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 JobsEMPLOYMENT TERMS: 9-month, full-time position
PRIMARY DUTY: This Assistant Professor will teach undergraduate and graduate courses within the School of Health Science and Wellness. The teaching load will include courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the major of Recreation, Parks, Sport, & Tourism, and other health related disciplines, with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation courses. Specific teaching assignments will be determined based on the expertise of the candidate. The position also requires participation in student advisement, supervision of student interns, coordination of Therapeutic Recreation program activities, and involvement in graduate student research committees.
Candidates MUST be certified through NCTRC and continue certification during employment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
-
Teaching: Graduate and undergraduate courses in therapeutic recreation and other related areas within the School of Health Science and Wellness
-
Creative and Scholarly Efforts: Establish a line of creative and scholarly research, seek extramural funding, participate in knowledge generation and knowledge sharing via related peer, professional, and community opportunities
-
Professional Involvement: Active participation in related professional and community organizations, service on departmental, college, university committees
-
Student Support: Assist with student recruitment, student advisement, student development and student retention. Serving on student (graduate/undergraduate) research and thesis committees
-
Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
Education: Doctorate degree in therapeutic recreation, recreation therapy, recreation, or a closely related field; ABD may be considered with completion by the start date
Certification/License: Certification through NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Experience: University-level teaching experience; at least one-year of experience as a recreation therapist or in a closely related field
Skills: Ability to develop and deliver on-campus and online courses in therapeutic recreation and related areas; ability to communicate clearly and promptly with students and colleagues both verbally and in written form; ability to articulate to students the nature of the therapeutic recreation process and all related elements and functions; ability to effectively manage the multiple responsibilities of a faculty member (instructor, advisor, colleague); ability to conduct scholarly research that contributes to the professional body of knowledge
WORKING CONDITIONS: Typical office and classroom environment
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Graduate and undergraduate students involved in class or departmental projects and graduate and/or undergraduate research; possibly students employed within the department
EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Typical teaching tools in a classroom environment; Online learning platforms such as “Canvas”; Ability to utilize Microsoft Office software, document cameras, projectors, etc.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift up to 20 pounds
COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.
UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 9,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.
Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.
Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.
Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.
Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.
The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Until position is filled
DATE AVAILABLE: January 2027
TO APPLY: Follow the steps of the online application process. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1121 or email ewilmes@nwmissouri.edu if more information is needed regarding the process.
APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of application, professional vita/resume, names, addresses and telephone numbers of current references, copies of transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, and three current letters of recommendation
INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:
Dr. Rhonda Beemer
Chair of the School of Health Science and Wellness
Email: rbeemer@nwmissouri.edu
The Office of Human Resource prides itself in offering a full, competitive benefits package with providers, who we feel, will offer the best service possible to the employees. Full-time employees are offered Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-term Disability insurance options as well as retirement plans upon employment at the University. For more information on each of these topics, please contact the office of Human Resources at (660) 562-1127 or via email at hrwebpg@nwmissouri.edu.
EMPLOYMENT TERMS: 9-month, full-time position
PRIMARY DUTY: This Assistant Professor will teach undergraduate and graduate courses within the School of Health Science and Wellness. The teaching load will include courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the major of Recreation, Parks, Sport, & Tourism, and other health related disciplines, with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation courses. Specific teaching assignments will be determined based on the expertise of the candidate. The position also requires participation in student advisement, supervision of student interns, coordination of Therapeutic Recreation program activities, and involvement in graduate student research committees.
Candidates MUST be certified through NCTRC and continue certification during employment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
-
Teaching: Graduate and undergraduate courses in therapeutic recreation and other related areas within the School of Health Science and Wellness
-
Creative and Scholarly Efforts: Establish a line of creative and scholarly research, seek extramural funding, participate in knowledge generation and knowledge sharing via related peer, professional, and community opportunities
-
Professional Involvement: Active participation in related professional and community organizations, service on departmental, college, university committees
-
Student Support: Assist with student recruitment, student advisement, student development and student retention. Serving on student (graduate/undergraduate) research and thesis committees
-
Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
Education: Doctorate degree in therapeutic recreation, recreation therapy, recreation, or a closely related field; ABD may be considered with completion by the start date
Certification/License: Certification through NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Experience: University-level teaching experience; at least one-year of experience as a recreation therapist or in a closely related field
Skills: Ability to develop and deliver on-campus and online courses in therapeutic recreation and related areas; ability to communicate clearly and promptly with students and colleagues both verbally and in written form; ability to articulate to students the nature of the therapeutic recreation process and all related elements and functions; ability to effectively manage the multiple responsibilities of a faculty member (instructor, advisor, colleague); ability to conduct scholarly research that contributes to the professional body of knowledge
WORKING CONDITIONS: Typical office and classroom environment
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Graduate and undergraduate students involved in class or departmental projects and graduate and/or undergraduate research; possibly students employed within the department
EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Typical teaching tools in a classroom environment; Online learning platforms such as “Canvas”; Ability to utilize Microsoft Office software, document cameras, projectors, etc.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift up to 20 pounds
COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.
UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 9,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.
Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.
Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.
Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.
Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.
The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Until position is filled
DATE AVAILABLE: January 2027
TO APPLY: Follow the steps of the online application process. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1121 or email ewilmes@nwmissouri.edu if more information is needed regarding the process.
APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of application, professional vita/resume, names, addresses and telephone numbers of current references, copies of transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, and three current letters of recommendation
INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:
Dr. Rhonda Beemer
Chair of the School of Health Science and Wellness
Email: rbeemer@nwmissouri.edu
The Office of Human Resource prides itself in offering a full, competitive benefits package with providers, who we feel, will offer the best service possible to the employees. Full-time employees are offered Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-term Disability insurance options as well as retirement plans upon employment at the University. For more information on each of these topics, please contact the office of Human Resources at (660) 562-1127 or via email at hrwebpg@nwmissouri.edu.
See all 89+ OPT Recreation Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Recreation Assistant Jobs.
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.