Technical Expert Field Assistant - Land-Based Activity

UAA Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation is seeking Technical Expert Field Assistants to assist with land-based outdoor recreation course offerings on an as-needed basis. Course offerings include one or more of the following activities: ice climbing, rock climbing, crevasse rescue techniques, backcountry skiing and mountaineering based activity.

This position is expected to work together with a Lead Instructor (LI) to provide field experiences to students. Technical Expert Field Assistant are expected to have exceptional proficiency in the course content.

Applicants seeking to be Technical Expert Field Assistants (TECH) must possess a background in the following areas:

Physical Fitness, Personal Gear Requirements, and Course Prerequisites
A potential TECH needs to exceed the minimum physical fitness, personal gear requirements, and other course prerequisites of the particular course they will be instructing. This information can be found in the specific course description and academic course content guide.

Technical Skills and Personal Experience
A potential TECH needs to possess strong technical skills in his/her area of instruction. This means that the technical expert's skills far surpass the level of technical expertise that will be taught in the specific course. Competency of required skills can be demonstrated through a skill test, through verification from qualified professionals, or through specific and applicable certifications.
Leading or Guiding Experience.
A potential TECH needs to have served as a paid or unpaid leader in the activity s/he will be teaching (or a similar activity) within the past two years (from the start of the course contract).

Pedagogy/Teaching Competencies
A potential TECH needs:
To possess college-level (or higher) writing skills.
Experience in providing sequenced teaching methods.
Experience in providing feedback and formal evaluation.
To possess good presentation and speaking skills.
Experience using a variety of teaching styles.
Experience teaching to the adult learner as well as teaching to participants with various abilities, experience levels, and cultural backgrounds.
Proof of these prerequisites can be offered by way of previous employment, personal experience, certifications, and/or demonstration, or any combination of these.

Technical experts are expected to possess strong field skills and teaching skills. Candidates should also be able to take responsibility for the class and bring the class to a safe end should the lead instructor become incapacitated.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants are highly encouraged (or in some cases required) to possess the following certifications prior to working as a TECH in these land-based courses:

Ice Climbing - Level I avalanche training recommended; AMGA Top Rope Site Manager Certified recommended
Rock Climbing - AMGA Top Rope Site Manager Certified recommended
Crevasse Rescue Techniques - Level I avalanche training recommended
Mountaineering - Level I avalanche training required
Skiing Alaska's Backcountry - Level II avalanche training required
Winter Camping Alaska - Level I avalanche training required
Backpacking - Level I avalanche training required

A potential TECH needs...

To possess a current Wilderness First Responder certification or department accepted equivalent if s/he will be working in a non-urban environment (i.e., two hours from definitive care).
A current first aid/CPR certification if s/he will be working in an urban environment.
To possess any other certifications identified by industry standards and the HPER Department Chair.
A minimum of three years experience as an active participant in the course activity.
To have been an active participant in the course activity within the past two years (from the start of the course contract).
Winter skills and winter camping experience if leading a non-urban overnight outing.

Position Details:

This position is located on the Goose Lake campus in Anchorage, Alaska. This is a part time position. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Temporary Salary Schedule, Grade 76.

This is a pooled position, which means that the position remains open over the entire academic year.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact TJ Miller, Associate Professor at tjmiller@alaska.edu.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.