POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Director of Athletic Training and Wellness – West Plains
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1121
GRADE 44
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Associate Vice-Chancellor for Athletics and Community Engagement
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director of Athletic Training and Wellness – West Plains is responsible for athletic training for the Grizzly athletic teams as well as the management of the aquatics and wellness center as part of the Athletics and Community Engagement, Aquatics and Wellness Department at the West Plains Civic Center. Patrons of the program include the students, faculty, staff, and administration of Missouri State University - West Plains; residents of West Plains, Missouri; and citizens of the seven counties comprising the Ozarks Heritage Region of south-central Missouri (Howell, Oregon, Texas, Douglas, Wright, Ozark and Shannon counties).
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine, Athletic Training, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: At least one year of athletic training experience is required. Intercollegiate experience preferred. Any experience in management of a health/fitness, weight training, and/or aquatics facility is preferred.
Skills: Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, are required. Excellent supervisory and organizational skills (e.g., ability to organize, plan, coordinate, and direct activities) are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
License: Must be certified by the BOC of the National Athletic Trainer Associate (NATA) and licensed by the Board of Healing Arts in the state of Missouri.
Effort: Requires the capability to physically transport injured athletes (e.g. to the locker room, sidelines, clinic, ambulance) in order to receive further medical care. Scope of the position requires ability to perform and/or demonstrate various physical fitness and strength exercises, and to assist others performing those exercises. Position requires some handling of hazardous materials in the operation of the aquatic’s facility.
Other: The scope of this position frequently requires attendance at activities on weekends and nights along with minimal travel to athletic events out of town.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that Athletic Training Services provides quality athlete care for student-athletes participating in the intercollegiate athletics program through management of all aspects of injury/illness prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, treatment, disposition, and rehabilitation, coordination of all medical health care efforts and providers necessary to support the intercollegiate athletics program, and administration of the daily operational requirements of the Athletic Training Services program.2. Enables student-athletes to return to full physical functioning by providing quality treatment which includes assessing the nature of their injuries, their range of motion, strength and other physical parameters, and making referrals to physicians as appropriate, enforcing the prescribed treatment protocols of physicians using all appropriate therapeutic modalities and exercises, and evaluating their rehabilitative progress.
3. Facilitates student-athletes compliance with prescribed rehabilitative treatments by educating them about the causes and nature of their injuries through the use of models or diagrams and measures they can take to prevent recurrences, providing a thorough explanation of the reasons for and functions of the rehabilitative therapies, assisting student-athletes in correct performance of the therapies and exercises, evaluating their progress during rehabilitation, and providing the student-athletes with feedback.
4. Minimizes institutional liability in the performance of athletic training services by maintaining proper and current licensure and practicing in accordance with the Missouri Board of Healing Arts.
5. Works closely and coordinates with area medical and professional personnel (e.g., physicians, dentists, pharmacists, chiropractors) who provide services to the Grizzly Athletics program for the overall preventative and rehabilitation health care program of Grizzly athletes. To include the execution of the campus’ athlete drug testing policy.
6. Maintains individual professional competence as required by NATA and expands the knowledge base and ability of the Athletic Training Service to serve the intercollegiate athletics program by taking advantage of professional development and continuing education opportunities, attending professional development seminars, workshops and related activities, reading the literature published in professional journals and texts, and sharing the information gathered from these professional activities with other staff professionals and student-athletes.
7. Assures compliance with federal (HIPAA, FERPA), state (practice acts), and NJCAA guidelines.
8. Manages risk through appropriate evaluation and procedures, diagnosis decisions, and emergency care decisions related to student athletes.
9. Serves as a liaison to parents, coaches, athletes, administrators, media, and health care providers concerning the health care and health status of student athletes through injury reports, medical and legal documentation, direct communication and prepared statements.
10. Works at all practices and events as assigned by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Community Engagement, including out-of-town events, which may occur at any time of day and on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
11. Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate lifeguards based off the industry standards as well as develop, implement, and monitor schedules for lifeguards.
12. Ensures that the West Plains Civic Center swimming pool and fitness room are operated in a safe, effective, and professional manner by supervising operations (including maintenance and cleaning of pool facilities) of the swimming pool and fitness room, instructing lifeguards and staff on policies and procedures regarding pool and fitness room usage, and providing administration for special scheduled events in the pool area.
13. Responsible for fiscal and budgetary management of the Athletic Training and Wellness department with oversight from the Associate Vice-Chancellor of Athletics and Community Engagement.
14. Promotes a positive image of the campus by participating in community and professional organizations, representing the campus at professional meetings and on community committees, and establishes and maintains credible relations with various news media.
15. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
16. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the supervisor.
17. Contributes to the overall success of Missouri State University-West Plains by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Director of Athletic Training and Wellness – West Plains receives supervision from the Associate Vice-Chancellor for Athletics and Community Engagement with athletic program oversight provided by the Director of Athletics – West Plains. The Director exercises considerable independent judgment in the management of the Aquatics and Wellness Program. The Director exercises supervision of any student or non-student assistants who may be employed in the Aquatics and Wellness Program.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED NOVEMBER 2024
