***This is an internal position ONLY.***

Destination Ascendigo: Ascendigo’s mission is to elevate the spectrum by empowering people, inspiring lives, and shattering expectations. We apply this mission to both the people we serve, such as our participants and clients, and the people with whom we serve, such as our co-workers and other stakeholders.

Ascendigo is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through therapeutic recreation, employment, community integration, education and an array of behavioral health services. We are headquartered in Carbondale, CO. Currently, Ascendigo employs more than 50 full- and part-time year-round staff members and approximately 30 additional employees during our seasonal summer camp programming.

The Ascendigo Promise to our employees is to provide meaning and purpose in the work we do and a culture of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. We support high performance through thoughtful on-boarding and training and acting with integrity. We offer 360° compensation with a path to financial security, personal well-being and fulfillment, and housing assistance.

Core Responsibilities: The Adventures Program Assistant Director (APAD) is expected to be a well rounded, highly responsible, and dynamic team player who is intimately involved in every aspect of the Adventures Department. They will have a strong understanding of the daily operations, systems, finances, and compliance necessary to run the program effectively. Additionally, this individual will possess management, interpersonal, clinical, and administration skills that are supportive to the program as it evolves and matures.

Overall Tasks:

• Support the Director to prioritize and set strategic goals that increase program impact and increase financial sustainability.
• Support the Director to strategically develop key goals, prioritize objectives, and champion Ascendigo’ s efforts as an ‘innovative incubator.’
• Assist in creating and maintaining systems and SOPs to optimize program efficiencies.
• Assist in oversight of safety, compliance, and best practices in Adventures department.
• Develop and maintain healthy relationships and problem solve as issues arise.
• Interface daily with employees, customers, volunteers, campers, etc. with tact and professionalism.
• Autonomously navigate difficult and heavy conversations with staff, families, or colleagues.
• Provide real time staff training regarding behavioral challenges and mentor as situations arise.
• Keep an active involvement in program development, sustainability, long term and succession planning, and a growth mindset.

• Responsible for proper tracking, management, and storage of all operational paperwork, contracts, waivers and releases for parents, guardians, staff, caretakers, and third-party representatives.
• With support of the director, manage program support staff, including the administrator and coordinator.

• Manage all administrative tasks for the department including creating action plans, planning follow-ups, delegating tasks, communicating due dates, creating agendas, corresponding with appropriate parties and/or departments, and proactively planning.
• Responsible for operational aspects of program delivery, including, but not limited to oversight of clients, activities, accounts with community partners, timesheets, credit cards expenses, receipt collection, reimbursement forms, etc.
• Support the Director with program development, budgeting and reporting, organization & system integration, logistics, hiring, scheduling, and program delivery.

Seasonal Tasks:

• Oversight and management of Ascendigo Adventures programs including Summer Adventures Camp, Winter Ski & Snowboard School, Saturday Adventures Club, AVSC, and Custom Adventures as well as seasonal staff onboarding, compliance, and communication.
• Act as the primary overseer of day-to-day programming during peak-season activities.

• Manage all aspects of scheduling and serve as point of contact for all staff.

• Assist with compliance as related to Childcare Licensing, employment law, safety, and disability best practices.
• Work directly with clients as needed.
• Required to be on-call during peak season times in summer and winter.

Personal Characteristics: should be committed and passionate about the Ascendigo mission of a holistic, active, community-based, independent, and person-centered life. He/she should believe in the dignity and potential of our clients. We also have a commitment to a culture of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. which stands for:

• R-Recognize the inherent worth of your coworkers.
• E- Eliminate derogatory words and phrases.
• S- Speak with people- not at them- or about them.
• P-Protect the culture of your organization- report and support!
• E- Empathize- consider what it is like in others’ situations.
• C-Consider your impact on others before speaking and apologize when you make a mistake.
• T- Treat everyone with integrity, dignity, and respect.