Director of Community Wellness and Intramural in Richmond, Virginia at Virginia Union University
Job Description
Virginia Union University (VUU) is a distinguished private institution founded in 1865 that proudly upholds a legacy of academic excellence and community engagement. With a historic 86-acre campus, it offers a dynamic and nurturing environment for its 1,568 undergraduate and graduate students. Virginia Union University is recognized in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report, holding a prestigious position as #39 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
VUU provides a robust array of academic programs, including 35 Bachelor's, 11 Master's, and one Doctoral degree. Virginia Union University remains steadfast in its commitment to offering accessible, high-quality education, instilling a sense of assurance and confidence in its students. It fosters a vibrant intellectual community dedicated to the holistic development of future leaders.
Five fundamental principles (core values) guide Virginia Union University. Each principle is essential to our ability to provide a Best-In-Class educational experience for students, faculty, and staff. These principles help our community understand the right path to fulfilling our institution's mission. The principles are Innovation, Spiritual Formation, Integrity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Excellence.
The Director of Community Wellness and Intramurals serves as Virginia Union University’s primary point person for health, wellness, fitness, and recreational sports for the entire university community — students, faculty, staff, and, where appropriate, alumni and community partners. The Director provides vision, leadership, and day-to-day management for campus-wide wellness initiatives, the intramural and recreational sports program, and the University Fitness Center, including the recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision of student workers who staff fitness and recreation operations.
Grounded in a holistic, whole-person model of well-being, the Director designs and delivers programming that promotes physical activity, healthy lifestyles, community connection, and a sense of belonging. The position advances student success, retention, and engagement, supports employee wellness, and reflects the University’s mission, its HBCU heritage, and its commitment to a vibrant, healthy, and inclusive campus community.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the University’s designated lead and point person for health, wellness, and fitness initiatives, responding to inquiries and coordinating wellness efforts across academic, administrative, and student life units.
- Develop, implement, and annually update a comprehensive Community Wellness Plan addressing the dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, financial, occupational, and environmental), aligned with University strategic priorities.
- Plan and execute recurring wellness programming, including wellness fairs, health screenings, fitness challenges, walking/running clubs, nutrition education, stress-management and mindfulness sessions, sleep and healthy-habits campaigns, and observances such as National Minority Health Month, Heart Health Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Design culturally responsive initiatives that address health disparities affecting Black and underserved communities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and nutrition awareness) in partnership with health professionals and community organizations.
- Partner with Human Resources to develop and promote faculty and staff wellness programming, incentive challenges, lunch-and-learns, and benefits-related wellness offerings.
- Collaborate with Student Health Services, the Counseling Center, and Disability Services to provide referrals, co-sponsor programming, and ensure a coordinated continuum of care and education; observe appropriate boundaries regarding clinical and confidential health information.
- Establish and advise a student Wellness Ambassador or Peer Health Educator program that extends outreach into residence halls, student organizations, and athletics.
- Maintain a wellness and recreation presence on the University website and social media; produce a semester calendar of programs, newsletters, and promotional materials consistent with University brand standards.
- Plan, organize, and administer a year-round intramural sports program across campus, including leagues, tournaments, and special events (e.g., basketball, flag football, volleyball, soccer, kickball, softball, table tennis, esports, and other activities based on student interest).
- Assess student interest and expand offerings to include co-recreational, adaptive/inclusive, and non-traditional activities, as well as club-sport or open-recreation opportunities as resources allow.
- Develop league structures, schedules, and brackets; manage team registration, eligibility, and rosters; secure and schedule facilities and fields in coordination with Athletics, Facilities Management, and Special Events.
- Establish, publish, and enforce intramural policies, playing rules, sportsmanship standards, forfeit procedures, and protest/appeal processes; administer a sportsmanship rating system and address conduct issues in coordination with the Office of Student Conduct.
- Recruit, train, certify, evaluate, and schedule student officials, scorekeepers, and site supervisors.
- Coordinate championship events, awards, and recognition (e.g., intramural champion apparel, all-campus team, sportsmanship awards), and promote participation through residence hall, Greek-letter organization, and student organization competitions.
- Administer an online registration and scheduling platform (e.g., IMLeagues, Fusion, or similar) and maintain accurate participation records.
- Oversee daily operations of the University Fitness Center, including hours of operation, access control, cleanliness, equipment condition, and a welcoming, inclusive environment for all users.
- Develop and maintain facility policies, user agreements, waivers, guest policies, dress and conduct codes, and opening/closing procedures.
- Maintain an inventory of fitness equipment; coordinate routine inspection, preventive maintenance, and repairs with vendors and Facilities Management; recommend replacements and capital purchases.
- Coordinate group fitness classes, orientations, personal training or fitness assessment services (where offered), and instructional clinics; recruit and schedule certified instructors.
- Manage the facility access system (ID card swipe or check-in) and track usage patterns to inform staffing, hours, and programming decisions.
- Provide input on fitness and recreation facility improvements, renovations, and long-range planning, including participation in capital project planning as requested.
- Recruit, interview, and hire student workers (including Federal Work-Study and institutional student employees) for fitness center attendant, front desk, intramural official, and event staff roles, in coordination with Human Resources and Financial Aid.
- Build and manage staffing schedules to ensure full coverage during all hours of operation and programming; manage shift changes, call-outs, and substitute coverage.
- Design and deliver pre-service and in-service training covering customer service, facility procedures, emergency action plans, incident reporting, equipment safety, conflict resolution, and officiating; ensure required CPR/AED/First Aid certification for designated staff.
- Provide day-to-day supervision, coaching, and performance feedback; conduct semester evaluations; address performance and conduct issues consistent with University policy.
- Approve student timesheets accurately and on time; monitor student wage budgets and Work-Study allocations to avoid overspending.
- Treat student employment as a high-impact learning experience by building leadership pathways (e.g., student supervisor or student manager roles), articulating learning outcomes, and supporting career-readiness skill development.
- Develop and maintain Emergency Action Plans for the Fitness Center and all intramural venues; coordinate drills and response protocols with Campus Police.
- Ensure accurate, timely documentation of injuries, incidents, and accidents; follow up appropriately and report trends to Risk Management.
- Maintain participant waivers, assumption-of-risk forms, certifications, and training records in accordance with University records retention policies.
- Ensure programs and facilities comply with University policy, ADA accessibility requirements, Title IX, Clery Act reporting obligations (as a Campus Security Authority, if designated), and applicable health and safety standards.
- Implement inclement-weather, heat-illness, and lightning-safety protocols for outdoor programming.
- Develop and manage the operating budgets for wellness, intramurals, and the Fitness Center, including student wages, supplies, equipment, apparel/awards, and contracted services; process purchase requests in accordance with University procurement procedures.
- Identify and pursue external funding, grants, sponsorships, and in-kind partnerships to expand wellness and recreation offerings.
- Establish measurable goals and learning outcomes; collect participation, satisfaction, and outcome data; and use results for continuous improvement in support of institutional effectiveness and SACSCOC accreditation reporting.
- Prepare monthly activity summaries, semester reports, and an annual report documenting participation, outcomes, budget performance, and recommendations.
- Work closely with Student Affairs, Residence Life, Athletics, Health Services, Counseling, Human Resources, Facilities Management, Campus Police, Special Events, Dining Services, and academic departments (e.g., health and kinesiology programs) to integrate wellness across the University.
- Convene and chair a campus-wide Wellness Advisory Committee of students, faculty, and staff to guide priorities and programming.
- Cultivate relationships with Richmond-area health systems, public health agencies, YMCAs, faith-based organizations, and wellness vendors to bring resources and services to campus.
- Support Homecoming, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, and other University traditions with recreation and wellness programming.
- Serve on University committees as assigned.
- Remain current with best practices in campus recreation and wellness through professional organizations such as NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, NASPA, and ACSM.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Health Promotion, Public Health, Sport Management, Higher Education/Student Affairs, or a closely related field.
- Three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in campus recreation, intramural sports, fitness center management, wellness programming, or a related setting.
- Demonstrated experience recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising staff, preferably student employees.
- Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification within 30 days of hire and maintain it throughout employment.
- Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel locally for programs and partnerships.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check
Application Process
Candidates are required to submit their resume, four professional references and a cover letter. The application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. A background investigation and reference check will be required prior to employment. For any questions or concerns, please contact Askhr@vuu.edu.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Virginia Union University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other protected class.
For more information about Virginia Union University, visit VUU About Page.
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