Riverfront Park and Challenge Course Coordinator

Challenge Course Program Oversight

• Oversee all aspects of the Challenge Course Program, including curriculum development, program delivery, marketing, assessment, and evaluation. Coordinate scheduling and use of the challenge course for classes, student organizations, campus partners, and external groups as appropriate.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and evaluate 20–30 student employees serving as facilitators and support staff.
• Oversee maintenance, inspection, and updating of Challenge Course structures and elements.

 

Riverfront Park & Boathouse Operations

• Oversee daily operations of Riverfront Park, supporting student programming, recreation access, academic classes, and outdoor engagement. Manage risk assessment, emergency action plans, and safety protocols for all site-based experiential and outdoor operations.
• Oversee operations of the Boathouse, facilitating equipment rentals, special events, and river access. Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and evaluate approximately 30 student OPS employees.
• Coordinate facility scheduling, equipment inventory, check-out systems, and operational procedures.

 

Fiscal Management & Administration

• Manage operating budgets for the Challenge Course and Riverfront Park, including payroll, equipment, and supplies. Work with the Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation to identify equipment purchases, repairs, and facility improvements that enhance the student experience.
• Monitor expenditures and revenues, prepare reports, and support long-term planning for capital needs.

 

Collaboration & Departmental Support

• Serve as a liaison to campus partners utilizing challenge course and riverfront facilities.
• Participate in departmental committees, planning efforts, and professional development activities to support departmental programs, events, and initiatives.

 

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• This position requires a Bachelor's degree, with at least one year of related experience
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Recreation, Higher Education, Experiential Education, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supervising student staff and managing site-based or experiential programs in a collegiate or recreation setting
• Preferred certifications may include:
  o    ACCT Challenge Course Practitioner Lvl 2 or Challenge Course Manager
  o    First Aid/CPR/AED
  o    American Canoe Association Instructor (Canoe, Kayak, or Paddleboard)

 

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida a