As the Associate Director, Business Development, you will hold responsibility for developing and executing Custom Education’s growth strategy and business development efforts. This is an exciting time to join the team and focus on growth within our high-potential market segments (e.g. business schools, summer camps, secondary schools, university scholar programs, etc.) and innovation of new course types (e.g. non-expedition in-person facilitation, hybrid expedition and online or in-person leadership development, cohort-based mentorship programs, etc.). We’re looking for an innovative, curious, passionate go-getter and team player who’s fascinated by growth strategy and communicating NOLS Custom Education’s unique value proposition to prospective clients. 

You will sit on the Custom Education management team and collaborate to define priorities and develop long-range strategic plans for the department. This role will operate with a high level of autonomy and empowerment to think creatively and test new ideas within the existing NOLS educational ecosystem. This is a new role and the successful applicant will have latitude to co-design the role with the director and other stakeholders so that the role is in service of Custom Education’s and NOLS’ needs.

Key Logistical Points:

• Only candidates with established US working rights in an eligible state will be considered. Current NOLS employees globally will be considered.

• Start date: Fall  2024

• Benefits: This position is eligible for Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending account, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time off, 403(b), 403(b) contribution, and more.

• Questions: Please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does the Associate Director, Business Development do?

Your potential for driving impact:

• Oversee Custom Education’s business development and related course offerings

  • Develop and execute Custom Education’s growth strategy 

  • Cultivate outbound outreach campaigns to high potential market segments

  • Focus on relationship building with prospective clients 

  • Identify potential marketing campaigns and develop high impact collateral in collaboration with the NOLS marketing department

  • Support cross-selling of other Custom Education course offerings (e.g. Risk Management Training for Administrators, Risk Reviews, Leave No Trace) and broader NOLS offerings (e.g. Wilderness Medicine)

  • Design new, in-demand course types (e.g. create new cohort-based leadership programs, launch remote start courses that best serve client shoulder season needs, expand existing online leadership development course, grow  frontcountry Leadership Navigation Challenges, etc.)

  • Collaborate with NOLS Education department and field faculty on curriculum design for new Custom Education course offerings

• Serve on Custom Education’s leadership team

  • Supervise Sales & Marketing Manager

  • Cultivate strong networks within NOLS, working across NOLS departments to support the NOLS mission

  • Serve as Acting Director and in the on-call rotation

  • Occasional evening and weekend work may be expected

• Work as NOLS classroom faculty and/or field faculty, as applicable

  • Teach leadership programs and/or serve as frontcountry or online course facilitator. Teaching may include up to 13 days per year. 

The above duties should not be considered an exhaustive list; other responsibilities may be required.

What makes a great Associate Director at NOLS Custom Education? 

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. 

• Ability to balance being a member of a dynamic team while also remaining self-directed, seeking feedback, articulating needs, and maintaining a high degree of ownership and responsibility

• Excellent oral and written communication skills for a variety of audiences, including current or prospective clients, students, faculty, and staff

• Project management experience with ability to manage and organize multiple projects with high attention to detail

• Ability to effectively supervise a team member and provide them with clear and strategic direction

• Have deep understanding of sales and marketing and customer relationship management

• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office and web-based and database applications

• Experience building positive leadership environments that provide appropriate support and challenge

• Commitment to NOLS' mission and values, and to NOLS as a learning organization

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Collaborate on developing an outbound outreach strategy and roadmap

• Develop a set of targets for outbound outreach and new client relationship building

• Identify and prioritize key new course innovations to pilot within the next 2 years

• Create and launch a quarterly email to clients and prospective leads highlighting updates and client stories from Custom Education

• Have the opportunity to shadow a NOLS course

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 leader.

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.

• We have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands

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

• All employees can benefit of free Outdoor Equipment "Rental" at our various locations

• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available at a special NOLS rate to seasonal employees. Full-time employees are eligible for benefits package. 

• Wellness Time: Accrued leave that may be used for many HR-approved reasons throughout the season.

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

Next steps

All you need to do is start the process by clicking on the “Start your application” button at the top right.

You’ll answer some questions that are related to your day-to-day job. After the job closes, your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymized, randomized and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers. If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step, which includes an interview. 

Additional Information

NOLS can currently employ remote employees who have legal working rights in the following state: Alaska, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Washington, or 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.