The River Base Program Supervisor's objective is to supervise, assist, and coordinate all NOLS River Base courses, focusing on building a student-centered learning environment. You’ll work as part of the River Base team to supervise field faculty and ensure program quality. You will provide instructor teams with curriculum, route, and risk management support. You will facilitate conversations within instructor teams to support success in team function. You will give feedback, evaluate performance, and mentor career development for field staff.

Key Logistical Information:

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

• Seasonal position from July 23rd to Mid November.

• Opportunity to be a full-time for 9 months starting in early March with benefits.

• A current driver's license with excellent driving record is required for this position.

• Staff housing is available on-site for a modest fee and includes food staples. The kitchen and living areas are communal. Staff are not required to live on-site.

• Some river experience is preferred.

• Questions: Please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does a Program Supervisor do?

• Support field faculty in delivering exceptional student experiences by providing growth-oriented briefings, curriculum resources, debriefings, and evaluations. 

• Help instructors start their process of working together by facilitating high-quality team builds. 

• Contribute to an environment that encourages instructors and students to feel relaxed, supported, and focused going into the field.

• Promote field and in-town risk management. 

• Assist in the management of field evacuations and in-town incidents as needed.

• Act as a vital link in communicating NOLS Accepted Field Practices. 

• Apply the NOLS Field Instructor Skills in evaluating instructor performance and making recommendations for instructors' work levels. Actively guide and mentor field staff in their professional development at NOLS. 

• Act as a vital link in communicating NOLS Accepted Field Practices. 

• Review and organize all course-related paperwork. Write timely and thorough faculty evaluations. Advocate for field staff and be clear and thorough when making promotion or demotion recommendations.  

• Assist in the management of challenging and complex field and in-town situations about student, parent, and staff issues or concerns as needed.

• Review and organize all course-related paperwork. Participate in coordinating in-town logistics and schedules with all departments at NOLS River Base and occasionally NOLS Rocky Mountain.

• Share evacuation coordinator duties by occasionally carrying a 24-hour emergency phone

  What makes a great Program Supervisor at NOLS? 

  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.

  • An understanding of and passion for the NOLS mission. 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Excellent organizational, supervisory, facilitation, and problem-solving skills. 

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced and sometimes unpredictable environment.

  • Ability to work flexible and irregular hours, including weekends and holidays, to maintain a 40-hour work week.

  • Must maintain active field faculty status as a NOLS Instructor as a “Patrol Leader” or higher. 

  Position Details

  This is a full-time seasonal position at the NOLS River Base in Vernal, UT. The River Base operates from early March to late November; this position aims to support late summer operations. NOLS provides a travel allowance to support seasonal staff in traveling to the River Base at the start of the season and back to their home base at the end of the season. On-campus housing is available for a small fee. Kitchen and common space shared amongst staff. Staff are not required to live on campus.

  How to Apply

  Just enter your email and click the “start your application” button at the top of the screen and answer a few simple questions for the hiring committee to get a better idea of what you could bring to this role 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 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 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.

  The NOLS Rocky Mountain River Base was founded in 1996. The campus lies in the foothills of the Uinta Mountains in dinosaur bone country, where geologic features burst with fossil life. It’s a land of contrasts: high mountain deserts interspersed with river corridors full of lush vegetation. The River Base supports hundreds of students every year as they explore winding canyons and river valleys of the Green, Yampa, or San Juan Rivers on raft, kayak, or canoe. The River Base also supports occasional hiking courses in the spring and fall seasons. The small close-knit community of in-town staff support students and instructors starting and ending their courses while at the River Base. 

  Additional Information

  Pre-Employment Check

  • Applicants must be at least 21 years of age by the position start date and possess a valid driver’s license. Must have a clean driving history and be able to meet the criteria for NOLS vehicle insurance coverage.

  • 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.

  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.