Position Openings ~ Job Opportunities

Outdoor Studies
Assistant Director for the Adirondack Semester

St. Lawrence University seeks one Assistant Director for its Adirondack Semester (See http://web.stlawu.edu/adksemester/.)  The Adirondack Semester is a unique program of place-based environmental education, involving 3 months of residence and academic study at a base camp in the Adirondack Mountains, an extended backcountry trip, and a variety of outdoor activities. The program situates students on the boundary between modern civilization and wild nature and encourages them to study and reflect on their relationship with each of these and on the choices we must make in order to preserve the natural world. Faculty members commute to the site to teach a full university semester, including cultural and natural history of the Adirondacks, perceptions of nature, and a creative expressions course. 

The new Assistant Director will work in collaboration with and under the supervision of the Director and a senior Assistant Director, and will live on site 5 days/week.  The two Assistant Directors share the following Responsibilities:

Academics:    

• Co-lead, with the Director, the weekly Adirondack Semester Symposium, a non-credit seminar examining topics relating to our life style at the ADK Semester
• Help to plan, coordinate, mentor and evaluate students through the Capstone Internship, a 3 week experiential capstone that takes place during the final weeks of the semester.  

Administration: (Communication, Logistics & Fiscal Responsibilities)

• Responsible for communication with faculty, staff, students, and parents
• Recommend and oversee annual purchase of new equipment and supplies
• Set up and oversee food purchasing including a CSA, grocery store accounts and orders through dining services
• Coordinate and help plan orientation, the semester schedule and weekly calendar

Oversight: (Risk Management, Facility & Community)

• Primary responsibility for updating and observing best risk management practices
• Set up, maintain, and take down program site including, yurts, buildings, solar array, composting toilet, and other infrastructure
• Facilitate and develop a living and learning community that is physically and emotionally safe for all to enjoy while participating in community activities such as cooking meals, chores and community meetings

Trip Leader & Planner:

• Plan, organize, and lead 8-14 day back country trip as part of program Orientation
• Plan and lead weekend outdoor activities for students during semester

Qualifications/Attributes:

• Bachelor’s degree (candidates with advanced degrees encouraged to apply), Wilderness First Responder and CPR
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal, team and community building skills
• An individual who has a combination of administrative, teaching, outdoor leadership and backcountry experience.
• The successful candidate will serve as a model for students, demonstrating a positive attitude, tolerance, patience, openness to new ideas and application of the program’s environmental ethic
• A familiarity with and an appreciation for the role and mission of a small, private liberal arts institution

The tentative start date for this six-month appointment will July 18th, 2012, this appointment may be renewable in successive years.  Compensation will be $17,640, health insurance, supplementary stipend for housing when off site, and room and board on site during the 3 months of the base camp residence and expeditions.

Interested candidates should send a letter of application, resume, outdoor resume, copy of certifications, and three letters of recommendation to Dr. Catherine Shrady, Outdoor Studies Department, Augsbury Center, St. Lawrence University, Canton NY 13617 or email application materials to cshrady@stlawu.edu.  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is found.  We anticipate interviewing candidates in mid-March, 2012.

St. Lawrence University, chartered in 1856, is an independent, private, coeducational institution of higher learning in New York State.  For additional information, please visit SLU’s homepage at http://www.stlawu.edu.  SLU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer. >

Posted: January 18, 2012

Human Resources
St. Lawrence University
(315) 229-5509
Maintained by Karen Butler

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