Director of Campus Recreation

Job Description

20328.gif

Director of Campus Recreation

About Eastern Washington University:
Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the region’s polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
At Eastern Washington University, we are proud to recognize the land of the Spokane Tribe and other tribes that shared the land for fishing and trading. The Spokane Tribe, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe, and the Nez Perce Tribe are integral to the cultural heritage and traditional ethnological knowledge of the land.

Native American heritage is woven into the fabric of our institution, enriching our community through tribal culture, historical teachings, and tribal language, and is embraced daily by students, staff, faculty, and the Eastern Washington community.

At EWU, we are committed to reflecting on and acknowledging the historical injustices of genocide and the forced removal of tribal peoples and all our relatives. EWU recognizes and honors tribal sovereignty and government to government relationships with tribes.

From here forward, EWU will remain committed to supporting, honoring, and recognizing the Native American community and the dynamic contributions that are shared with our university.


Job Summary:
The Director of Campus Recreation provides strategic leadership and comprehensive management of Eastern Washington University’s student recreation facilities, programs, and services—including the University Recreation Center (URC), Ice Rink, Climbing Wall, Fitness Center, outdoor adventure programs (EPIC), Intramural Sports, and Club Sports. The Director oversees professional and student staff; manages multi-fund budgets; ensures robust risk management; and leads long-range planning, assessment, and partnerships across campus. Additionally, the Director advances a student-centered, inclusive, and safety-forward environment supporting wellbeing, belonging, retention, and student success.

EWU is committed to supporting and promoting a workforce that is welcoming to all and encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

The salary range for this position is $82,225 (minimum) up to $98,678 (maximum). Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits-briefing/benefits/insurance/

Applications are open and accepted until recruitment is closed. Screening of applications will begin on 6/8/2026.All materials will be held in strictest confidence; references will not be contacted until candidates have been notified.

Eastern Washington University provides an inclusive, equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence.

About Eastern Washington University | Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the region’s polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).

Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2024.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
At Eastern Washington University, we are proud to recognize the land of the Spokane Tribe and other tribes that shared the land for fishing and trading. The Spokane Tribe, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe, and the Nez Perce Tribe are integral to the cultural heritage and traditional ethnological knowledge of the land.

Native American heritage is woven into the fabric of our institution, enriching our community through tribal culture, historical teachings, and tribal language, and is embraced daily by students, staff, faculty, and the Eastern Washington community.

At EWU, we are committed to reflecting on and acknowledging the historical injustices of genocide and the forced removal of tribal peoples and all our relatives. EWU recognizes and honors tribal sovereignty and government to government relationships with tribes.

From here forward, EWU will remain committed to supporting, honoring, and recognizing the Native American community and the dynamic contributions that are shared with our university.

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.

This position, during the course of university employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value, as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.

Required Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree in recreation/sport administration, kinesiology, communication or related field
● Minimum five years of progressive leadership in multi-program operations within Campus Recreation
● Demonstrated experience supervising student staff and/or Graduate Assistant including performance management, hiring, and workforce development
● Experience coordinating maintenance and repairs in collaboration with contractors, project managers, and facilities personnel
● Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, track expenditures, and make data informed operational decisions
● Experience with Sports facility use operations
● Experience developing and implementing risk management protocols, emergency response plans, and staff training programs
● Experience managing membership models, fee-based programs, and/or revenue generating services
● Experience with strategic planning, program assessment, and use of data to evaluate and improve services
● Current CPR/AED and First Aid Certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment

Preferred Qualifications:
● Master’s degree in recreation/sport administration, higher education, or related field.
● Seven+ years of Campus Recreation leadership.
● Demonstrated experience supervising full time professional staff including hiring, on-boarding, and performance management
● Prior experience managing an ice rink is strongly preferred
● Excellent communication and problem solving skills with the ability to work effectively across stakeholder groups
● Demonstrated experience applying equity and inclusion principles in program design and service delivery
● Relevant certifications CIT (Certified Ice Technician), WFR (Wilderness First Responder),NIRSA (leadership/education certifications)
● Bilingual in Spanish

Other Skills and Abilities:
The above job description is a general outline of the duties and responsibilities typically associated with this position. Specific tasks and responsibilities may vary based on the needs of the department and institution.

Job Duties:
Facility & Operations Management – URC, IM Fields, Ice Rink, Climbing Wall, Fitness Center
  • Ensure safe, efficient daily operations, preventative maintenance, work orders, and custodial standards; coordinate with Facilities and campus partners.
  • Optimize space utilization & reservations (academics, IM/club, external events), access control, and event operations.
  • Lead lifecycle planning (R&R), capital improvements, equipment procurement, and technology platforms that support operations.
Percent of Time: 25

Program Leadership – Club Sports, Intramurals, Outdoor/EPIC, Ice, Climbing Wall & Fitness Center
  • Provide executive oversight of a comprehensive slate of student-focused programs (IM/Club, EPIC/outdoor adventures & rentals, fitness/wellness, ice, climbing), including policy development, scheduling, and participant support.
  • Champion inclusive programs that lower barriers to participation and reflect diverse identities and abilities; lead marketing and outreach strategies.
  • Design, implement and maintain comprehensive risk-management plans for all Campus Recreation programs and operations.
Percent of Time: 20

Staff Supervision & Development
  • Direct, supervise, and mentor professional staff (e.g., managers/coordinators for URC, Climbing Wall, EPIC, Intramurals, Club Sports) and 75+ student employees; set expectations, onboarding, training, and evaluation.
  • Build a coaching culture grounded in NIRSA and other Student Affairs competencies.
Percent of Time: 20

Strategic Leadership & Planning
  • Set vision, goals, and KPIs for Campus Recreation aligned to EWU and Student Affairs priorities.
  • Lead long-range planning, capital planning, and major initiatives for the University Recreation Center.
  • Integrate fitness, outdoor, sport programs, and facilities into a cohesive wellbeing ecosystem; serve on relevant divisional and university committees.
  • Foster strategic partnerships with Athletics, Counseling and Wellness, Residence Life, Enrollment, Academic programs, Business and Strategy, and community partners.
  • Integrate enterprise risk-management (ERM) principles into all department planning and decision-making processes
Percent of Time: 15

Budget, Revenue, Risk & Compliance
  • Develop and manage operating budgets; manage vendor contracts for the URC and equipment purchases.
  • Lead risk management, emergency actions plans, and compliance across recreation programs and facilities.
  • In partnership with the AVP for Auxiliaries, develop new revenue streams.
Percent of Time: 10

Assessment, Marketing & Communications
  • Implement outcomes-based assessment and user analytics; produce regular dashboards and annual reports demonstrating impact on wellbeing, belonging, and retention.
  • Direct integrated marketing, communications, and digital engagement to grow participation and tell the story of Campus Recreations student impact.
Percent of Time: 10
Conditions of Employment:
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa currently. Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

All new employees must comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.
After starting employment, employees will complete the required training. Online training can be accessed at https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/training/orientation/ or complete the training in person or via Zoom. In person and Zoom training opportunities will be posted on InsideEWU and are listed on our Human Resources site: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/training/

Note: Interviews might be conducted via Zoom (camera must be enabled). If so, candidates must be able to demonstrate competence using Zoom and other technologies.
Salary Information:
The salary range for this position is $82,225 (minimum) up to $98,678 (maximum). Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

Posting Date: 05/13/2026
Open Until Further Notice: No
Closing Date: 6/15/2026
Screening to Begin: June 8, 2026

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Submit your application materials through our online applications portal provided below. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

To apply, visit https://jobs.hr.ewu.edu/postings/14763









img.php?id=7178378&image=logo
Copyright ©2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency






jeid-d19b4235de921d449fcdea0a3d5dc972

Application Details (to apply use the Apply Now button below.)


To see additional information about our job opening(s) or to apply, click on the “Apply Now” button at the bottom of our job posting(s).

When inquiring or applying for jobs at Eastern Washington University, please also reference AcademicCareers.com

Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs, such as professor jobs, dean jobs, and other faculty jobs and higher ed jobs with Eastern Washington University and with other colleges and universities in the region on AcademicCareers.com

To receive email alerts when new jobs at Eastern Washington University are posted, sign up for new job openings at Eastern Washington University.


 

Diversity_Logo.png