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Associate Director of Recreation & Wellbeing for Wellbeing Education Services

Work type: Staff Full Time

Department:Recreation & Wellbeing

Union:PSU

Categories: Student Affairs & Services

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Recreation and Wellbeing, the Associate Director of Recreation and Wellbeing for Wellbeing Education and Services (WES) fosters a culture of health, wellness, and wellbeing. Provides supervision for a multidisciplinary team and collaborates with campus and community partners to leverage evidence-based practices and initiatives that address health and wellness needs, including development, implementation, and evaluation. The Associate Director plays a critical role in ensuring students are supported holistically by enabling lifelong wellbeing, academic success, and personal development.

Essential Functions

+ Provides leadership and supervision to all Wellbeing Education and Services full time staff, student staff, and any contracted services aligned with the goals of the campus strategic priorities.

+ Recruits, trains, and evaluates the performance of direct reports.

+ Develops and maintains an outcomes-based health promotion model, which incorporates programs, services, and initiatives and emphasizes student learning outcomes.

+ Serves as the department's lead for wellbeing as a member of the department’s leadership team and Campus Life and Wellbeing’s extended leadership team.

+ Prepares, monitors, and evaluates budgets associated with Wellbeing Education and Services. Participates in the development of the annual department budget recommendations to support strategic initiatives and goals.

+ Builds partnerships with university departments within and outside of Student Affairs and Campus Life, in addition to local communities and health organizations beyond UMass Amherst.

+ Administration of Wellbeing Education and Services inventory including purchasing materials, software, and other items as needed.

+ Leads assessment and provides statistical data pertaining to wellness education and services.

+ Leads wellbeing-based public education campaigns.

Other Functions

+ Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery, and other compliance requirements.

+ Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.

+ Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.

+ Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

+ Master’s degree in a related field including, but not limited to, public health, health promotion, health education, sport management, kinesiology, or behavioral sciences.

+ Five (5) years' experience in management of wellbeing-based programs, services, or related field.

+ Knowledge of issues impacting college students including loneliness, sexual health, substance misuse, stress, anxiety, depression, identity and expression, nutrition and mental health distress.

+ Demonstrated ability to apply whole-system and inclusive approaches to health promotion and/or wellbeing.

+ Experience in qualitative and quantitative needs assessments and program evaluation.

+ Experience supervising staff; this may include undergraduate and/or graduate student staff.

+ Knowledge of best practices in embedding health and wellbeing on a college campus.

+ Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies and colleagues.

+ Effective customer service skills, including but not limited to strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

+ First Aid CPR/AED Certification.

+ Familiarity with the Okanagan Charter and the Health Promoting Campus effort.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment activity

Work Schedule

+ Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm.

+ Required to work some nights and weekends.

Salary Information

Level 29

PSU Hiring Ranges (https://www.umass.edu/hr/documents/exempt-hiring-ranges)

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: May 1 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: Aug 3 2025 Eastern Daylight Time