Organizational Overview

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a non-profit experiential-based education organization that emphasizes personal growth through challenge and adventure.  For over 60 years our wilderness courses have focused on inspiring responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Colorado Outward Bound School celebrates diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nation origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is based on qualifications and business needs.

Position Summary

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) Director of Programs and Safety holds responsibility for ensuring the successful delivery of safe, high-quality field experiences for our students and staff. This position oversees programming at basecamps in Colorado and Utah and all remote sites.   

The Director of Safety and Programs is responsible for all aspects of COBS programming, including safety; management of program staff; and program development, curriculum, delivery, quality control, and evaluation. The position is also responsible for financial planning and budgetary oversight at the program level. The Director of Programs and Safety serves as a member of the COBS Leadership team and leads the Operations team.    

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Collaboration 

• Collaborates as a member of the COBS Senior Leadership team to determine and fulfill school needs, goals, and directional strategy to achieve the COBS mission of changing lives through challenge and discovery. 
• Leads the school in ensuring a culture of safety and risk management in all facets of our work.  
• Helps drive organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across COBS and in all areas of programming.  
• Leads all programming strategies and implementations.
• Communicates with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Safety Committee to identify, report and problem solve on areas of emerging risk.
• Serves as primary staff lead to COBS Board Safety Committee (BSC) and Education Committee; participates in all Board of Directors meetings and provides briefings to Board on safety and programs.
• Oversees program functions and develops cross-department alignment, including course schedule development, course quality, facility development, and financial planning with an emphasis on simplifying operations and increasing efficiency.   
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates COBS’s Program Directors, ensuring they and their teams are delivering high quality, safe programs to a diverse group of students throughout Colorado and Utah.   
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates COBS’s Safety and Training Manager, Curriculum Manager, and Staffing Manager, ensuring they are meeting strategic goals and supporting all programming as necessary. 
• Ensures the COBS performance management process occurs throughout all programming and is directly responsible for the performance management of direct reports. 

• Collaborates with sales and admissions to maximize organizational capacity at program locations and with enrollment management processes such as scheduling, admissions criteria, eligibility requirements, and medical screening issues and practices.  
• Works with the Human Resources Director to support high-quality staff recruitment, hiring, and scheduling, along with any performance and employee relations issues.   
• Builds and manages the expense and revenue budget for the department.  
• Participates in other duties as assigned. 

Safety & Risk Management 

• Leads risk and safety management as the Safety Director for COBS.  
• Serves as staff contact to COBS Board Safety Committee; helps develop and enact COBS safety priorities and agenda in conjunction with Board Safety Committee Chair.
• Works with the COBS Safety and Training Manager and program team to ensure the development, implementation, and consistent safety systems at COBS through data analysis, training, mentoring, policy development, and oversight.  
• Ensures the COBS Emergency Response Plan is up to date and that staff are highly trained to implement the plan consistently; oversees on-call reporting and emergency response. 
• Ensures quality and consistency of incident reporting and analysis, compliance with Outward Bound USA National Safety Standards, and prioritization of safety-related audits, reports, and resources.   
• Leads all incident investigations to conclusion and works with Outward Bound USA on policy recommendations and adjustments. 
• Works with admissions and course advisors to support screening and approval courses for students with more complex screening.

Education & Training 

• Leads the development and implementation of a school-wide vision for COBS’s educational practices and curriculum, meeting COBS’s organizational commitment to exceptional family and student experiences.   
• Ensures consistency of curriculum and curriculum delivery on courses. 
• Ensures quality and consistency of all COBS field staff and base management orientation and training.  
• Ensures regular and ongoing DEI training is occurring with program staff as part of the larger COBS DEI plan. 

Programs 

• Advocates on behalf of COBS for public land use, regulations, and processes that allow COBS’s continued operations at a local and national level.   
• Ensures appropriate program resources to run safe and quality courses and basecamps. 
• Ensures COBS’s permitting process meets federal and state guidelines; maintains appropriate communication with regional and national forest entities to meet program needs. 
• Ensures base infrastructure meets programmatic and safety requirements.  

Skills and Knowledge

• Demonstrated qualities of integrity, credibility, motivation, initiative, and a commitment to the COBS mission.  
• Experience in leadership, team development, and people management and working in both a collaborative and independent environment. 
• Understanding and experience with strategic thinking, planning, and business acumen.  
• Strong budgeting and data analysis skills. 
• Knowledge and ability to perform under tight deadlines and meet strict financial guidelines. 
• Solid experience in problem-solving by gathering and analyzing information, identifying alternative solutions, and collaborating on problem-solving situations.   
• Strong project management skills for managing complex, multifaceted projects resulting in measurable successes.  
• Understanding of feedback processes and proven ability to give and receive positive and constructive feedback and managing difficult conversations.   
• Proven communicator in oral and written platforms. Ability to speak clearly and persuasively communicate the COBS mission and programs effectively to motivate teams. Experience with presenting to large groups.  
• Demonstrated experience with managing emergency response systems and school-wide incidents.  
• Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. 
• Proficient in Office 365 (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams), and video conferencing. 
• Clean driving record.  

Education and Work Experience

• 8+ years of experience in the outdoor education/experiential learning field or any similar combination of education and experience.  
• Previous risk management and safety oversight at director level. Experience managing and planning for emergency incidents.  
• 3+ years of management and supervision experience required.  
• Experience and understanding of educational concepts and training systems.   
• Prior work with budgeting systems and processes. 

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Location and Travel

• Based in the COBS HQ office in Denver, Colorado.
• Frequent opportunity to work from an alternative location, including home. 
• 25% of time traveling to wilderness basecamps and organizational meetings. Travel accommodation may be rustic, with limited shower, kitchen, and internet access. May be occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. 
• The noise level in the HQ work environment is usually quiet. 

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary range: $75,000-$85,000
• Benefits eligibility for medical, dental, and vision insurance, where COBS pays a significant amount toward healthcare premiums and provides employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage and basic life insurance
• 20 days of Paid Time Off that accrues throughout the first year, with an additional day of PTO added with consecutive years of service
• 56 hours of paid Sick Leave
• 401K eligibility available after one year of service
• ProDeal eligibility

Application Process

Please address cover letter and resume to Executive Director Lauren Schmidt (she/her). Position is open until filled with a priority deadline of January 10, 2022.