Position 

Description

This position is responsible for overall program oversight and risk management focusing strategically on our 1-day Insight Programs. The Insight Program Manager (IPM) provides daily leadership and administrative support to theChallenge Course Site Manager and Instructors. The IPM acts as the primary liaison between partner schools and organizations and OBCA. Working closely with the Bay Area Program Director, the IPM is responsible for upholding safe and effective program delivery that meets Outward Bound’s desired outcomes of service, leadership, and character development.

The Insight Programs at Outward Bound California include ropes course, ground games, and initiatives to groups of participants (i.e., schools, community organizations, companies, etc.) This position reports to the Bay Area Director of Programs.

Who We Are

Outward Bound California (OBCA) is part of a national network of experiential and outdoor education programs, with a 50 year history in the US, serving over 40,000 students annually. OBCA uses unique experiences in natural settings to create social-emotional learning opportunities for our students to tap into their inherent potential as compassionate leaders and active participants in their communities. 

We work with students on a range of programs, from 1-day experiences on our San Francisco Challenge Course to multi-day rock climbing, backpacking and mountaineering courses ranging from 7 to 65 days long.  We work with students aged 12+, including adults, educators and veterans.  OBCA is deeply committed to opening up access for students and schools that have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces and programs and we do this through over 40 effective community partnerships.  As a non-profit, more than 2/3 of our students receive partial or full scholarships to go on a course with us in the High Sierra, Southern California and in the Bay Area.

Equity and Inclusion Statement:

We believe that all people should have safe access to the outdoors and culturally relevant and responsive educational programming. OBCA is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and honored for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture where we are always learning and improving toward a vision for equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are also committed to reflecting the diverse communities with whom we work and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

Who You Are

Outward Bound California does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here, and we are committed to the professional development of our employees.  A strong candidate who is interested in growing and learning in this role will possess at least 75% of the following qualifications. If this is you, then we strongly encourage you to submit an application for consideration.  

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Passionate about Outward Bound’s mission, programs and course activities

• Committed to continuous personal and professional development around power, privilege and racial equity. You recognize how your identities show up and how they influence programmatic decisions and can mentor staff in this topic.
• Familiar and experienced with working within standards of the Association of Challenge Course Technologies or similar
• Strong personal motivation, flexibility, initiative, follow through and commitment
• A collaborative leader with strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Effective communicator, able to give and receive both positive and constructive feedback and role model a culture of feedback 
• Committed to organizational and industry-wide safety systems, including the adherence to all OB Charter Operating Policies and Procedures, Emergency Response Plan, and other Standard Operating Procedures
• Proficient with Adobe, Microsoft Office Suite (Word and Excel), and G Suite (Gmail and Google Docs, Drive, and Calendar)

Work Experience & Education

• Possess at least 2-3 years experience in ropes/challenge course management, or equivalent experience

• 4+ years of experience in the outdoor education/experiential learning field and/or a Bachelor’s degree, or any similar combination of education and experience 
• Holds a current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification, Wilderness First Responder prefered or willing to obtain upon hire

Additional Qualification

• Able to work weekends and nontraditional hours (earlier than 9am and later than 5pm) when needed

• Willing to complete a federal background check, Live Scan background check, MVR check and provide current negative TB test results and a medical form upon hire (cost of all screening paid for or reimbursed by OBCA)
• OBCA requires all field and program staff who have direct contact with our students to be fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC.

Physical Requirements

• Comfortable sitting or standing at a desk or computer for 60% of time or greater
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather or season
• Able to lift and transport 20-50 pounds of gear several times a day
• Sufficiently fit to participate in all site and course activities while maintaining ample energy, strength, and focus to aid students and instructors

Bonus if you…

• Hold ACCT Challenge Course Manager Certification or Equivalent 

• Possess at least two years of experience leading a team
• Are experienced in site managing institutional outdoor climbing activities at an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor level or higher
• Are fluent in Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese 
• Are an alum of Outward Bound or other outdoor/experiential organization
• Are proficient in Salesforce

Responsibilities
Program Leadership

• Collaborate as a member of the Bay Area Management Team to determine and fulfill program needs, goals, and strategy
• Supervise, mentor & develop Challenge Course Site Manager and Challenge Course field staff
• Design and lead technical & educational trainings for staff to work with a diverse range of students including trauma-informed perspectives of cultural competency and cultural barriers
• Manage partner relationships, ensuring effective and clear communication around pre and post course expectations and course information.
• Collaborate with Outreach and Program team to coordinate scheduling, arrival/departure times, parking, gear requirements, and other client needs
• Act as liaison to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, reporting monthly use, coordinating schedules and overseeing monthly Community Days
• Be a mentor and role model of best practices in the community and workplace at all times 
• Analyze program outcomes (qualitative and quantitative) to review and recommend changes and modifications to Insight program curriculum to meet mission delivery goals

Safety & Risk Management

• • Participate in the incident command and on-call system and respond to field emergencies. At times be the local Incident Commander.
  • Oversee Field Staff to submit incident reports and analyses for all courses
  • Develop, mentor and adhere to Charter Operating Policy & Procedure, Outward Bound USA National Safety Standards and course specific Operational Manual
  • Adhere to all ACCT Course Standards and other relevant local and State requirements
  • Ensure all equipment has required documentation, inspection, rotation, and retirement
  • Provide site management coverage on course as needed

Business Management

• Coordinate the collection and proper filing and dissemination of all course paperwork. Ensure that all course paperwork is accurate and complete.
• Manage all local operational manuals and protocols 
• Track specific and relevant line items of the program budget and submit monthly expense reports
• Support Human Resources and Staffing team, including hiring, staff scheduling and disciplinary actions of field staff
• Generate reports for OBCA Board, Leadership Team and partnering organizations highlighting program outcomes

Benefits, Compensation and Location

Compensation & Schedule

• The Insight Program Manager is a year round, full-time, exempt, salaried position.
• Starting salary range of $52,080 – $56,080, depending on experience.
• Program runs from January 20, 2022 through November 5, 2022

Benefits

• A competitive benefits package, including comprehensive health insurance with generous employer contribution for employee and dependents, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), four weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) and 12 paid holidays, and 401(k) plan enrollment after one year of employment
• Highly energetic and supportive work environment at a mission-driven organization
• Opportunity to attend Outward Bound adult course
• Opportunities for professional development
• ProDeal, an opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at a discounted price

Location

This position is located in San Francisco, California. The Bay Area program base is in the Presidio, a national park just minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge. The Challenge Course is located in McLaren Park. Travel between both locations required.