Wyoming Catholic University - Assistant Director for the Outdoor Leadership Program
Description
This position reports to the Director of the Outdoor Leadership Program/Assistant Professor of Leadership and Outdoor Education. This position provides professional leadership and vision for the academic and non-academic outdoor program through: administrative support, risk management oversight, staff management, outdoor leader training, trip planning, class and field instruction, and more for the college’s comprehensive outdoor program.
About the Program:
Wyoming Catholic College is a small Great Books Liberal Arts college located in Lander, Wyoming. Every student at the college follows a specific curriculum which includes 11 required credits in the Outdoor Leadership Program which take place during all four years of a student’s education. WCC’s unique outdoor program includes the following requirement for every student at the college: a 21-day backpacking trip prior to their Freshman fall semester, a 7-day winter expedition prior to their Freshman spring semester, 2 credits of horsemanship, a 1 credit class-based and field-based outdoor leadership course both semesters of their sophomore, junior and senior year (2 credits per year for a total of 6 credits) which all require a week-long outdoor trip (all sophomores, juniors and seniors are required to do 2 one week-long trip every year though many do 1 or 2 extra trips each year by choice). The college runs over 30 week-long trips each year throughout Wyoming and its adjacent states involving a wide variety of outdoor trips including backpacking, canyoneering, mountaineering, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and kayaking, winter backpacking, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, ice climbing, fishing and more. The ultimate purpose of these trips is for students to experience Christ through his 1st book “nature”, deepen students’ sense of wonder and imagination, develop and improve students’ leadership, character, virtues and other lifelong skills. While teaching technical skills is a key element of the program the college more importantly uses intentionally designed reflections on each trip and after each trip returns to transfer learning from the trip to one’s future life. This use of Experiential Education is foundational to the program as is the key to reaching the program’s goals. This position is the assistant director for this program and includes administrative duties, field and class instructional duties, management of staff, and more. In addition, this position is in charge of running a non-academic outdoor recreation program throughout the year providing weekday and weekend trips, training outdoor leaders, managing staff, budgets, permits, and more. Additional information about the college and the outdoor program structure and its goals can be seen on the college’s website:
Specific responsibilities include:
-Manage and provide mentorship, staff training and evaluation for a staff of 6-8 student employees maintaining the outdoor program gear rental shop, preparing gear for all of the college’s trips, their food needs and more. This includes organizing, repairing, purchasing and renting a large amount of equipment and food inventory.
-Instruct and assist for various field-based and classroom-based classes; including required classes taught to the entire student body, field-based and classroom-based classes specifically for the college’s outdoor leaders, and monthly WFR scenarios.
-Assist in creating and planning academic week-long field based courses, this includes detailed route planning with the student leaders, trip briefings and post trip debriefing, providing specific training for the trip leaders and meeting with all the trip participants for a final briefing before each trip (this includes over 30 week-long trips per year).
-Instruct various academic week-long field-based courses in a variety of outdoor skill disciplines (4-5 one week-long trips each year and 2 two week-long trips per year).
-Manage and maintain numerous permits already acquired by the college and work on establishing new permits. The college runs over 5,000 user days every year.
-Planning and organizing non-academic weekend and weekday outdoor recreation activities and adventure trips and events throughout the year.
-Direct and continue to develop a number of summer programs including outdoor activities and extended trips as well as on-campus programming. This includes training and managing the outdoor leaders/staff.
-Manage a budget and submit timely paperwork for the gear shop, outdoor academic and non-academic trips, summer programming and more.
-Sit on the risk management committee and take an active role in the continued development of the outdoor as well as on-campus risk management planning and policies.
-Perform a number of administrative duties and work directly with the director of the program and administrative staff on budgeting, scheduling, logistics, programming, paperwork and more.
-Evening, weekend work and extensive field time is required.
Candidates must have, as a minimum:
-Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Outdoor Education, Leadership, or related field, a graduate degree is preferred.
-2 years of experience managing and/or administering collegiate/community/commercial outdoor recreation programs or equivalent. This includes managing, purchasing, and renting gear, gear maintenance and repair, planning and packing backcountry food rations and more.
-Current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification, ability to teach and run WFR scenarios and teach WFA and WFR is preferred.
-Extensive experience and demonstrated ability to lead and teach various outdoor adventure courses including at least 5 or more of the following (backpacking, canyoneering, mountaineering, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and kayaking, winter backpacking, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, ice climbing, fishing), more than 5 is preferred.
-Experience training trip leaders in the previously mentioned outdoor activities, and a working knowledge of wilderness safety and risk management standards in those activities.
-Experience in planning and organizing a variety of different outdoor trips previously mentioned. This includes route plans, technical knowledge of the route, emergency and evacuation routes/plans, choosing and finding qualified leaders/instructors and more.
-Experience acquiring and maintaining permits with state and federal land and river management agencies.
-Experience supervising, mentoring and training staff.
-Logistic and budgeting and computing experience.
-Flexible, creative, and a problem solver. This program is unlike most outdoor programs and needs someone that can not only do a variety of responsibilities but adapt to the unique program and the college’s goals for the program. It is essential that this person is creative with time management, budgeting, gear acquisition, adapting to changes and be excellent at working with a team and solving problems.
-While this person does not have to have personal religious beliefs consistent with the college, he or she does need to make a commitment not to teach anything contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Preferred:
-Experience with programs similar to NOLS, Outward Bound, or reputable outdoor collegiate/community/commercial programs.
-Familiarity with AEE accreditation standards and its programming.
-Outdoor Certifications such as AMGA SPI instructor, ACA Swiftwater Rescue training, Avalanche level 1/2 training, Instructor Certifications, WFR instructor, etc.
-Experience with various trip and route opportunities in Wyoming and its adjacent states.
-Ability to lead a variety of outdoor trips with specific skill sets but also manage and plan many of the types of trips offered at the college.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Candidates must apply for this position by emailing April Pendleton at Attach a letter of application, current résumé, any applicable river or climbing log/backcountry log, copies of certifications, and the names and current phone numbers of three professional references (one must be, or have been, an immediate workplace supervisor).
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
For best consideration, August 25th, 2017. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
START DATE:
This year round position would ideally start between September 1-30, 2017.
COMPENSATION:
Commensurate with education and experience, the annual salary range is between $30,000 - $45,000 with paid vacation, sick leave and paid holidays. The position includes employer paid portion of medical and dental insurance for employee and dependents, as well as retirement plan.
Job Type
Full-Time
Education Level Required
Bachelors
Location City
Lander, WY 82520, United states
Contact Person
Tom Zimmer
Contact Email
tzimmer@wyomingcatholiccollege
Contact Phone
719-648-1574
How to Apply
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
For best consideration, August 25th, 2017. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email or call the director of the Outdoor Leadership Program:
Tom Zimmer at , 719-648-1574