Rigger

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Job Category:
University Staff

Employment Type:
Regular

Job Profile:
Rigger Boatman

Job Summary:

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison dedicates itself to the mission of providing athletic opportunities to a wide range of students in an environment in which all student-athletes can achieve their academic and competitive goals. The Division strives to provide equitable opportunities for all student-athletes and fosters the principles of sportsmanship, respect and fair play on the field of play. The Division sponsors teams in 23 sports competing under the regulatory guidelines established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Big Ten Conference and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

UW-Madison is located in the heart of Madison which is the state capital and the state's second largest city. Madison has a solid and long-standing national reputation as a vibrant and thriving city.

Job Responsibilities:

Provide equipment and operations service and support associated with Division I rowing teams:

Equipment Setup:

• Assemble, and attach riggers to rowing shells according to precise technical measurements tailored to specific boat setups.
• Position and adjust oarlocks, foot stretchers, shoes, and tracks to meet individual athlete proportions, weight classes, and rowing styles.
• Work closely with the coaching staff to implement rigging adjustments optimized for varying water conditions and race strategies.

Maintenance and Repairs:

• Perform repairs on carbon fiber, fiberglass, and composite rowing shells, oars, and components.
• Conduct routine inspections of all hardware, steering mechanisms, fin/skeg assemblies, and moving parts to minimize equipment failure during training.

Launch and Facility Management

• Maintain, service, and winterize outboard motors and hulls for all coaching launches.
• Ensure all towing vehicles and trailers are properly maintained and in safe working order.
• Oversee the general maintenance of the boathouse facility, including athlete training equipment, race course and buoy systems, dock systems, boat racks, work bays, and tool storage.

Safety Checks:

• Ensure all equipment is secure and safe before launching.
• Identify potential issues that might affect boat stability or athlete safety.

Inventory Management:

• Keep track of equipment inventory.
• Order or request new parts as necessary.

Transportation and Travel to Competitions and Trainings:

• Plans, prepares and executes the transport of shells, trailers, and other equipment

Supervision of student staff

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Supervises part-time and student staff

• Supervises and instructs athletes regarding rigging and the care and handling of rowing equipment

• Collaborates with coaching staff to ensure that all equipment is properly stored

• Oversees, repairs, and maintains all equipment

• Responsible for installation of design improvements and equipment within the boathouse and auxiliary training locations

• Assist with water safety issues during practices and collaborates with facilities staff to ensure security, operation, and maintenance of the boathouse

• Plans, prepares, and executes travel for team's equipment

Department:

Wisconsin Athletics, Men's Rowing & Women's Rowing

Compensation:

This minimum starting rate is $25/hour. Employees in this position can also expect to receive benefits such as:
- Generous vacation, holidays, and other paid time off;
- Competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits;
- Badger apparel & season tickets for football, men's basketball and men's hockey, and/or the varsity sports pass.

More Benefits information can be found here.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Rowing Equipment - understanding of boat construction, types of riggers, oarlocks and related rowing hardware
• Mechanical Skills - ability to use tools for assembly, adjustment, and repair work
• Attention to detail - precision is critical as small adjustments affect boat balance and performance
• Experience with Rowing - practical experience as a rower or work with rowing teams
• Physical Fitness - ability to lift and handle boats and equipment safely
• Problem-Solving Ability - quickly diagnose and fix equipment issues
• Communication Skills - demonstrated ability to communicate with student-athletes, coaches and vendors
• Ability to work early mornings and weekends including travel to away competitions and/or trainings tied to typical Division I collegiate rowing season.

Education:

Bachelor's degree preferred

How to Apply:

For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.

To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now . You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload all required documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area.

Upload required documents:

• A cover letter detailing how your qualifications and experiences align with the responsibilities of the position.
• Resume

Please note that reference checks will be conducted for finalists. Applicants selected to proceed in the selection process will be notified directly. All applicants will receive notification once a final selection has been made and the search is complete.

Conditions of Appointment: This is a 100% University Staff appointment. Salary will be assigned within the appropriate range, commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience. An excellent benefits package is also included. Successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Kayla Weisensel at View email address on click.appcast.io

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.


Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.


The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).


The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.