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Recreational Sports and Fitness (RSF)

Graduate Assistantship (GA) for Facility Operations

The below listed application materials must be submitted to Abbey Holm at [email protected] by  March 10, 2023. We will continue to accept applications until the GA position has been filled.

Description of Opportunity

This Graduate Assistant will join a team of dedicated professionals at the Montana State University’s Recreational Sports Department and work closely with undergraduate student staff. 

 

Position Duration

This position requires a commitment of 19 hours/week, including office hours, for 10 months.

Position dates: August 1, 2023- May 31, 2024. Option for extended work and stipend if work over the summer. And option for rehire for a 2nd school year.

 

Position Description – GA for RSF Operations

  • Assist the Assistant Director for Facility Operations.
  • Support the overall operation of the North Dome temporary Fitness Center that includes multipurpose gymnasiums, climbing wall, cardio equipment and weight equipment areas, fitness studios, and a separate gym/locker room in Shroyer.
  • Assist in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, and evaluating of student staff members (around 30 student staff).
  • Assist in the scheduling, planning, supervising and leading student staff in the development of the facility operations and memberships area.
  • Supervise the operations desk, reception desk, multi-purpose domes and operations to include Fusion software, and troubleshooting.
  • Provide leadership within the Fitness Center by providing support to student staff, the Assistant Director for Fitness and Operations, and the other GA’s and full-time staff.
  • Assist in the review and development of all risk management policies, procedures, and training of student staff.
  • Participate in professional staff meetings.
  • Other duties as assigned
  • GA’s will enroll and be accepted to an MSU Graduate program.
  • The GA is intended to be a 2-year assistantship

Field-based Skill Description:

  • To learn leadership and management strategies that will aid in supervision and management of student positions.
  • To work with various campus recreation professionals that will guide the GA to learn the job responsibilities and develop their own management style.

Transferable Skill Description:

  • To acquire management and business skills transferable to any industry.
  • Will learn planning, scheduling and marketing skills.
  • Will learn how to be a team player on a very dynamic, visionary, and fast moving RSF team.
  • How to apply passion for our industry to move into a career.
  • Managing, projecting, interpreting fiscal budgets.

Required Skills/Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree (preferred course work in recreation, management,, business, sports science, fitness and related fields)
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Competence in basic word processing spreadsheets
  • Current CPR/AED at the time of hiring (can be taken internally)

Preferred Skills/Qualifications

  • Proven experience working as a team player
  • Experience working with Fusion facility management software
  • Experience working on a facility operations team
  • 1-2 years working with a campus recreation department or other similar organization

Graduate School Qualifications

  • Enroll in 6 or more credits at the 5xxx level each semester, be degree-seeking in a graduate program at MSU Bozeman
  • Maintain term, cumulative and program of study GPA of 3.00 or better
  • Make progress toward the achievement of the graduate degree (e.g., sit and pass comprehensive exams)

*This position is part of the Graduate Student Union, represented by MEA-MFT. As such, the student must pay either monthly union dues or representation fees. If workplace issues arise, the student in the position will need to take concerns to their supervisor or the University’s Human Resources department.

Supervision

  • Direct Supervisor: Abbey Holm, [email protected]
  • The GA will have the opportunity to interact closely with the entire team of professionals throughout RSF

Works Primarily With

  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Staff
  • Faculty

GA Focus

  • College students and their development
  • Higher education leadership, administration, and organization
  • Institutional and program evaluation, assessment, and accreditation
  • The GA will be mentored by professional RSF staff members in their own leadership development but also to learn how to train student leaders. RSF has a structured training program with clear job descriptions to help students succeed.
  • The GA will have the opportunity to interface with departments across campus on a regular basis; i.e. Office of Student Engagement, Residence Life, Student Success, Sports Facilities, Health and Human Development and more.

Performance and Feedback

  • Each GA will receive a formal evaluation each semester. This is important to make sure both the assistant and the supervisor are achieving the goals set out at the beginning of the semester
  • RSF and/or the academic department may terminate the assistantship at any time with proper cause.
  • We believe that regular feedback is critical. This will come in the form of personal 1:1 meetings as well as staff meetings

Compensation

  • Stipend: Minimum of $1,500/month for an appointment requiring no more than 19 hours a week
  • RSF will cover the cost of 9 credits tuition/semester for GA’s accepted into this program. University fees and other fees are the responsibility of the student
  • Additional payment by RSF: Mandatory additional payment of $170 per month for health insurance or other living expenses, as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
  • Professional development is very important to us: RSF will provide compensation to attend a limited number of regional professional development conferences and workshops. There are also funds available to attend national or international conferences, but the Assistant must apply for these funds as they are available

GA Conduct

  • Exercise a sense of responsibility, judgment, and integrity on and off campus. This includes, but is not limited to, compliance with all RSF and MSU policies; the Student Conduct Code; local, state, and federal laws
  • Know, understand and adhere to University policies. Be well versed in the rationale behind them so that you can inform students of this information properly

 

Application materials must be sumbitted to Abbey Holm at [email protected] by March 10, 2023. We will continue to accept applications until the GA position has been filled.

  1. Current resume or CV
  2. Two professional letters of recommendation
  3. Letter of interest for this position to address:

 (Please limit responses to no more than 500 words per question)

  • Why you are interested in the position and any special areas of interest you may have in the position?
  • What can you contribute to RSF and the MSU students as a whole?
  • How you will use your area of study to not only better the RSF Department and MSU students, but also the Graduate School and the MSU community?
  • What do you see as the greatest challenge for students to participate in campus recreation programs and facilities?