The NOLS Rocky Mountain (RM) Assistant Director is an essential member of the Rocky Mountain leadership team. They work to co-create vision, set tone, and help to lead in day-to-day operations and into the future. The Assistant Director is primarily responsible for long-term operational planning for the Rocky Mountain and associated campuses, including planning course routes and managing 30+ commercial land-use permits. They also play an integral role in emergency and crisis response. They are deeply committed to the NOLS mission and values while supporting in-town teams and field faculty to facilitate positive, life changing experiences for NOLS students.

Key Logistical Information:

• This is an internal position, only NOLS employees will be considered.

• Start date: October 2, 2023.

• Legal working rights in the United States are required for this position.

• 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 Rocky Mountain Assistant Director do?

• Oversight of 30+ commercial use permits on public land in seven western states:

  • NOLS is the single largest holder of commercial operating permits on U.S. public lands. This position is primarily responsible for maintaining NOLS’ relationship with many different land management agencies. 

  • Manage Rocky Mountain permit use and distribution to ensure retention of NOLS’ user days over time.

  • Submit pre-season paperwork and end of year use reports to land management agencies. Navigate permit violations and challenges as they arise. 

• Long-term operational planning:

  • Plan and schedule courses for the upcoming season and two years into the future for Rocky Mountain and associated campuses.

  • Financial and budget oversight for direct course expenses and land use fees.

• Route planning:

  • Orchestrate route and classroom planning for all Rocky Mountain campuses, including coordination of re-rations. 

  • Create, analyze, and refine course routes based on feedback from field faculty and students. Innovate and track changes year over year.

• Contribute as part of the Rocky Mountain leadership team

  • Set tone and shape culture across all RM locations. Support all departments as needed.

  • Directly supervise the managers of 2-4 Rocky Mountain operational departments.

  • Communicate NOLS vision and state of the school to staff. 

  • Support, assist, and occasionally lead day-to-day needs, complex evacuations, emergent issues, and crisis response. 

  • Rotate through on-call duties with three other members of the leadership team.

What makes a great Rocky Mountain Assistant Director? 

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

• Commitment to and deep understanding of NOLS' mission, educational philosophy, and values as a learning organization.

• Experience instructing extended backcountry expeditions at NOLS or equivalent.

• Intimate knowledge of NOLS Rocky Mountain classrooms, including the Wind River Range, Utah canyons, Absarokas, Big Horns, and more.

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Experience building relationships and working with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. 

• Desire to work on a team in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

• Able to prioritize based on emergent demands, team support, and internal and external deadlines. 

• Able to make decisions without all the information, using judgment grounded in NOLS’ values. 

• Experience supervising a team and building positive leadership environments that embody equity and inclusion for diverse teams. 

• Able to maintain a flexible schedule, working some long days, weekends and holidays. 

• Experience learning new software, using tools to track complicated systems, and have a desire to continue innovating. 

• Experience leading in service to others and with a growth mindset. 

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Gain a deep understanding of NOLS Rocky Mountain + course offerings and classrooms, our current operational needs, and the skills that are required to meet both school and local government expectations. 

• Build relationships with 30+ government agencies regarding our operating permits and classrooms.

• Build relationships with in town staff members, field faculty, and community partners in service to students.

• Solidify operational details and routes for spring and summer of 2024.

• Solidify the FY25 course offerings dates and classrooms.

• Become intimately familiar with NOLS RM+ evacuation procedures and systems.

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 from 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 yellow button on 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

Pre-Employment Check

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

• NOLS participates in E-verify for U.S. 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Reasonable Accommodation

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.