OPT Recreation Assistant Jobs
Recreation Assistant jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in kinesiology, sport management, recreation administration, or public health. Most roles are with parks departments, campus recreation centers, or community organizations, and standard OPT work authorization covers full-time and part-time positions equally.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Louisville, KY
Category: Staff Positions
Job Type: Full-time Exempt
Posted On: Mon Sep 14 2026
Job Description:
The Assistant Director of Campus Recreation provides leadership and operational oversight for campus recreation programs and facilities, including intramural sports, club sports, outdoor recreation, and facility operations. The position is responsible for program development, student staff supervision, facility scheduling, equipment management, assessment, and participant engagement. Working closely with the Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness, the Assistant Director creates inclusive and engaging recreational experiences that promote student involvement, well-being, leadership development, and community.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Intramural Sports
- Lead the planning, implementation, promotion, and assessment of a comprehensive intramural sports program.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate student officials and program staff.
- Develop league structures, tournaments, special events, and participation initiatives that foster student engagement and belonging.
Club Sports
- Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the Club Sports program.
- Advise club officers and student leaders.
- Manage club budgets, travel requests, risk management processes, and university policy compliance.
- Support leadership development and organizational growth for all club sports organizations.
Outdoor Recreation
- Coordinate trip planning, risk management, equipment inventory, and participant education.
Facility Operations
- Support the day-to-day operation of the campus recreation center and associated recreation spaces.
- Coordinate facility scheduling, reservations, and space utilization for recreation programs, athletics, student organizations, conferences, camps, and university events.
- Supervise facility student staff including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management.
- Oversee equipment maintenance, inventory, vendor coordination, and facility inspections.
- Ensure facilities operate in accordance with risk management standards and university policies.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree required, master's degree in sports and recreation, higher education and student affairs, exercise science, or related field preferred.
- At least one year of paraprofessional experience working with college students in campus recreation required, and supervisory experience preferred.
- Administrative and computer skills, web-based applications, and social media experience are core to this position.
- Attention to detail, strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills, and ability to multi-task are also valued.
- Some lifting is needed (weight does not typically exceed 50 pounds).
Location: Louisville, KY
Category: Staff Positions
Job Type: Full-time Exempt
Posted On: Mon Sep 14 2026
Job Description:
The Assistant Director of Campus Recreation provides leadership and operational oversight for campus recreation programs and facilities, including intramural sports, club sports, outdoor recreation, and facility operations. The position is responsible for program development, student staff supervision, facility scheduling, equipment management, assessment, and participant engagement. Working closely with the Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness, the Assistant Director creates inclusive and engaging recreational experiences that promote student involvement, well-being, leadership development, and community.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Intramural Sports
- Lead the planning, implementation, promotion, and assessment of a comprehensive intramural sports program.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate student officials and program staff.
- Develop league structures, tournaments, special events, and participation initiatives that foster student engagement and belonging.
Club Sports
- Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the Club Sports program.
- Advise club officers and student leaders.
- Manage club budgets, travel requests, risk management processes, and university policy compliance.
- Support leadership development and organizational growth for all club sports organizations.
Outdoor Recreation
- Coordinate trip planning, risk management, equipment inventory, and participant education.
Facility Operations
- Support the day-to-day operation of the campus recreation center and associated recreation spaces.
- Coordinate facility scheduling, reservations, and space utilization for recreation programs, athletics, student organizations, conferences, camps, and university events.
- Supervise facility student staff including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management.
- Oversee equipment maintenance, inventory, vendor coordination, and facility inspections.
- Ensure facilities operate in accordance with risk management standards and university policies.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree required, master's degree in sports and recreation, higher education and student affairs, exercise science, or related field preferred.
- At least one year of paraprofessional experience working with college students in campus recreation required, and supervisory experience preferred.
- Administrative and computer skills, web-based applications, and social media experience are core to this position.
- Attention to detail, strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills, and ability to multi-task are also valued.
- Some lifting is needed (weight does not typically exceed 50 pounds).
See all 47+ OPT Recreation Assistant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Recreation Assistant
Target employers with established OPT hiring
University recreation departments and large municipal parks agencies hire OPT students regularly. These organizations have HR teams familiar with work authorization paperwork, which makes the process smoother than approaching smaller private facilities for the first time.
Apply before your OPT start date
You can accept a job offer before your EAD card arrives, but you cannot start working until the card is in hand and your OPT start date has passed. Apply early so onboarding timelines align with your authorized work start date.
Tie your degree to the job description
OPT requires work to be directly related to your degree field. When applying, explicitly connect your kinesiology, recreation, or public health coursework to the role's responsibilities in your cover letter and resume to satisfy DSO and employer verification requirements.
Track your employment for SEVP reporting
You must report your Recreation Assistant position to your DSO within 10 days of starting. Keep records of your employer name, address, job title, and start date. Gaps in reporting can jeopardize your immigration status and future visa options.
Clarify full-time vs. part-time requirements with your DSO
Standard OPT requires at least 20 hours per week to count as valid employment. Some recreation roles are seasonal or hourly. Confirm your scheduled hours meet USCIS minimums before accepting a position to avoid falling out of status.
Use STEM OPT extension eligibility strategically
Most Recreation Assistant roles do not fall under STEM-designated degree programs, so the 24-month STEM extension typically does not apply. Plan your job search and visa transition timeline around the standard 12-month OPT window from the start.
Recreation Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Recreation Assistants?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your degree field. A Recreation Assistant position connects naturally to degrees in kinesiology, sport management, recreation administration, or public health. You'll need a valid EAD card before your first day, and you should confirm the connection with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Do Recreation Assistant employers typically sponsor visas after OPT ends?
Sponsorship varies significantly by employer type. Large university athletic departments and well-funded municipal parks agencies are more likely to consider H-1B visa sponsorship for full-time staff roles. Smaller community centers and nonprofits often lack the HR infrastructure for sponsorship. Browse Recreation Assistant roles on Migrate Mate to identify employers who have sponsored work visas before.
Does a Recreation Assistant job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Typically no. Recreation Assistant roles are not associated with STEM-designated degree programs under the DHS STEM list. If your degree is in a STEM field unrelated to recreation, the work authorization requirement still demands the job connect to your specific degree. Check with your DSO to confirm your degree's STEM designation status before assuming you qualify for the 24-month extension.
How many hours per week do I need to work to maintain valid OPT status?
USCIS requires OPT employment to be at least 20 hours per week to count as valid work authorization usage. Recreation Assistant positions are often part-time or seasonal, so verify your scheduled hours before accepting. Working fewer than 20 hours per week, or having gaps exceeding 90 cumulative days of unemployment, can result in a status violation.
What should I report to my DSO after starting a Recreation Assistant job?
You must report your employer name, work address, job title, and start date to your DSO within 10 days of beginning work. Your DSO updates this information in SEVIS, the federal student tracking system. Failing to report on time is a compliance violation even if your employment itself is fully authorized, so treat DSO reporting as a required first step, not an afterthought.