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Position Summary

The Director of the Lowery Fitness Center leads the center and creates and develops a robust campus recreation program for Meredith College students. The Director is responsible for the development and operation of the Meredith Intramural Sports Program and the Meredith Outdoor Leadership Program, alongside fitness programming and wellness initiatives for the campus community. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Director manages programs, budgets, facilities, assessment, and risk in collaboration with campus partners.

The Lowery Fitness Center also supports teaching and research in Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences, strength and conditioning for Athletics, and student and employee wellness. The Director coordinates these shared uses so that the center is safe, accessible, and responsive to the needs of its users.

Primary Responsibilities

Fitness Center Operations and Campus Recreation
• Direct the daily operation of the Lowery Fitness Center, including schedules, facility use, equipment, customer service, and safe operating practices.
• Create and develop a robust campus recreation program with varied, inclusive opportunities for students to participate in fitness, recreation, and active leisure.
• Establish program goals, coordinate space and staffing, promote participation, and assess engagement and effectiveness.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate fitness center personnel and student staff; provide recurring onboarding and appropriate emergency response training.
• Manage program and facility budgets, revenue and gift accounts, payroll, purchasing, inventory, equipment, and supplies.

Intramural Sports and Outdoor Leadership
• Develop and operate the Meredith Intramural Sports Program, including its schedule, registration, rules, eligibility, officials, staffing, facilities, equipment, promotion, and participation records.
• Develop and operate the Meredith Outdoor Leadership Program through outdoor experiences and leadership development activities.
• Plan outdoor trips and programs; train and supervise leaders; coordinate transportation and equipment; and establish appropriate safety, emergency response, and risk management procedures.

Campus Partnerships and Shared Facilities
• Collaborate with Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences on health literacy courses, laboratory courses, clinical exercise programs, student group fitness, employee wellness classes, and training opportunities in the center.
• Work with the Student Health Center and Human Resources to coordinate and promote fitness and wellness opportunities.
• Collaborate with Athletics to provide assigned strength and conditioning support for student-athletes, coordinate with athletic trainers on injury prevention and return-to-play progressions, and maintain a safe training environment.
• Support the Department of Nutrition, Health, and Human Performance in coordinating additional fitness facilities and laboratories as assigned.

Planning Assessment and Risk Management
• Develop annual plans and evaluate the reach, quality, safety, and effectiveness of fitness and recreation programs.
• Track participation and other relevant measures; use student feedback and assessment results to improve programs and report outcomes to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• Maintain appropriate procedures for supervision, participant safety, medical emergencies, equipment use, travel, and incident response across facilities and programs.

Minimum Qualifications
• Master’s degree in kinesiology, exercise science, recreation, sport management, or a related field.
• At least two years of demonstrated experience managing fitness, wellness, recreation, or outdoor programs.
• Knowledge of health, wellness, physical activity, program administration, participant safety, and risk management.
• Current nationally recognized fitness or wellness certification, such as ACE, ACSM, or NSCA, and appropriate first aid and CPR credentials.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, supervisory, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience creating or expanding a campus recreation program, intramural sports program, or outdoor leadership program in higher education.
• Experience teaching physical activity or certification preparation courses and training student staff.
• American Heart Association or American Red Cross instructor certification.
• Relevant strength and conditioning certification through CSCCa, NSCA, or NCSF for any assigned direct work with NCAA student athletes.
• Active involvement in relevant professional organizations.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities
• Ability to balance the needs of students, employees, academic programs, and Athletics in a shared facility.
• Ability to plan engaging programs, supervise staff, manage budgets, and assess results.
• Ability to establish sound safety practices and respond effectively to incidents and emergencies.
• Commitment to accessible, inclusive recreation and student development.

Required Documents:
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter