Manager—Outdoor Pursuits

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

Position Available:	Year Round
Hourly Rate or Pay Range:	Commensurate with experience
Application Deadline:	Position open until filled.

With responsibilities similar to an assistant director in many outdoor recreation programs, the manager of Outdoor Pursuits at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute reports to the Institute’s executive director and is responsible for leading a collaborative professional team that is responsible for the strategic development, fiscal and risk management, and successful daily operation of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute’s Outdoor Pursuits program at Northland College.

The manager of Outdoor Pursuits represents the program with partners and stakeholders both internal and external to the College and provides direct leadership for (1) program visioning and strategic planning; (2) budget projection and tracking; (3) risk management planning, implementation, and documentation; (4) participation and outcome tracking and reporting; (5) personnel hiring, training, development and management; and (6) program and service area marketing.

Additionally, the manager of Outdoor Pursuits will (1) supervise, mentor and support the coordinator of Outdoor Pursuits in the management of day-to-day operations of the Institute’s Logistical Support Center, Nordic Ski Center, and campus Nordic ski trails; (2) supervise, mentor, and support the outings and trips fellow in the oversight and leadership of the Institute’s Outings and Trips Program and the coordination of the Outdoor Pursuits Apprenticeship Program; and (3) collaborate with the Outdoor Pursuits coordinator in the supervision, mentorship, and support of the Institute’s Outdoor Pursuits services fellow in the oversight of service area operations, including the Outpost rental center, Nordic Ski Center, and campus bouldering wall. The manager of Outdoor Pursuits may also have opportunities to instruct one-credit-hour introductory outdoor technical skills courses for the Northland College outdoor education academic program.

This position requires independent work on assignments, significant independent decision making, and self-motivated direction setting. Completion of tasks without consistent direct supervision is required. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication (oral and written) skills are essential. Must be able to manage multiple priorities to meet due dates. Attention to detail and good judgment are vital attributes.

Responsibilities and Qualifications

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

Lead the strategic development and day-to-day operations of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute’s Outdoor Pursuits program:
- Provide overall direction and supervision of the Outdoor Pursuits program to include program, policy, and procedure development; inventory and budget management; and risk management based on industry standards and best practices
- Represent Outdoor Pursuits to colleagues, partners, and other stakeholders both internal and external to the College to promote efficiency and effectiveness in operational support of the College and in pursuit of external funding opportunities
- In conjunction with Northland College’s marketing and communications team, coordinate the development and implementation of a robust marketing plan for Outdoor Pursuits offerings through a variety of strategies
- Develop and implement program outcome assessment strategies and report program outcome findings to the executive director of the Institute, broader campus community, and profession
Lead the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute’s Outdoor Pursuits Senior Administrative Team (including, but not limited to):
- Coordinate biweekly Outdoor Pursuits administrators’ meetings
- Oversee the planning and implementation of monthly Outdoor Pursuits staff in-services
  - Work to ensure a genuine, team-oriented community environment within Outdoor Pursuits
- Provide leadership to the occasional wilderness-based trips, potentially lasting for multiple days
- Continue professional development through involvement in professional organizations and participating in regular continuing education
- Potentially instruct skills courses in the College’s outdoor education academic program
Supervise and support the Outdoor Pursuits coordinator (including, but not limited to):
- Ensure coordinator has training, resources, and support necessary to carry out the day-to-day operations of four critical areas of program function and operation:
  - Logistical Support Center
  - Nordic Ski Center
  - Campus Nordic ski trails
  - Wilderness medicine course offerings
Supervise and support the outings and trips fellow (including, but not limited to):
- Hire, train, and mentor the Outdoor Pursuits outings and trips fellow
- Support the fellow in overall management of the Outings and Trips Program:
  - Supervision and mentoring of up to two student co-managers of outings and trips
  - Planning and implementing high-quality outdoor skill and leadership development training experiences
  - Providing field leaders with high-quality and consistent logistical and managerial support
  - Providing field leaders with trip planning guidance as well as timely and effective post-trip feedback
- Support the fellow in the coordination and implementation of the Outdoor Pursuits Apprenticeship Program:
  - Prepare student staff to serve as role models and mentors to each apprentice cohort
  - Recruit and select up to four first- or second-year student apprentices for each cohort
  - Coordinate apprentice schedules for Outdoor Pursuits program and service area rotations
  - Curate meaningful training and professional development experiences, as well as effective debrief opportunities, which may help prepare apprentices to potentially serve as highly-effective future Outdoor Pursuits student employees
In tandem with the Outdoor Pursuits coordinator, supervise and support the Outdoor Pursuits services fellow (including, but not limited to):
- Hire, train, and mentor the Outdoor Pursuits services fellow
- Support the fellow in overall management of day-to-day operations and student supervision of the:
  - Outpost, Adventure Resource Center, and outdoor clothing closet program
  - Northland College Bouldering Wall
  - Nordic Ski Center (with support of the Outdoor Pursuits coordinator)
- Collaborate on supporting the apprentices’ experience at each center and overall professional development

Time Commitment

Regularly scheduled office hours, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, and occasional evenings and weekends as needed
Possibility for extended campus breaks for field instruction as needed

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in related field
Minimum of five years of administrative experience with collegiate outdoor recreation programming including climbing gym operation, guide training, and trip planning, or similar experience
Knowledge of basic safety and risk management practices and industry standards as they relate to adventure/outdoor recreation as demonstrated through past program management
Demonstrated practical experience in leading group experiential learning-based outdoor trips varying from one to eight days in length
Demonstrated technical skill proficiency leading at least three outdoor pursuits (e.g. backpacking, sea kayaking, flatwater canoeing, white water canoeing, white water kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, rock climbing, ice climbing, fly-fishing) and ability to train novice trip leaders in the facilitation of such activities following industry best practices
Current Wilderness First Responder certification.

Preferred Qualifications

Masters’ degree in related field
Current certification through at least one nationally recognized association (American Mountain Guides Association, Professional Climbing Instructors Association, American Canoe Association, Leave No Trace, Wilderness Education Association, etc.)
Proficiency with basic professional productivity applications:
- Microsoft Suite (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
- Microsoft Teams
- Adobe Creative Cloud applications (e.g. InDesign, Acrobat DC, Illustrator, Photoshop)
- Communication and task management applications (e.g. Slack, Asana)
- Online graphic design platforms (e.g. Canva)

Department Details

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

How to Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for at least three professional references.

Position open until filled. Apply Online

Contact: Office of Human Resources humanresources@northland.edu