Active Southern West Virginia Kids Run Club Program
The Active SWV Kids Run Program seeks to improve the health outcomes of southern West Virginian youth by empowering them with the opportunities, skills, and knowledge to be physically active. The central goal of the Active SWV Kids Run Club Program is to instill healthy habits in our area’s youth and to get them excited about running and physical activity. Active SWV believes that all West Virginian youth deserve to live happy, healthy long lives and they are the key to the future of both the region and the nation. By transforming West Virginia into a more physically active, healthier community, we improve individual’s lives —reversing the alarming rates of heart disease, diabetes and shortened life expectancy that our state faces.
The Active Southern WV Kids Run Club program began in 2015 with one school, Valley Elementary School. This program began with a strong model from Sport Backers Active RVA Kids Run program by referencing their manual and consulting with their staff. The program has grown to 21 schools throughout Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, and Summers Counties and the manual has grown as well. This is half of the region’s elementary schools. The goal of the program is to reach every elementary school in our 4-county area. To this point, the program has a strong focus on volunteer coach recruitment, safe venues for the run club practices, and invitations for the families to participate.
Position Description
The expectations of a full time Kids Run Club Director would be to strengthen the volunteer run club coach’s skills, knowledge base, and resources. This coach support will provide an elevated level of physical activity education for Kids Run Club participants. It is the mission of the program to foster a healthier, stronger next generation in the workforce in southern West Virginia.
Career and Education Requirements
The Kids Run Club Director must have knowledge in group exercise, previous experience in a school setting and prior leadership experience (preferably, the implementation of nutrition or athletics programs), and management skills. Undergraduate education in fields such as exercise science, medicine, kinesiology (sports medicine), nutrition, and other health studies topics is preferred. Additional training or degrees in education and communication may also benefit a candidate aspiring to attain this position.
Additional Skills
The Kids Run Club Director will need to stay in constant communication with volunteer coaches through all avenues; phone calls, texts, emails, social media, and attending school meeting such as Parent Teacher Conferences, Wellness Committee meetings, and staff training. It will be beneficial to the participants in the program to utilize community resources in removing barriers to participation such as; transportation, shoes, attire, snacks, hydration, and social services.
Duties Include
- Facilitating fall and spring semester Kids Run Clubs with existing Kids Run Clubs
- Include the principals and county superintendents on all program updates
- Safety and risk management of each facility
- Tracking all participation
- Measuring behavior and health outcomes
- Storytelling
- Recruiting new schools and new coaches
- Develop winter and summer Kids Run Club programming
- Engaging families into the Kids Run Clubs
Qualifications
- Bachelors or related experience
- Knowledge of WV school policies
- Knowledge of national kids run club programs
- Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to maintain confidential documents and information
- Ability to function within all levels of organization and at various locations
Essential Job Functions
- Report to work promptly when scheduled
- Be able to work under supervision and accept feedback
- Relate effectively and work respectfully with diverse work groups
- Ability to consistently perform well during times of increased work load
- Set and meet deadlines
- Ability to travel as needed to other locations
Specific Knowledge and Skills
- Grant writing and reporting
- Participation tracking
- Behavior and health outcome measures
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Understanding of relevant federal and state laws
- Excellent consultative skills to shape solutions
- Negotiation skills to work with vendor partners
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with audiences at all levels in the organization
Contracts and Policies
- Two-year minimum employment contract
- Agree to the Active Southern WV discrimination policy
- Agree to the Active Southern WV non-compete policy
Compensation and Benefits
- Compensation will be based on the applicant’s skills and experience
- Mileage reimbursement
- 10 paid vacation days, paid state holidays, 10 paid sick/well days
- Allowance for health insurance and investment
Additional Resources to Review
- The Kids Run Club web page
- The Active SWV Kids Run Club manual
- The Active SWV Kids Run Club 2017 Report (available upon request)
- The other programs within Active SWV; Bike/Walk, Workplace Wellness, Community Captains, Signature Events
