Description

The job duties of this position are performed personally, in cooperation with your supervisor, and/or in coordination with other staff. Additional work functions and duties may be assigned.

Job Duties

Main areas of focus:

• 65% Teaching and facilitating programming/activities;
• 10% Lesson planning and curriculum development;
• 25% Support duties (e.g. facilitation of meals, set up/clean up, transportation, student free time).

• Supervise up to 13 students in the front and backcountry on 6-12 day programs with other instructors;
• You can expect to work 6-7 days per week with one to two days off in between trips. Expect regular 18-hour work days and responsibility to respond to student needs 24 hours a day while on a trip. 
• Teach students outdoor living skills such as packing, camp set-up/take-down, outdoor cooking, orienteering, and risk management;
• Maintain organization of storage areas and upkeep, clean, repair, and inventory gear as needed.
• Teach students basic rock climbing safety and skills.
• Plan, prepare, and teach age appropriate curricula and leadership.
•  Document course progression/student concerns, participate in self and peer feedback system, and engage in a post trip debrief.
• Able to carry pack weights of up to 60 pounds.
• Commitment to own professional growth as well as improving technical and interpersonal skills.
• Implement Adventure logistics including schedules, trip routes, emergency action plans, menus, etc.;
• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies by engaging with incident prevention and response;
• Attend and help facilitate wilderness trainings for Instructors, and attend all staff meetings and trainings as assigned;
• Administer client medications, perform student health screens, and utilize first aid skills;
• Gather and submit pictures and videos to reflect the experience children have during KSS programs;
• Provide an electronics-aware experience for all children;
• Drive a 15-passenger van with a trailer and successfully complete Van Driver and Trailer Training;
• Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS;

• Adhere to all Personnel Policies and Procedures for the organization.
• Maintain professional standards of performance, demeanor, and appearance at all times; act as a “role model” both at and away from the organization.
• Maintain a creative, team-building approach to job performance and seek to bring a constructive, problem-solving orientation to all tasks.
• Perform all tasks and responsibilities with attention to detail and in a complete and timely manner, complying with organization policies and standards and conforming to the scheduling requirements of the job and program.
• Maintain an awareness of the organization’s mission and work to promote the positive individual and social change goals it embodies.
• Exercise discretion and professional judgment at all times keeping with the responsibilities carried personally and by the organization for the care and welfare of the clients; act with honesty and integrity in all aspects of organization business.
• Actively strive to upgrade professional skills through engaging in appropriate professional training and experience.
• Actively strive to create and maintain a culturally sensitive, justice-centered and appropriate environment through communication and interaction that demonstrates respect for diversity, socio-economic and cultural differences and that fosters a work environment where people from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued.

Qualifications

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children in a backcountry setting;
• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, abilities, and experience;
• Proven ability to develop and facilitate science, diversity & inclusion, leadership, and risk management lessons;
• Ability to adapt instruction and lessons to meet a wide variety of learners utilizing different educational philosophies;
• Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations;
• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete;
• Growth oriented mindset and willingness to give and receive feedback;
• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community;
• Interpret a variety of instructions provided in written or verbal form;
• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment;
• Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box';
• Strong command of communication, writing, and organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions;
• Write incident reports and lesson plans with attention to detail.

• Experience leading/guiding participants in a wilderness/backcountry setting (minimum of 5 overnight trips);
• Prior experience working with school-age children: at least three (3) months (460 hours) of full-time or equivalent part-time satisfactory and verifiable experience with school-age children;
• Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor education industry;
• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment;
• Age 21 with a minimum of 5 years driving experience, excellent driving record, and a valid driver's license;
• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check;

• Lifeguard certification from approved vendor
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and hike steep terrain with climbing equipment.
• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish; 
• Previous experience driving with a trailer; 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and Adobe;
• Extensive experience on personal backcountry trips; 

• Teach students basic rock climbing safety and skills.
• Ability to properly inspect software and hardware used for outdoor sport climbing. 
• Familiarity with tying knots and hitches related to sport climbing. 
• Strong ability to manage groups of youth in climbing situations is a requirement for this position.
• Attend in-house required rock climbing training and, after training, demonstrate the ability to safely teach students how to belay, manage a rock top rope climbing site, lead belay, and coach students on fundamentals of climbing. 
• Not having a strong background in climbing does not disqualify you from this position. All skills will be reviewed during training week prior to the start of programming.

• Demonstrated awareness of safety practices associated with outdoor climbing crags. 
• Demonstrated background in working with youth in an outdoor climbing setting. 
• Equipment familiarity with all aspects of outdoor sport climbing
• This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Harnesses
  • Helmets 
  • Dynamic and static rope 
  • Belay devices 
  • Slings and webbing 
  • Quickdraws 
• Prior experience sport and/or trad climbing 5.8 , ability to lead climb 5.10 and above is preferred
• Prior experience leading institutional rock climbing and setting up/cleaning top rope climbs
• Familiarity with safe rappel practices. 
• Familiarity, or ability to learn, basic rescue techniques such as belay transfers. 
• Familiarity with climbing crags associated with the KSS climbing program is a plus but not required. 
• Attend in-house required rock climbing training and, after training, demonstrate necessary skills
• Climbing certifications such as an SPI are a strong addition to any application. 

• Able to work a majority of the time outside at high altitude in varying conditions including uneven and slick terrain and unpredictable weather and situations. 
• Physically able to assist participants with recreation equipment during activities.
• Able to lift a minimum of 75 lbs. with assistance.
• Dexterity, auditory and visual acuity to operate computers and phones or mobile devices.
• Auditory and visual acuity to interact with guests, students, clients on a daily basis.
• Able to successfully manage multiple, high priority tasks in a fast-paced and oftentimes crowded and noisy environment.