The NOLS Patagonia Program Manager is responsible for leading the delivery of exceptional outdoor education programs in the stunning wilderness regions of Chile, región de Aysén, known as Patagonia. This role involves managing program logistics, overseeing field staff, maintaining high safety standards, and ensuring alignment with NOLS’ mission to inspire leadership, environmental stewardship, and personal growth through wilderness education.

Key Information:

• We are seeking a NOLS instructor with experience, ideally in course leading sea kayaking or mountaineering at NOLS Patagonia.

• 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.

• Location: The NOLS facility (Campo Las Vertientes) is a 437-acre property located eleven kilometers outside of Coyhaique, Chile.

• Start Date: August 1, 2025

• Questions: Contact NOLS Patagonia Program Director Francisco Vio Giacaman at francisco_vio@nols.edu or peopleteam@nols.edu

What does a Program Manager do?

75% Program Department Supervision:

• Oversee the planning, delivery, and evaluation of all NOLS Patagonia courses, ensuring they meet educational goals and NOLS quality standards.

• Develop and implement strategies for program growth and continuous improvement.

• Recruit, hire, train, and mentor field staff and in-town support staff (2-6 program supervisors per season).

• Act as program supervisor for both land and ocean-based courses.

• Plan and support course logistics, including evacuation plans, filed contracts, and season scheduling.

• Develop and maintain organizational systems to support program needs, NOLS vision, student outcomes, and faculty performance management.

• Ensure compliance with NOLS policies, educational initiatives, risk management priorities, and field practices.

• Foster a positive, inclusive work environment that upholds NOLS’ values.

• Guide staff development, recommend training, and provide career talks.

• Conduct performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to staff.

• Collaborate with Education, Field Staffing, Risk Management, Admissions, Custom Education, and other departments to improve service.

• Serve as the primary contact with the Field Staffing Office for Patagonia staffing coordination.

• Teach NOLS field and/or classroom courses, if desired.

25% Patagonia Leadership Team Participation:

• Assist the program director in overseeing NOLS Patagonia, including vision, growth strategies, and alignment with school-wide plans.

• Represent NOLS Patagonia to external audiences and build relationships with the local community.

• Participate in weekly coordination meetings with the NOLS Patagonia management team.

• Support training and onboarding of new employees, focusing on NOLS Patagonia's mission and methodology.

• Assist with other duties and projects as assigned by the program director.

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Work with the team of managers to prepare for the season.

• Receive 3 semester courses and work with 2 courses in Spanish and participate in seminars for instructors.

• Supervise a team of 3 to 4 program supervisors and form a team with an adequate workload distribution.

• Plan programs according to NOLS guidelines with a focus on Patagonia's specific curriculum.

• Work with the Custom Courses team during the southern hemisphere summer to receive courses, send them to the field and evaluate their performance.

What makes a great Program Manager 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.

• Thorough knowledge of NOLS’ mission, history, educational philosophy, and field course management.

• Previous supervisory experience required.

• Deep knowledge of the NOLS Patagonia operating territory.

• Strong facilitation, communication, and active listening skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Spanish.

• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including working long days, weekends, and holidays.

• Preferred course leader experience in sea kayaking or mountaineering at NOLS Patagonia.  

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 answer a few simple questions for the hiring committee to get a better idea of what you could bring to this role. 

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?

• 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.

Additional Information

Please note in order to ensure pay transparency and pay equity the range posted is non-negotiable. If you are unwilling to accept an offer within the posted range, please review our other opportunities to see if one better aligns with your salary expectations.

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada; Chile; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and 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 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, 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.