Assistant Professor of Outdoor Leadership

Assistant Professor of Outdoor Leadership

Company: Fairmont State University

Job Location: Fairmont

Category: Recreation and Leisure Studies

Type: Full-Time

Type of Position: Faculty

Department: Dept of Health and Human Performance

Appointment Length: Aug - May (9 mo)

Tenure Status: 2 - Tenure Track

Academic Rank: 3 - Assistant Professor

Is this considered a "term" position? No

Benefits Eligible?: Yes

F.T.E.: 1.00

Grant Funded Position?: No

Description of Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Assistant Professor will be responsible for instruction and program development for the Bachelor of Arts in Outdoor Leadership, an interdisciplinary degree designed to cultivate productive leadership skills through outdoor experiences; as well as Outdoor Recreation Leadership minor.

• Teach undergraduate courses in the Outdoor Leadership major and Outdoor Recreation Leadership minor, including classroom, laboratory, and field-based instruction.
• Develop, revise, and implement curriculum that reflects current best practices in experiential education, outdoor leadership, and environmental stewardship.
• Provide instruction in technical outdoor skills, leadership development, program planning, and risk management.
• Maintain high standards for safety and risk management across all instructional and program activities.
• Advise and mentor students regarding academic planning, career pathways, certifications, internships, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Supervise and evaluate student field practicums and internship experiences. Engage in scholarly, creative, or applied professional activities appropriate to the discipline.
• Seek opportunities to support program growth, research, and community initiatives through external funding, partnerships, or grants, as aligned with professional interests and program priorities.
• Maintain active professional engagement in the outdoor leadership field, including relevant certifications and continued professional development.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service activities, including committees, program assessment, and academic initiatives.
• Contribute to recruitment, retention, and promotional efforts for the Outdoor Leadership program.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations, outdoor agencies, and professional organizations to support student learning and program development.
• Provide service to the profession and community.

Minimum Required Education

A master's degree in Outdoor Leadership, Outdoor Recreation, Experiential Education, or a closely related field.

Required Licenses and/or Certifications

None required; however, candidate should possess a willingness to pursue certifications listed under preferred qualifications.

Minimum Required Qualifications

The successful candidate must possess the knowledge, technical proficiency, and expertise to deliver the core curriculum and experiential learning components of the Outdoor Leadership major. This includes:

• Expertise in safe and effective leadership in the skill areas encompassed in the program, consistent with professional standards, including risk management.
• Ability to instruct and assess knowledge and technical proficiency in core outdoor skills, such as:
  • Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and its historical/philosophical context.
  • Backcountry Living Skills, including backpacking, camping, survival activities, and Leave No Trace methods.
  • Adventure Water Sports (e.g., canoeing, kayaking, white-water rafting) and water safety, requiring competence in swimming.
  • Group Leadership, including group dynamics, liability issues, risk management, and activity facilitation.
  • Accident Analysis and Emergency Care.
• Demonstrated ability to apply experiential education theory and philosophy in outdoor recreation activities and programming.
• Willingness to teach courses predominantly in a web-supported, face-to-face environment, utilizing instructional methods such as lectures, simulations, case studies, discussions, and experiential learning activities.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and lead outdoor experiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Wilderness First Aid.
• Ability to instruct in various Adventure Winter Sports (e.g., cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter camping, or mountaineering) and Introduction to Rock Climbing.
• Previous advising experience.
• Ability to instruct and certify in one area (Wilderness First Aid, First Aid, and CPR) related to outdoor recreation.

Requisition Number: 2026033FP

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Hire Date: August 2026

Job Close Date: 05/04/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Quicklink for Posting: https://www.fairmontstatejobs.com/postings/10456