Over the course of a summer we run ~20 trips of 8 incoming MSU students and 2 student trip leaders. The First Year Experience coordinator will also manage the recruitment, hiring and training of our student staff in preparation for the student staff’s role as trip leaders for Expeditions MSU. Some duties include:

Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Trip planning and assessment.
• Risk management for student led programs.
• Student staff development and training as well as scheduling.
• Work flow and logistics management for programs.
• Curriculum development and assessment.
• Marketing and recruit for First Year Experience Programs.
• Participation in Recreational Sports and Fitness departmental goals and initiatives .

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelors degree in relevant field (Education, Recreation, Business, Sociology/Psychology, Health and Human Development) or Bachelors degree plus 2+ years experience in relevant field.

• Wilderness First Responder Certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

• Demonstrated experience working with/mentoring college students and/or young adults in an outdoor education setting .

• Demonstrated experience managing complex logistics in a dynamic and fast paced environment.

• Demonstrated ability to teach backpacking and backcountry travel.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Certification as an instructor in any of the following outdoor skills such as avalanche education, canoeing,, kayak/rafting/swift water rescue, rock/Ice climbing, wilderness medicine, mountain biking.

• Masters Degree in Outdoor Recreation, Education, or other relevant field.

• Demonstrated ability working with local and national land management agencies.

• Demonstrated experience facilitating college outdoor orientation trips and/or extended experiential/adventure programs.

• Demonstrated oversight of outdoor/adventure programs risk management.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Able to work independently on projects until completion.
• Demonstrate a high degree of understanding of risk management and be able to teach principles of risk management.
• Positively contributes to a community of learning and growth.

Position Special Requirements/Additional InformationThis job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands

• Ability to carry a backpack up to 50% of body weight over varied terrain.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon successful completion of a search.
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:Screening of applications will begin on September 27, 2021 ; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions
Diversity Statement

Montana State University values diverse perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment. MSU recognizes the importance of work-life integration and strives to be responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Montana State University is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination. As such, the University does not discriminate in the admission, access to or conduct of its educational programs and activities nor in its employment policies and practices on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran’s status, sex, age, political ideas, marital or family status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. In support of the University’s mission to be inclusive and diverse, applications from qualified minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged.

Montana State University makes accommodation for any known disability that may interfere with an applicant’s ability to compete in the hiring process or an employee’s ability to perform the duties of the job. To request an accommodation, contact the Human Resources Office, PO Box 172520, Montana State University, Bozeman MT 59717-2520; 406-994-3651; recruitment@montana.edu .

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

MSU’s Non-Discrimination Policy and Discrimination Grievance Procedures can be located on the MSU Website: http://www.montana.edu/hr/disability_accommodation/complaints_grievances.html .