Fitness Programs Assistant Director

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Are you excited to lead and shape the future of campus fitness programming by overseeing group fitness, personal training, and innovative wellness initiatives? Are you looking to mentor and supervise professional staff and student employees while fostering a culture of growth and innovation? If so, Recreation Services at Iowa State University is currently seeking applicants for a Fitness Programs Assistant Director! This position will be classified as a Recreation Services Specialist III. Lead and oversee group fitness, personal training, and fitness programs, ensuring high-quality daily operations and participant experiences. Coordinate strategic planning for fitness programming aligned with university priorities, wellness outcomes, and industry trends. Manage schedules, staffing, registration, billing, and participant intake processes. Supervise, train, evaluate, and support professional staff and student employees. Oversee and monitor program budgets, forecasts, and revenue-generating initiatives. Coordinate equipment, facilities, and spaces including inventory, purchasing, maintenance, and replacement planning. Lead assessment, reporting, and data-driven program improvement efforts. Ensure compliance with safety, risk management, and certification standards in collaboration with university partners. Coordinate staff training and maintain current fitness and safety certifications. Build partnerships and promote fitness programs across campus and with community stakeholders. Represent Recreation Services on committees and during campus initiatives. This is a senior-level position possessing high-level professional and/or technical skills working independently under minimal supervision to support ISU’s mission and department or work unit goals. Applies senior-level professional knowledge and expertise to work requiring greater latitude. Solves moderately complex problems and regularly exercises judgment to determine appropriate action. Regularly exercises judgment to resolve problems and determine appropriate action on a broad set of issue and problems. May provide recommendations regarding problems/issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices. Responds to complicated inquiries, provides training, and provides direction to lower-level staff. May provide supervision for one to two other staff (i.e., leads a small work team). May lead projects for which well-defined practices and procedures may not exist. Provides guidance to students.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Higher Education, Sport Management, or a related field
Progressive experience overseeing comprehensive fitness programs in a collegiate or comparable setting
Demonstrated success supervising professional staff and student employees
Experience with budget development, forecasting, and revenue generation
Nationally recognized fitness certifications accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) (e.g., ACE, ACSM, NASM)
Demonstrated knowledge of fitness-related risk management, training protocols, and industry standards

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee group fitness, personal training, and fitness programs, ensuring high-quality daily operations and participant experiences
Coordinate strategic planning for fitness programming aligned with university priorities, wellness outcomes, and industry trends
Manage schedules, staffing, registration, billing, and participant intake processes
Supervise, train, evaluate, and support professional staff and student employees
Oversee and monitor program budgets, forecasts, and revenue-generating initiatives
Coordinate equipment, facilities, and spaces including inventory, purchasing, maintenance, and replacement planning
Lead assessment, reporting, and data-driven program improvement efforts
Ensure compliance with safety, risk management, and certification standards in collaboration with university partners
Coordinate staff training and maintain current fitness and safety certifications
Build partnerships and promote fitness programs across campus and with community stakeholders
Represent Recreation Services on committees and during campus initiatives