Assistant Director of Recreational Therapy (Outdoor Education Specialist), Bradford Woods

Indiana University Foundation

  • Martinsville, IN
  • 3 days ago

    Highlights

    Develops, implements, and expands recreational therapy aligned programs, including new summer camp sessions, weekend events, retreat offerings, and multi-session program series, ensuring alignment with organizational mission and participant needs. Oversees the recreational therapy process, including assessments, individualized goal development, intervention implementation, progress monitoring, documentation review, and discharge planning, ensuring integration of therapeutic goals into daily camp programming.

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationMartinsville, IN

    Description

    Department

    BRADFORD WOODS (BA-BRAD-IUBLA)

    Department Information

    The Office of Student Life is focused on building a strong foundation to ensure every students Indiana University (IU) experience is positive, safe, healthy, and meaningful. The Office of Student Life staff and its multiple departments aim to help students navigate their time at IU, providing the tools they need to be successful in school and after graduation. Students are our priority, and their health, safety, and overall well-being are our core mission.

    Bradford Woods is proud to be a department within the Office of Student Life, committed to promoting learning and respect in all programs, interactions, and partnerships.

    Bradford Woods is Indiana Universitys Outdoor Center located just 30 minutes north of the IU Bloomington campus. Bradford Woods is a private property that consists of 2,500-acres of wooded land with a 110-acre lake. Our property sits just outside of Martinsville off State Road 67. The property is used by over 400 unique programs from retreats and events to environmental education school programs.

    Offering free parking and a beautiful space to work, there is no better place to be than at Bradford Woods.

    Job Summary

    The Assistant Director of Recreational Therapy provides leadership and oversight for the cabin life and therapeutic camping components of our summer camp programs.

    Department Specific Responsibilities

    • Supervises Cabin Life Coordinators, Cabin Heads, Cabin Counselors, and Recreational Therapy Interns to ensure exceptional camper care, safety, and therapeutic integrity.
    • Supports the full therapeutic recreation process, including camper assessment, individualized goal development, intervention implementation, progress evaluation, documentation, and discharge planning.
    • Provides mentorship and feedback to Recreational Therapy Interns while ensuring therapeutic services are integrated into all aspects of camp programming.
    • Responsible for staff recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and training, as well as coordinating and developing new and existing program with clients and partners.
    • Provides comprehensive leadership and oversight of cabin life and medical camping operations, ensuring high standards of camper safety, supervision, welfare, behavior support, and medical/social/emotional care.
    • Oversees the recreational therapy process, including assessments, individualized goal development, intervention implementation, progress monitoring, documentation review, and discharge planning, ensuring integration of therapeutic goals into daily camp programming.
    • Leads year-round recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, supervision, and performance evaluation of cabin life staff and recreational therapy interns.
    • Develops and facilitates pre-camp and in-season training focused on camper supervision, therapeutic recreation practices, inclusion strategies, and documentation standards.
    • Coordinates scheduling and communication with clients, families, and partner organizations.
    • Manages program logistics and provides exceptional customer service.
    • Develops, implements, and expands recreational therapy aligned programs, including new summer camp sessions, weekend events, retreat offerings, and multi-session program series, ensuring alignment with organizational mission and participant needs.
    • Monitors implementation of policies, risk management procedures, and professional standards related to therapeutic camping and residential life.
    • Supports evaluation of camper outcomes and overall program effectiveness.
    • Collaborates with the Bradford Woods program team to provide global program support as needed, including event hosting, leading trail lessons, and facilitating activities.
    • Drives university vehicles around Bradford Woods Campus.

    General Responsibilities

    • Responsible for design and implementation of recreational, educational, professional development, and team-building retreats, camps, and other outdoor education programming.
    • Manages day-to-day operations, logistics, and issues related to programming, providing technical or informational support to participants.
    • Identifies and develops contracts, partners, and coalitions. Researches, identifies, and negotiates facilitators, speakers, and presenters.
    • Develops educational materials, curriculum, equipment, elements, and other resources necessary to conduct programmatic offerings and services.
    • Develops activities appropriate for the participants in a given outdoor program, camp, or retreat and works with leaders and constituents to develop itinerary.
    • Designs and implements evaluation tools for program effectiveness, makes recommendations, and implements changes based on results.
    • Assists in budget development and revenue projections and ensures programs, camps, and retreats align with budgetary needs.
    • May assist with seasonal or temporary staffing needs including selection, hiring, training, and supervision.

    Qualifications

    Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

    EDUCATION

    Required

    • Bachelors degree in related field.

    WORK EXPERIENCE

    Preferred

    • 2 years in related field.
    • Previous background working and leading staff in a fast-paced, dynamic camp environment.

    LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

    Preferred

    • Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential within 6 months from date of hire
    • Possesses a valid drivers license with the ability to be insured by Indiana University upon date of hire.

    SKILLS

    Required

    • Proficient communication skills.
    • Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
    • Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
    • Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
    • Possesses flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
    • Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.

    Preferred

    • Demonstrates strong leadership.
    • Strong clinical knowledge, attention to detail.
    • Commitment to providing a camper-centered experience.

    Working Conditions / Demands

    This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. This position operates in both an office and outdoor setting. Responsibilities require frequent movement across campus, including outdoor terrain, program areas, and residential facilities, as well as time spent in a traditional office setting. Work is performed in varied weather conditions during program delivery and camp operations. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

    This position requires extended hours, including evenings and weekends during the summer camp season, to support residential and program operations.

    This position requires some evening and weekend commitments for recruitment, training, event hosting, and program support, outside of the summer camp season.

    This position requires the ability to live on-site.

    Additional Information

    This is a fulltime,12-month, exempt position.

    Flexibility is required to meet program needs; however, the department is committed to supporting workload planning and reasonable work-life balance throughout the year.

    Work Location

    Bradford Woods

    5040 State Road 37 North,

    Martinsville, Indiana, 46151

    This is an in-person position.

    Advertised Salary

    $42,500.00 on an annualized basis.

    Work Hours

    Work hours vary based on operational needs and seasonal program demands.

    Benefits Overview

    For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

    • Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
    • Health savings account with generous IU contributions
    • Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
    • Basic group life insurance paid by IU
    • Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
    • Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
    • Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
    • Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
    • 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
    • Generous paid time off plans
    • Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
    • Employee assistance program (EAP)

    Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

    Job Classification

    Career Level: Core

    FLSA: Exempt

    Job Function: Educational Resources & Tech

    Job Family: Outdoor Education

    Click here to learn more about Indiana Universitys Job Framework.

    Posting Disclaimer

    This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

    If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

    Equal Employment Opportunity

    Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

    Campus Safety and Security

    The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

    Contact Us

    Request Support

    Telephone: 812-856-1234

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