The Program Manager (PM) is a role model and mentor within the Outward Bound Joshua Tree community, providing daily leadership, administrative support, and management of the Joshua Tree basecamp and programming. Responsibilities include: course supervision; ensuring quality training, programming, community building, and some business management, all through an equity lens. This position reports to and works closely with the Southern California Program Director. This opportunity is perfect for the individual looking to work as part of a small but powerful team driving the operations of our growing Joshua Tree program!
Who We Are
Outward Bound California (OBCA) is a non-profit that uses challenging experiences in outdoor settings to create social-emotional learning opportunities for our students (ages 12 and up, including adults). We offer a wide range of programs, from 1-day experiences on our San Francisco Challenge Course to multi-day rock climbing and backpacking courses in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree. OBCA is committed to increasing access for those that have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We do this, in part, through our 40+ community partnerships and by offering partial or full scholarships to over 2/3 of our students.
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
OBCA 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.
- Passionate about OBCA’s mission
- Excellent leadership, organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work both independently and as a team member with minimal supervision
- Have a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors
- Knowledge of OB programs and skill requirements
- Ability to give and receive both positive and constructive feedback.
- Able to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Effective communicator, both written and oral.
- Proficient with PC in Word® and Excel®.
- Experienced in working with and mentoring staff around topics of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Competent in backpacking and expeditionary travel in desert environments.
Education & Work Experience
- Bachelor degree and/or 3-4 years’ experience in the outdoor education/experiential learning field or any similar combination of education and experience is required
- Outward Bound or other wilderness expeditionary experience (OB, NOLS multi-day course or equivalent) is required
Physical and Mental Requirements
- Ability to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including but not limited to running, backpacking and rock climbing
- Ability to lift and move a minimum of 40 lbs, able to carry pack weight of up to 60 lbs
- Able to sit or stand at a desk for 60% of time or greater
- Posses mental stamina, adaptability and emotional maturity
- Able to maintain positive outlook and make good decisions even in persistent adverse conditions such as an unexpected schedule, program changes, long working hours and uncertainty
- Able to manage their own response to words or actions of others that challenge them personally
Bonus if you…
- Have experience working at the Joshua Tree basecamp and course areas
- Are an experienced traditional rock climber, have your Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) or other certification through the AMGA
- Have program and partnership development experience
- Have previous management experience
- Have a California Class Class C license with passenger endorsement
Responsibilities
Program Leadership
- Collaborate as a member of the Southern California management team to determine and fulfill program needs, goals and strategy
- Manage all partner relationships, ensuring effective and clear communication around pre and post course expectations and course information
- Supervise, mentor and develop Course Directors (CD) and Site Managers (SM). Additional duties may include serving as a CD or SM for multiple courses or trainings per season
- Coordinate and ensure follow-through of the feedback system and implementation of change between the field and program team
- Be a mentor and role model of best practices in the community and workplace at all times
- Uphold and follow all internal and partnering agency policies, and hold staff accountable for the same
- In coordination with the Program Director, conduct both pre-season and end of season interviews with staff
- Coordinate the collection and proper filing and dissemination of all course paperwork. Ensure that all course paperwork, including incident reporting, is completed with excellence.
- Conduct supervisory and coaching visits to field-operation sites as needed
Safety & Risk Management
- Uphold Outward Bound’s zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect. Protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority
- Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment and decision-making, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress
- Participate in our incident command and on-call system. There are times where the PM will be the local incident commander and on-call
- In coordination with the Program Director, create the content and delivery methods for course safety briefings and support the dissemination of quarterly safety reports for all courses
- Coach staff in entering quality incident reports into our database
Site Support
- In coordination with the Program team, supervise and manage staff housing, including orienting new and returning staff to basecamp expectations.
- Participate in basecamp set-up and take-down. Participate in daily community meetings and chores. Ensure that all facilities are kept at the highest possible condition
Benefits, Compensation and Location
