Graduate Assistant: Fitness & Wellness

North Park University would like to announce that applications are now being accepted for the position of Fitness and Wellness Graduate Assistant.   The position assists the Director of Wellness and Recreation with the management and oversight of the daily operations of the Helwig Recreation Center.  The assistantship is a part-time position that will begin in August 2025 and includes tuition remission, a partial meal plan, and a $3000 stipend per semester. 

About North Park
Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world. Located for over 125 years on the land of the Miami and Potawatomi tribes in what is today Chicago’s northside, NPU has recently been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution and is committed to serving diverse populations. Elevating North Park University’s core distinctives of Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, NPU values diversity among its faculty and is committed to building a racially and culturally diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages the nomination and candidacies of persons who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color regardless of gender.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise the operations of the Helwig Recreation Center during assigned shifts.
• Assist in the hiring, training, managing, and evaluation of student employees including desk attendants, floor staff, and climbing wall attendants.      
• Develop incentive programs and checklists to increase student-worker productivity.   
• Assist in monitoring the general maintenance and cleaning of the recreation center and its equipment.  Report issues to the Director of Wellness and Recreation.
• Develop and conduct 7- 10 wellness workshops for campus population each year.
• Assist director with monitoring and evaluating group fitness classes and the personal training program. 
• Develop incentive programs to increase attendance in programming.
• Effectively market and promote fitness and wellness programs across campus to students, staff, and faculty.
• Develop and coordinate weight room and fitness center orientations including instruction on strength cardio equipment and safety issues for all members.
• Gather verbal and written feedback from students, faculty, and staff to evaluate programs/classes and respond to inquiries and complaints of center participants.
• Other duties as assigned by Director of Wellness and Recreation, Associate and Assistant Athletic Directors, and Assistant Vice President for Athletics and Sports Management.

• Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Health and Physical Education, Exercise Science, Athletic Training, or related field is required. 
• Applicant must obtain acceptance in a North Park University graduate program.
• Certification through a nationally recognized organization is preferred (NSCA, ACSM, NASM, NIRSA, AFAA, or ACE).  Applicants that are in the process of obtaining a certification from a nationally recognized organization will be considered.
• Experience teaching group fitness classes or leading group activities is desired.
• Red Cross certified in First Aid, CPR, and Automatic Emergency Defibrillator (AED) is desired.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral skills with the ability to work independently and in teams.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to manage details accurately.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and databases needed.
• Possess a clear understanding and personal commitment to North Park’s mission of Christian higher education.