Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs

Job DescriptionDepartment:Student Engagement & Leadership Development and Outdoor EducationPay Rate Type:SalaryEmployee Type:Job Summary:Colby is seeking an assistant director of outdoor programs to oversee and lead Colby’s co-curricular outdoor programs. The primary responsibility is execution of all aspects of Colby’s Outdoor Orientation Trips (COOT); a program occurring during Orientation that allows all incoming first-year students to engage in a multi-day overnight outdoor education experience. The assistant director advises and mentors the leaders of the Colby Outing Club, the Colby Mountaineering Club, the Ski and Snowboard Club, and other outdoor student clubs. The assistant director works collaboratively with student leaders to ensure all of Colby’s outdoor education programs are accessible and welcoming for all students, helping them to find a sense of place within the state of Maine. This position reports to the director of student engagement and leadership and is a member of the Office of the Dean of Students staff, within the Dean of the College division at Colby.Essential Functions To perform successfully in this position, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily as well as possess education/experience, employ the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed in representative fashion. Colby College actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned. Guide and mentor student leaders of Colby’s various outdoor clubs as they lead and teach their peers; contribute to their growth as leaders to support peer-led experiences. Supervise and collaborate with student leaders on a range of critical topics including Colby policies and resources, risk management, leadership, and building inclusive communities. Manage Colby’s gear inventory and rental processes and oversee student employees in the gear room. Organize and execute an annual Learn to Ski event for the entire Colby community. Collaborate with partners across campus (academic departments / classes, recreation, and other co-curricular departments) to provide accessible, safe outdoor programming. Facilitate skills development workshops and training sessions for student leaders including, but not limited to: Wilderness First Aid Review, leadership skills (communication, decision making, conflict resolution), sense of place, and risk management and emergency protocols. Train student employees in equitable hiring practices for participation in leader selection and leader training. Serve as on-call point person for all trip-related emergencies, during COOT and during the year; organize the emergency response team, assist with on-site evacuations or other urgent logistical support. Similarly, serve on Colby’s administrator on call weekly rotation. Maintain programmatic, operational, and equipment budgets. Manage and coordinate equipment purchases, use, repair, and replacement among all campus groups. Participate in major campus events, including student orientation, fall and spring concerns, senior week, baccalaureate, and commencement. Serve as a resource for individual students and student groups. Work as an integral member of the Dean of the College staff, and with all departments at the College. Duties specific to Colby Outdoor Orientation Trips (Coot): Manage a dedicated team of student employees (COOT Committee) to manage all logistics associated with COOT. Conduct site visits and maintain communications with vendors and hosts of COOT programs including lodging sites, contracted guides, etc. Makes and finalizes all travel plans, site reservations, and arrangements for rental vehicles, buses, and other forms of transportation. Further develop and implement assessment efforts of the COOT program. Oversee the selection process for more than 130 COOT leaders; design and execute COOT leader training. Respond to questions and concerns from incoming students and parents/guardians via phone, email and social media. Position Qualifications Minimum Qualifications: Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree required. Must have previously worked in higher education or with college-aged students in a residential setting. Three years of experience in outdoor recreation, education, or comparable field required. Licensure, Certification, Registration, or Other Requirements: WFR & CPR certification required. Preferred Qualifications or Skills: Experience and/or certification in a broad range of outdoor activities including, but not limited to: canoeing, kayaking, camping, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking/backpacking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing, and backcountry snowboard or alpine skiing. Significant technical experience (able to train student instructors) in three, or more, of the following areas: Rock Climbing, Canoeing, Backpacking, mountaineering, indoor climbing, whitewater kayaking, whitewater rafting, swift water rescue, sea kayaking, ropes course facilitation, Leave No Trace (NLT). Please include copies of your certifications and/or field logs with your application. Experience in teaching and instructing leadership skills, with demonstrated experience facilitating conversations that center on diversity, equity and inclusion. Highly creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to make critical decisions in the field under challenging conditions. Expertise in risk management strategies, assessment, and implementation. Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong attention to detail and logistics. Demonstrated experience in budget management, event and facilities management, program development and implementation. Demonstrated ability to create a positive, creative and inclusive culture among student cohorts, and enjoy working with students of all abilities and backgrounds. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, establish priorities, and work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community. Familiarity with Google Suite and basic social media platforms. Licensure, Certification, Registration, or Other Requirements: Registered Maine Guide Recreational License strongly preferred; start licensure within six (6) months of start date if not licensed. Physical/Mental Demands The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, an employee must be able to maintain appropriate confidentiality with regard to employee data, documents, issues, etc., and respect privacy needs of employees and past employees with regard to the same. The ability to comply with highly inflexible deadlines is required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position; there will be multiple occurrences of sudden, urgent task completion required. There may be occurrences of employees, past employees, members of the general public, and others who express opinions, may exhibit strong emotions, which will require the employee to interact professionally, diplomatically, and appropriately in such situations. While performing the essential duties of this position, an employee would frequently be required to move around the office space as well as within hallways, meeting rooms, and other parts of the campus facilities. There may be multiple/daily instances of prolonged personal computer use which would include keyboard and/or mouse usage as well as viewing a computer monitor. An employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds to perform essential position functions. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. The overall work environment requires the mental ability to shift focus quickly due to interruptions; an employee must be able to mentally track multiple projects and tasks as well. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, there may be unexpected instances of somewhat loud sounds. To Apply: Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website. Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application.

Location: Benton, ME, US

Posted Date: 3/31/2025