Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Kinesiology Coordinator Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Kinesiology Coordinator Assistant supports academic programs, research projects, clinical labs, and outreach activities within a kinesiology, exercise science, or rehabilitation department. This role combines hands-on laboratory support (exercise testing, equipment calibration, participant instruction), administrative and program coordination (scheduling, recordkeeping, budget tracking), and student or participant engagement. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, safety-focused, and able to translate technical protocols into consistent operational processes while collaborating with faculty, students, clinical partners, and community participants.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Undergraduate Research Assistant in Kinesiology or Exercise Science
Fitness/Clinical Exercise Technician or Lab Assistant
Student Services or Academic Administrative Assistant in Health Sciences

Advancement To:

Kinesiology Program Coordinator
Research Coordinator / Clinical Research Coordinator
Laboratory Manager or Senior Exercise Physiologist

Lateral Moves:

Academic Advisor (Health Sciences)
Student Engagement or Outreach Coordinator
Clinical Operations Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate daily operations of kinesiology labs and clinical testing spaces, including opening/closing procedures, equipment setup, safety checks, and maintaining a clean, secure environment for research and teaching activities.
Administer submaximal and maximal exercise tests (e.g., VO2 max, lactate threshold, graded exercise testing) according to standardized protocols and under faculty supervision, ensuring participant safety and data integrity.
Perform routine calibration, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of physiological measurement devices (metabolic carts, cycle ergometers, treadmills, ECG machines, dynamometers) and coordinate repairs with vendors when necessary.
Recruit, screen, and schedule study participants or clinic clients; obtain informed consent, explain study procedures, and ensure adherence to IRB-approved protocols and HIPAA/privacy regulations.
Collect, process, and manage physiological, biomechanical, and survey data using electronic data capture tools (REDCap, Qualtrics) and laboratory software; maintain detailed, audit-ready records and participant logs.
Oversee inventory management for lab consumables and supplies, place purchase orders, monitor budgets, and reconcile minor budget expenditures in collaboration with faculty and departmental administrators.
Prepare, organize, and maintain educational and training materials for students, research assistants, and volunteers; deliver hands-on training for safe use of lab equipment and standardized data collection techniques.
Provide day-to-day administrative support for kinesiology faculty and research teams, including calendar management, meeting coordination, travel arrangements, and preparation of grant and IRB documentation.
Support faculty-led teaching labs by setting up demonstrations, supervising student practicals, grading lab reports, and offering one-on-one assistance to ensure student competency in lab protocols.
Implement and monitor safety protocols, emergency action plans, incident reporting, and infection control procedures; conduct periodic safety audits and facilitate corrective actions.
Coordinate community outreach and participant engagement activities (screening events, workshops, fitness assessments) to support program recruitment and public-facing initiatives.
Serve as primary contact for clinical partners, community organizations, and campus units regarding scheduling, referrals, and shared use of kinesiology resources.
Assist with data cleaning, basic statistical summaries, and visualization for progress reports, manuscripts, and grant proposals using Excel, SPSS, or R; prepare figures and tables under faculty guidance.
Maintain and update laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), equipment logs, and training certifications to ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
Support grant administration tasks including preparation of budgets, tracking expenditures, assisting with funding reports, and ensuring deliverables are met on schedule.
Supervise, mentor, and coordinate schedules for undergraduate research assistants, student workers, and hourly staff; conduct onboarding, training, and performance feedback.
Coordinate participant compensation and record-keeping for human subjects research (gift cards, stipends) in accordance with institutional policies.
Manage electronic health or participant records in clinical or research settings, ensuring accurate data entry and secure storage in institutional systems.
Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between kinesiology researchers, physical therapy, athletic training, and public health teams to enable translational research and integrated programming.
Assist in developing and piloting new lab protocols, measurement techniques, or educational modules; collect feasibility data and document lessons learned for continuous improvement.
Monitor and report on key performance indicators for lab operations and research projects (participant accrual, equipment uptime, budget status) to department leadership.
Coordinate scheduling and logistics for special events, symposia, and visiting scholars, including audiovisual setup, room reservations, and participant itineraries.
Provide front-line participant/customer service by responding to inquiries, triaging requests, and maintaining a professional, inclusive environment for all program stakeholders.
Support faculty in manuscript preparation and submission logistics (formatting, figure preparation, reference management, submission portals) as needed.

Secondary Functions

Assist in creating marketing and recruitment materials (flyers, email campaigns, social media posts) to boost participant enrollment and program visibility.
Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for faculty or departmental reports; generate clear summaries tailored to non-technical audiences.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by documenting workflow bottlenecks, suggesting process optimizations, and piloting operational changes.
Participate in departmental committees or working groups focused on space utilization, equipment acquisition, and instructional lab scheduling.
Coordinate student internship placements, practicum experiences, and community partnership logistics to expand hands-on learning opportunities.
Provide back-up coverage for related administrative roles (e.g., department front office, event coordination) during peak periods or staff absence.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Hands-on experience with exercise testing protocols (VO2 max, submax tests), metabolic carts, ergometers, and indirect calorimetry.
Competency in ECG application and monitoring, basic interpretation of rhythm strips, and recognition of common exercise-related cardiac events.
Certification in CPR/AED (BLS) required; advanced life support certification preferred or available.
Experience with electronic data capture platforms and laboratory databases (REDCap, Qualtrics, REDCap, or equivalent) and familiarity with secure data-handling procedures.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel advanced functions, Word, PowerPoint) and comfortable producing tables, charts, and reports for stakeholders.
Working knowledge of basic statistical tools and data cleaning workflows (Excel, SPSS, R, or Python for summary statistics and visualizations).
Familiarity with IRB processes, human subjects protections, and HIPAA-compliant practices for clinical or research data.
Experience with lab inventory management, purchase order processes, and basic budget tracking in an academic environment.
Practical skills in biomechanics data collection (motion capture basics, force plates, EMG) or willingness to be trained and certified.
Experience scheduling and coordinating multi-user lab calendars, participant bookings, and class/lab rotation schedules using campus or commercial scheduling platforms.

Soft Skills

Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with faculty, students, participants, and community partners.
High degree of attention to detail and commitment to data quality, reproducibility, and participant safety.
Customer-service orientation and cultural competence to work effectively with diverse populations, including clinical and community-based participants.
Team player with demonstrated ability to train, supervise, and motivate student staff and volunteers.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to anticipate operational challenges and implement pragmatic solutions.
Adaptability and flexibility to support fluctuating schedules, evening/weekend programming, and fast-paced research timelines.
Professionalism and discretion in handling confidential participant and research information.
Initiative and self-direction to take ownership of projects and follow through to completion with minimal supervision.
Collaborative mindset to work across disciplines (athletic training, PT, public health) and contribute to integrated program outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Physical Education, Public Health, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Rehabilitation Sciences, or related advanced degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Kinesiology / Exercise Science
Exercise Physiology / Clinical Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics / Movement Science
Public Health / Health Promotion
Rehabilitation Sciences / Physical Therapy Assistant programs

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–3 years of hands-on experience in an exercise physiology lab, clinical exercise testing environment, university kinesiology program, or related setting.

Preferred:

2–5 years of progressively responsible experience coordinating labs, managing human subjects research logistics, or supporting community health/exercise programs; prior supervisory experience with student staff is a plus.

If you’d like, I can tailor this job description to a specific institution type (university, hospital, private clinic) or produce a shorter job posting optimized for ATS and candidate outreach.