Position: Western Colorado University invites applications for the full-time position of Assistant Director of Campus Recreation – Mountain Sports (ADCR-MS).  The Mountain Sports program exists to augment the Western experience for over 150 student athletes participating across seven teams. The position reports to the Director of Campus Recreation and provides supervision and support to the Mountain Sports coaches and the Mountain Sports Coordinator. Learn more about Mountain Sports at https://western.edu/mountainsports 

Responsibilities:  The Assistant Director of Campus Recreation – Mountain Sports is responsible for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and supervising Mountain Sports coaches and administrative staff. The position provides leadership, performance oversight, and professional development support while fostering collaboration and accountability. The role works closely with the Mountain Sports Coordinator to align staffing, budgets, and travel planning with programmatic and operational needs. 

The position manages all operational and logistical functions for the Mountain Sports program, including team travel, transportation coordination, purchasing, reservations, spend authorizations, and event planning. The incumbent ensures that practices, competitions, and events are executed efficiently and in compliance with institutional policies and operational standards. 

The role develops and implements strategic recruiting efforts in collaboration with the Mountain Sports Coordinator, including partnering with Marketing and Admissions to support outreach to prospective student‑athletes, maintaining recruitment pipelines, and leading targeted campaigns that support enrollment and competitive success. 

The position leads fundraising and advancement initiatives by cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, sponsors, and community partners. The incumbent works closely with the Western Foundation and Advancement team to support annual, major, and planned giving efforts that strengthen and sustain the Mountain Sports program. 

The Assistant Director develops, implements, and evaluates a comprehensive strategic plan for Mountain Sports, providing long‑term direction for program growth, operations, recruitment, travel, and advancement. The position oversees and manages the Mountain Sports budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility, transparency, and alignment with strategic and operational priorities. 

The role maintains accurate participation and performance data and prepares reports for senior leadership, the Cabinet, and the Board of Trustees. The incumbent evaluates academic progress, athletic outcomes, recruitment effectiveness, and key performance indicators to support accountability, continuous improvement, and informed decision-making.

The position collaborates with the Director of Campus Recreation to manage risk related to Mountain Sports practices, competitions, and travel, ensuring compliance with safety protocols, certifications, and industry best practices. The ADCR-MS performs other related duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications: The successful candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in program management, coaching, outdoor recreation, or a closely related field. Required qualifications include sport-specific certification and demonstrated experience in at least one Mountain Sports discipline. The candidate must possess strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects. This role requires a strategic, systems-oriented self-starter with experience in market analysis, marketing strategy development, data-informed decision-making, program evaluation, and building strong internal and external partnerships. 

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in fundraising and securing business sponsorships, as well as in marketing, advertising, and recruiting for athletic or recreational programs. 

Compensation: This full-time, FLSA exempt position offers an annual base salary rate of $53,000 - $56,000. Western offers an excellent benefits package including shared premiums for a comprehensive health insurance plan, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for dependents enrolled full time in undergraduate programs for up to four years. This position also includes a complimentary annual pass to the Mountaineer Field House. 

Application Procedure:  Apply online at www.Western.edu/jobs. Required attachments for online application include a letter of application addressed to Kevin Geisen, Director of Campus Recreation, resume, and contact information for three references.  

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. 

Please direct questions to the search committee chair at kgeisen@western.edu . 

Application deadline is May 24, 2026 at 11:59pm (MDT).  

Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte 

Western Colorado University is a public institution with an enrollment of ~3,700 students. 47% of students are undergraduates, 33% are graduate students, and 80% receive some form of financial aid. Western students represent 17 countries, 50 states, and almost every county in Colorado. With an average class size of 17, Western’s faculty and staff share a strong commitment to personalized, rigorous, and immersive education. Visit http://www.western.edu to learn more about the university. 

Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, about 200 miles southwest of Denver amidst over 2 million acres of public land and a vibrant ranching community. The Gunnison valley provides robust cultural programming and exceptional outdoor recreation. A network of dedicated community organizations enrich the lives of many in the tight-knit community. Living in the valley, one appreciates a vibrant culture of festivals, exhibitions, performances, wellness activities, and more. In the winter, many enjoy in skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and along dozens of miles of cross-country trails. In the summer, bikers, hikers, and runners explore 750-plus miles of singletrack trails, while others delight in fishing, boating, and paddleboarding at Blue Mesa Reservoir or on the Gunnison River and its tributaries. Pre-K-12 students are served by the highly-ranked Gunnison Watershed School District.