Day Program Specialist - Site Manager

About Us

At Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School (CBOBS), we believe every young person is capable of more than they know. Through immersive outdoor experiences, we help youth develop the courage, character, and leadership to thrive in school, in their communities, and for life.

Located in Baltimore’s Leakin Park and expanding into Washington, DC, we serve thousands of students each year of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic status by facilitating powerful learning moments in nature. As part of the Outward Bound USA network, we offer transformative experiences through backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, Challenge Course, and team-building that center on social-emotional learning and equity-driven education.

For more information, please visit: www.outwardboundchesapeake.org.

About One-Day Programs

One-Day Programs at Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School are 4-6 hour events that use teambuilding exercises to deliver Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) outcomes based on Outward Bound’s Domains of Thriving (DoT) model. One-Day Programs are a flexible framework that can meet the needs of a wide variety of partners, including public, private and parochial schools for grades 5-12, colleges, educators, government entities, private businesses, non-profits, and many other community-based and youth-serving organizations. The success of One-Day programs begins with intentional curriculum planning and design before the program starts, and continues with quality facilitation and participant management throughout the day.

Position Summary

As a Day Program Specialist – Site Manager, your primary responsibility is ensuring the overall safety of participants and Staff using high ropes climbing elements and other technical equipment during a One-Day Program. A Site Manager achieves this goal through performing pre-use inspections of all high elements, remaining on-call via radio for assistance/coaching/rescues during programs, directly observing Staff on climbs to develop their skills, and having a thorough understanding of technical systems and local/national policies. 

In addition to working programs as a Site Manager, a Day Program Specialist – Site Manager is also expected to facilitate programs for both youth and adults, depending on the schedule and programmatic needs. 

When not directly serving programs, a Day Program Specialist – Site Manager works with the Day Program Team to develop curriculum (both on the ground and at-height), maintain our grounds with basic landscaping, inspect technical gear, identify developmental needs for Staff, and other duties that support the One-Day Programs offering.

Schedule 

Day Program Specialists are expected to work 5 days a week from March through November, typically Monay to Friday with some weekend and holiday work. Day Program Specialists may be given a weekday off on the week before or after a weekend program to support work-life balance and stay on target for 175 days worked over 9 months. The target workday count of 175 reflects a typical schedule of 5 workdays a week with 10 weekdays able to be requested off during the 9-month season.  

On program days (Tuesday – Friday, some weekends), a Day Program Specialist will typically work from 7:30 AM until 4:00/5:00 PM. Depending on the length of the program, their departure time may be earlier. On office days (most Mondays, weekdays without a program), a Day Program Specialist will typically work from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. .

Salary 

The salary for this position is $32,200 with an opportunity for promotion to Lead 3 ($38,765) upon completion of the first year in the role. A candidate with a valid ACCT International Level 2 Practitioner Certification may be eligible for the Lead 3 salary upon hire. 

This salary is paid over 12- months, with paychecks in December through February adjusted to reflect the total number of days worked (target workdays = 175). 

Benefits 

• Room and basic Board, if you elect to live in CBOBS’ staff house.
• Employer contribution of 70% for Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance through CareFirst BlueChoice for the employee and their children, if applicable.
• Seven (7) days of Sick & Safe Leave. 
• Up to eight (8) weeks of paid Family/Medical leave.
• 401(k) with a match. Employees are eligible for participation after 1 year of employment. The current match is 3% of the employee's salary.
• Long-term disability, short-term disability, AD&D insurance, and a $25,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee.
• Pre-tax Commuter/Transit Benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee-paid Supplemental Insurance.
• Pro Deals: Discounts from outdoor industry vendors for outdoor professionals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Staff Training and Development

• Assist in leading formal classroom training for program Staff.
• Plan, prepare, and lead professional development sessions for program Staff during Day Program Prep.
• Coach and mentor Staff in all aspects of facilitation and One-Day Programs, including student management, reaching desired outcomes, learning new activities, question writing, time management, etc.
• Assess and track Staff performance in curriculum creation, facilitation, and program logistics. Communicate growth, trends, issues, and learning opportunities to the Program Admin team.

Program Delivery

• Prepare for and lead the curriculum writing process in Day Program Prep, supporting Staff in creating and delivering high quality, outcome-based programming.
• Oversee the logistics of One-Day Programs, including program set-up, breakdown, debrief, and participant attendance.
• Support program Staff to facilitate effectively in a dynamic program environment.
• Positively represent CBOBS to participants and external partners by promoting the impact of Outward Bound programming.
• Model a strong work ethic; promote a culture of feedback, collaboration, and growth; and instill a culture dedicated to mission delivery and service in the program Staff.
• Facilitate One-Day Programs with youth and/or adult participants.

Safety

• Understand, follow, and monitor all Outward Bound Field and Charter Operating Policies and Procedures and ACCT International Safety Standards.
• In case of emergency, communicate with Staff and participants to ensure their safety and escalate the issue according to the Emergency Response Plan.
• Act as an escalation point for behavioral issues and work with Support Teachers to ensure a physically and emotionally safe program.
• Model excellence in safety and support all program Staff in creating a safe programming environment.
• Document and report incidents in the Outward Bound Incident Reporting database

Program Development

• Assist the Day Program Admin team in growing the scope and impact of One-Day Programs through curriculum development and other medium- to long-term projects.

Equipment and Grounds Management

• Perform basic landscaping duties to ensure a safe and professional environment for programming.
• Assist with organizing, ordering, and repairing non-technical facilitation equipment.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

This job operates in a professional office environment, as well as outdoors and in schools or other public spaces. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, as well as technical climbing equipment such as ropes, carabiners, harnesses, and static safety tethers.

• Expertise in creating, modifying, and delivering outcome-based curriculum for youth and adult participants.
• Strong mentorship skills. Able to develop new Staff, accurately assess Staff, and support conflict resolution as needed.
• Strong and effective communicator, both written and oral. Ability to give and receive both positive and constructive feedback.
• Ability to excel under pressure and demonstrate emotional regulation, good judgment, and balanced decision-making in stressful situations.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Experience teaching and/or training in a group setting and knowledge of experiential learning theory.
• Experience working with a range of backgrounds and ages as colleagues, clients, and/or participants.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Able to learn and adhere to Outward Bound Field Policies and Procedures, Emergency Response Plans, and Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) International standards.
• Proficient with (or able to learn) Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, and other technologies.
• Knowledge of Outward Bound philosophy, history, and CBOBS programming preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Must be 21 years or older and able to pass a State and Federal Criminal Background Check.
• Certified in Basic First Aid and CPR, or able to obtain certification
• Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid certification (or similar training) is a plus.
• Ability to drive 15-passenger vans with and without trailers preferred. If able to drive for CBOBS, applicant must complete a motor vehicle record check.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

A large part of the day-to-day programming involves working outside in a variety of weather conditions including heat, cold, direct sunlight, rain, wind, and more. Additionally, the Program Supervisor must be able and comfortable climbing, up to 40’ off the ground with personal protective equipment, ladders, staples, poles, climbing wall holds, and traversing swinging/ swaying cables and wooden components.

A Day Program Specialist – Program Supervisor will usually be outside directly working programs. One-Day Programs are “rain or shine”, so supporting programs requires...

• Able to work outdoors regardless of weather and season.
• Able to lift and transport 30-50 lbs. several times a day.
• Be sufficiently fit to participate in all required activities, including standing and moving along cables on high ropes elements.
• Able to maintain energy, strength, and focus to assist students and staff with physical and emotional challenges.
• Sit/stand/walk for extended periods of time.
• Able to observe Staff and participant behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.
• Visual, auditory, and physical ability to identify and respond to hazards related to the activity. Possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of students when necessary.
• Work occasionally in a high stress work environment.
• Operate office equipment to include but not limited to computer, printer/copier, and other office equipment.

Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at CBOBS

Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School serves students across the DMV - Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and communities throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia - and welcomes young people from around the world in the summer. We believe every student deserves access to safe, challenging, and joyful outdoor learning close to home.

We’re building a team that reflects the populations of the communities we serve. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, including multilingual staff and educators with deep ties to Baltimore and D.C. communities. If you share our commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging - and to helping students grow courage, confidence, and empathy - we’d love to hear from you.

ADA and Reasonable Accommodation

CBOBS provides equal employment opportunity and will consider reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants and employees. If you need an accommodation for the application or interview process, or to perform the essential duties of this role, please contact [email protected]. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis consistent with the ADA and applicable law.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

To perform this job successfully, the employee(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at-will relationship.