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Position 

Description

The Southern California Program Director leads our Joshua Tree base in delivering safe, high-quality programs. They will collaborate with the administrative regional staff to establish consistent programming, a highly trained instructor pool, and new partnerships with schools and other non-profit partners, all through an equity lens.  This position is a member of the Leadership Team and reports to the Director of Programs and Safety.

Benefits, Compensation & Location

• This is an exempt position with a salary range of $4500-5000 per month (FTE).
• This position is full time during the 7 month season (October - April), and 40% time during the off season. Or 9 months per year. Our program season ends April 17th, 2023.
• Expected start date ASAP.
• Position is located at the OBCA basecamp in the Joshua Tree, California area. 
• OBCA offers a competitive benefits package, including comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, enrollment in OBCA’s 401k plan 1 year from start date, Flexible Spending Account, Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), Paid Time Off (PTO), and paid holidays. We also offer opportunities for professional development and pro-deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at a discounted price).
• Room and board provided during the program season.

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.

Knowledge & Skills

• Passionate about OBCA’s mission
• Have a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors 
• Experienced in working with and mentoring staff around topics of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Experienced in people management, organization, and administrative skills
• Compassionate & effective communicator, both written and oral
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
•  on a cooperative team and in a remote setting
• Comfortable giving and receiving positive and constructive feedback
• Demonstrated experience problem solving in the workplace
• Able to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously
• Proficient with PC, Microsoft Suite, and with Google Apps
• Familiarity with facility management and able to support where needed
• Competent in backpacking and expeditionary travel in desert environments

Education & Work Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 5-6 years’ experience in the outdoor education/experiential learning field or any similar combination of education and experience
• Outward Bound or other wilderness expeditionary experience (OB, NOLS multi-day course or equivalent)
• Previous management experience

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 80% of time or greater
• 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

Current Licenses & Certifications (Required by Start Date)

• Wilderness First Responder, CPR and CA Epi

Onboarding Requirements

• Able to pass a federal & Live Scan background check, MVR check, and provide current (within the last 4 years) negative TB screen or test results upon hire (cost of all screening paid for or reimbursed by OBCA)
• Be up-to-date on COVID vaccination status, as defined by the CDC

Bonus if you…

• Have experience working for Outward Bound

• 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 a California Class Class C license with passenger endorsement

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Collaborate with OBCA Leadership Team to determine and fulfill program needs, goals and strategy
• Oversee Joshua Tree Program Team with a focus on staff development 
• Directly supervise Program Manager (PM), Associate Logistics Manager (ALM) and Resident Course Director (RCD)

• Oversee course scheduling, staffing, and enrollment management in partnership with Regional Staff
• Work with and mentor staff around topics of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Collaborate with OBCA Program Directors and other charter’s Program Directors to set regional and national vision of program excellence
• Perform local Human Resource and supervisory roles, including tracking field staff days worked for payroll, onboarding, and staff performance oversight
• In collaboration with the Director of Finance and Operations, develop and manage local budget and meet financial reporting requirements
• Manage all commercial use reporting requirements and applications
• Oversee all partner relationships

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
• Respond to field emergencies, sometimes as the incident commander, and perform on-call duties for courses in the field. This may require after-work hours and happen during scheduled time off.
• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment and decision-making, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress
• Play an active role in developing and implementing all emergency response and incident procedures
• Mentor and role model community standards and best practices for the community and the administrative team at all times
• Review and analyze all incident reports at your base location

Site Support

• In coordination with the Management Team, support on-site students when needed and oversee the supervision and coordination of early departures
• Oversee basecamp maintenance and upkeep. Ensure basecamp adheres to all local and national regulatory codes and policies
• 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

Outward Bound California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Outward Bound California also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.