As a NOLS Alaska Program Supervisor, you'll have a key role in shaping the outdoor learning experience for both students and staff. Your main job will be to support high-quality courses that focus on safety, education, and personal growth in the wilderness. You'll collaborate closely with our instructor teams, providing mentorship and guidance, while helping to create a positive learning environment. You'll also contribute to improving curriculum design, course planning, and safety practices, ensuring our programs stay at the forefront of outdoor education. This role is ideal for a creative, adaptable leader who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and wants to make a positive impact on students and staff.

Key Logistical Points:

• Location: NOLS Alaska campus in Palmer, Alaska

• Seasonal, from the end of April/ early May to the end of August 2025. There’s also a chance to do 1-2 weeks of fieldwork during the non-peak season for NOLS Instructors. 

• Start Date: April 25th, 2025 (flexible)

Perks & Benefits:

• On-site housing: Available for around $200/month, which includes internet, food staples, lunch, and dinner when the kitchen is open, and access to a shared staff car. Living areas are communal, and everyone pitches in with daily chores.

• Health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance are available at a discounted rate for seasonal employees.

• Travel allowance: NOLS helps cover travel costs to and from Palmer, AK, at the beginning and end of the season.

• You’re not required to live on-site, but it’s a great option if you want to be part of our campus community.

Questions? Feel free to contact us at peopleteam@nols.edu

What does a Program Supervisor do?

As a Program Supervisor, you’ll dive into exciting and impactful activities such as:

Supervising Program and Field Staff:

• Oversee and support NOLS Expedition Courses, utilizing your skills and experience in Hiking, Sea Kayaking, and Mountaineering.

• Provide field staff with comprehensive briefings and debriefings to ensure they are well-prepared for their roles.

• Conduct timely evaluations of instructors based on NOLS’ standards, facilitating their professional growth and development.

• Mentor staff on career advancement, recommending relevant training and courses to help them achieve their goals.

• Ensure the timely completion of course paperwork and reports, maintaining organizational efficiency and adherence to NOLS policies.

• Facilitate effective and compassionate communication, particularly in complex or challenging situations involving emergency contacts and family members.

• Serve as the vital link between NOLS leadership and our dedicated field instructors.

• Provide mental health support to students, instructors, and in-town staff, fostering a culture of well-being and resilience.

• Promote the NOLS Field Curriculum on campus, ensuring alignment with our educational mission and standards.

• Assist new in-town staff in understanding and embracing NOLS’ Mission and Values.

• Manage and maintain technical equipment, including sea kayaks and mountaineering gear, ensuring all equipment is safe, functional, and ready for use.

• Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives on campus, actively contributing to an inclusive and supportive environment for all participants.

• Role model and promote environmental sustainability actions and projects at the campus, leading efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into daily operations.

• Act as an Evacuation Coordinator when necessary, ensuring preparedness and response capabilities are in place.

Curriculum & Operational Support:

• Offer assistance to evacuees while they are in town, ensuring they feel safe and well-cared for.

• Collaborate with other program supervisors across NOLS to share best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Stay updated on industry standards and techniques to maintain NOLS' position at the forefront of outdoor education.

• Work closely with various departments (education, risk management, admissions, etc.) to continually enhance the experiences of students and staff.

• Promote and model NOLS' risk management strategies on campus, ensuring safety and preparedness in all activities.

• Facilitate the teaching and sharing of the NOLS curriculum, particularly around leadership, risk management, and environmental stewardship.

• Support campus sustainability initiatives and encourage environmentally conscious practices across all operations.

• Assist with course logistics, including transportation, gear preparation, meal preparation, and other tasks to ensure outstanding student service.

• Manage data and reporting for camping permits and land management agencies, ensuring compliance with regulations and effective resource management.

Other

• Assist administration with operating plans, new course proposals, staffing configurations, and operational logistics.

• Other duties and projects as assigned by the NOLS Alaska program manager.

• May be required to act as a field instructor in the case of injury/illness and possible unavailability of field staff. Must maintain active instructor status.

• Responsible for cash accounting for private services, course logistics, and emergency money.

What makes a great Program Supervisor at NOLS? 

We are seeking individuals who embody our values and are enthusiastic about learning and developing their expertise in outdoor education. Ideal candidates will possess the following skills and qualities, and we are committed to providing training and development support in these areas:

• Relevant Experience: Preference is given to candidates with experience as a senior NOLS Instructor at the course leader level or previous program supervision experience in similar organizations.

• Passion for NOLS Mission: A demonstrated understanding of and passion for the NOLS mission is essential, ensuring alignment with our educational goals and values.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are vital for effective interaction with students, staff, and stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving and Team-Building: Strong creative problem-solving abilities, effective team-building skills, and proficient facilitation skills are crucial for fostering a positive learning environment.

• Adaptability: The ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting is essential, allowing for flexibility in various situations.

• Willingness to Work Irregular Hours: Candidates must be open to working flexible and irregular hours, including holidays and weekends, to meet the demands of the program and support staff and students.

By bringing together a diverse team of dedicated individuals, we strive to create a supportive and enriching experience for all participants in the NOLS community

Who are we and what can we offer you?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help people step forward boldly as a leaders. We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

NOLS really is a great place to work:

• We have locations in seven U.S. states, and six countries; and courses in all 50 U.S. states and over 10 countries.

• All employees can benefit of free outdoor equipment "Rental" at our various locations

• We have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands

• We offer discounts on NOLS courses for you and your family

• Wellness Time for all employees

• Employee Assistance Program: Access to counselors that are available 24/7 to assist employees with work-life balance concerns.

Next steps

At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. Applied aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using your resume alone, we'll be asking you to answer questions to test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymized, and reviewed in a random order by members of our team. 

The Applied platform also asks some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.

All you need to do is start the process by clicking on the button at the top right. 

Additional Information

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada, provinces: British Columbia, and Ontario; Chile; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.

• NOLS participates in E-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.

• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with human resources and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu.

NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

NOLS values community and fosters a sense of belonging for our employees and applicants. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace because they embody these values, as well as our operating principle of promoting a positive, safe, and learning environment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested at any point of the employment process, including during recruitment. Please email peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.