The Associate Director works closely with the Wilderness Medicine Director Team to develop policy and long range strategic plans for Wilderness Medicine.  The Associate Director shares supervision with the Vice President of Wilderness Medicine by directly supervising the Wilderness Medicine Admissions team and  one to two additional departments within the work unit (Education, Facilities, Finance, Account Management and Program Delivery, Faculty Staffing and Development, Wilderness EMT Program).

Key Information

• Please upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resume.

• Target Start Date: September 22, 2025

• Location: NOLS Headquarters in Lander, WY

• Questions: Please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does an Associate Director do?

• Defines the policies, vision, and tactics utilized to support Wilderness Medicine admission and financial aid policies.

• Leads budget building and financial forecasting with support from the Business Operations Director.

• Maintain operational knowledge of NOLS’ major data systems and online portals to support software development .

• Collaborates with NOLS IT regarding new software and technology development to increase departmental efficiency and assess implementation feasibility.

• Advises Wilderness Medicine employees and instructors in day-to-day problem solving and policy application.

• Supervises the Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus budget, operations and facility manager.

• Serves on school-wide committees.

• Develops and oversees risk management practices for Wilderness Medicine in collaboration with the NOLS Risk Management Director.

• Acts as point of contact for NOLS legal counsel.

What makes a great Associate Director  at NOLS? 

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. While our ideal candidate comes with the skills listed below, we expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

• Experience in supervision and program administration.

• Experience with legal and risk management problem solving.

• Capability to work independently and lead under stress.

• Ability to connect with a variety of audiences as a NOLS representative and communicate the unique nature of our brand.

• Proven project management success.

• Technological proficiency; specifically as it relates to database operations and design.

• A commitment to NOLS’ educational philosophy, mission, and values is foundational.

Preferred skills

• Previous experience with operations in the field of Wilderness Medicine Education.

• Experience with Microsoft D365 and Canvas platforms.

How to Apply

It’s super easy! Just enter your email and click the “start your application” button at the top of the screen and upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resume.

At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. The Applied platform will ask you 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.

Who is NOLS?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that strives to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Our community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence. 

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.

Why is NOLS a great place to work?

• Global Reach: With locations across the U.S. operations in six countries, and courses running in all 50 states and more than 10 countries, you’ll be part of an organization with a truly worldwide impact.

• Course Discounts: Receive special pricing on NOLS courses for yourself and your family.

• Comprehensive Benefits: Full-time employees are eligible for a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Flexible Time Off: We offer a flexible time off policy that empowers employees to take the time they need for rest, adventure, and personal priorities without the constraints of traditional accrual systems.

• Employee Assistance Program: Access confidential, 24/7 counseling and support services to help you maintain balance and well-being.

Additional Information

To support pay transparency and equity, the posted salary range is fixed. We encourage you to explore our opportunities that fit your pay expectations. 

• 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 People Team 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.

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 by emailing peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.