Southern California Program Manager

The Program Manager (PM) of Staff Development and Course Delivery is a role model and mentor within the Outward Bound Joshua Tree community, providing daily leadership, administrative support, and management of the Joshua Tree basecamp and programming. Responsibilities include: course supervision; ensuring quality training and professional development for instructional staff; programming; community building; and some business management, all through an equity lens. This position reports to and works closely with the Southern California Program Director. This opportunity is perfect for the individual looking to work as part of a small but powerful team driving the operations of our growing Joshua Tree program!

Compensation & Schedule

This is an exempt position with a salary range of $3800-4300 per month. This is a seasonal position that aligns with the Southern California program scheduling. Annual, the Southern California program is expected to run from October - mid/late April. 

Benefits

• Room and board provided during the program season.
• OBCA offers comprehensive health insurance with a generous employer contribution, PTO, long-term disability and life insurance, Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account, Employee Assistance Plan, Accident Insurance, and 401(k) plan enrollment after 1 year from start date
• Opportunities for professional development
• ProDeal, an opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at a discounted price

Location

Position is located at the OBCA basecamp in the Joshua Tree area in California.

Who You Are

Outward Bound California does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here. If you have 75% of the following qualifications, we encourage you to submit an application.

Knowledge & Skills

• Passionate about Outward Bound California’s mission and programs
• Excellent leadership, organizational skills, and attention to detail
• Able to work both independently and as a team member with minimal supervision
• Possess a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors with ability to mentor staff in these topics
• Able to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Effective communicator, both written and verbal
• Able to give and receive positive, developmental, and corrective feedback
• Proficient with computer systems, primarily G Suite (GMail, Google Docs, Drive, and Calendar)
• Knowledgeable in backpacking and expeditionary travel in desert environments

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor degree and/or 3-4 years’ experience in the outdoor education/experiential learning field, or any similar combination of education and experience is required
• Outward Bound or other wilderness expeditionary experience (OB, NOLS multi-day course, or equivalent)

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Able to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including but not limited to backpacking and rock climbing
• Able to lift and move a minimum of 40 lbs
• Able to sit or stand at a desk for 60% of time or greater
• Able to demonstrate mental stamina, adaptability, and emotional maturity
• Able to maintain composure while exercising sound decision-making and risk assessment, even in persistent adverse conditions such as an unexpected schedule, program changes, long working hours, and uncertainty

Current Licenses & Certifications (Required by Start Date)

• Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and CA Epinephrine Card

Onboarding Requirements

• Willing to authorize a federal & Live Scan background check, MVR check, and provide current (within the last 4 years) negative TB screen or test results upon hire (cost of all screening paid for or reimbursed by OBCA)

Bonus if you 

• Have experience working at the Joshua Tree basecamp and course areas
• Are an experienced traditional rock climber, have your Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) or other certification through the AMGA, PCIA, or other reputable organization
• Have program and partnership development experience
• Have previous management experience

Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Collaborate as a member of the Southern California management team to determine and fulfill program needs, goals, and strategy
• Be a mentor and role model of best practices in the community and workplace at all times in both formal and informal capacities
• Uphold and follow all internal and partnering agency policies, and hold staff accountable for the same
• Supervise, mentor, and assist in the professional development of Course Directors, Site Managers, and Instructors; includes assessment of instructional staff capabilities to support staff development
• Assess instructional staff capabilities to support staff development
• Organize and/or conduct supervisory and coaching visits to field-operation sites as needed
• In coordination with other Southern California management team members, conduct both start of season and end of season interviews with staff
• Role model a commitment to equity work and ensure staff are viewing their work through an equity lens
• Plan and hold events for staff to share information and ideas with the Southern California management team, as well as organize informal events for staff
• Work with the Program Director and other departments in developing plans for local outreach opportunities and collaborative events with other organizations

Course Administration

• Guide, lead, and manage expedition courses through pre-course functions, implementation and debrief
• Serve as Course Director when applicable to meet the needs of the Southern California Program
• Coordinate and assist in the creation of educational and technical training, curriculum, and assessment. Serve as a trainer for the Joshua Tree Bridge Training, and other trainings as needed
• Ensure the timely and thorough completion of course paperwork
• Ensure delivery of Outward Bound curriculum on courses, and that our group partners’ learning outcomes are met on courses, through close coordination with Program Manager of Group Partner Collaboration and Curriculum Development, as well as instructional staff
• Serve as primary point of contact for expedition route plans and curriculum planning of individual courses
• Communicate with other outdoor organizations that operate within Joshua Tree National Park to ensure minimal to no overlap of organizations in course areas or course timing, and tracking areas of higher environmental impact in the Park
• Support the Logistics Coordinator(s) as needed during prep, course, and post
• Provide active leadership, training, mentoring and support for staff throughout course
• Intentionally incorporates elements of service on courses
• Hold responsibility for inventory, distribution, and maintenance of Field Technology (SAT phone, epis, walkies, course cameras, etc)

Safety & Risk Management

• Uphold Outward Bound’s zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect as protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority
• Participate in our incident command and on-call system. There are times where the PM will be the local incident commander and on-call. This may require after work hours and could happen during scheduled time off
• Mentor staff in Charter Operating Policies and Procedures, Emergency Response Plan, and other Standard Operating Procedures
• In coordination with other Southern California management team members, create the content and delivery methods for course safety briefings and support the dissemination of quarterly safety reports for all courses
• Support staff in incident analysis and entry in our database

Site Support

• Participate in basecamp set-up and take-down. Participate in daily community meetings and chores. Ensure that all facilities are kept at the highest possible condition
• In coordination with the Program team, supervise and manage staff housing, including orienting new and returning staff to basecamp expectations and upholding those expectations.
• Basic property maintenance, as experience allows

Outward Bound California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Outward Bound California also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.