Equipment assistants at NOLS Alaska help to facilitate the maintenance, delivery, use, return, and repair of outdoor equipment for field expedition courses. Assistants get the opportunity to provide customer service to our students through explanation and demonstration of proper use/care of equipment. Behind the scenes, equipment assistants help maintain the facility, make repairs, inventory equipment, and process card/cash transactions.

Key Logistical Information:

• Applicants must have legal working rights in the United States.

• NOLS AK offers accommodation for a monthly fee

• Questions? Please email peopleteam@nols.edu

What does an Equipment Assistant do?

This role works under the supervision of the Equipment Manager. It includes the following activities:

• Check, clean, repair, and maintain equipment for hiking, mountaineering, and sea kayaking courses.

• Routinely clean and maintain the equipment area to high professional standards.

• Arrive to work promptly and with a clean, neat appearance.

• Assist in the issue and de-issue of equipment to students and faculty.

• Provide assistance to faculty during the issue and de-issue processes.

• Provide instruction and training in equipment repair and maintenance for students and faculty.

• Perform sales transactions.

What makes a great Equipment Assistant at NOLS?

For this position, we are seeking a person who enjoys detail oriented behind the scenes work, working collaboratively, and provides excellent customer service:

• Enthusiastic about working as a team to complete small and large projects within the issue room

• Ability to respond empathetically to the requests of students, faculty, and staff

• Actively contribute to a positive and healthy community living environment while striving to maintain balance between work and life.

• Able to adapt quickly to a fast pace and ever changing schedule of course issue/deissues

• Provide timely and growth-oriented feedback to supervisor and co-workers.

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.

We are looking for a hardworking individual who understands and shares our passion to join our dynamic and growing team.

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 rentals at our various locations

• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available at a special NOLS rate to seasonal employees. 

• 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

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 yellow button on the top right. 

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. Applicants must have legal working rights in the United States.

• 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.