Interim Yellowstone Program Assistant

Title:

Interim Yellowstone Program Assistant

Job Summary: The Interim Yellowstone Program Assistant plays a vital role supporting programmatic goals, assisting Yellowstone field courses, and maintaining operational fidelity during busy field seasons. They will be primarily responsible for the logistical and local enrollment aspects of Yellowstone program implementation with specific emphasis on maintaining gear and equipment systems, as well as processing enrollment paperwork and tuition payments. 

Accountability: The Interim Yellowstone Assistant reports to the Yellowstone Program Supervisor.

Location/Schedule: This is a full-time, limited term position, based in Missoula, MT. The dates of this position are 6/17/2026 - 10/31/2026.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational systems: With direction from the Program Supervisor and Manager, responsible for assisting with the Yellowstone program’s operational systems, including the following program-specific tasks: 

• Help with communicating with research partners and vendors about upcoming reservations. 
• Prepare and print accordion documents for each course, including itineraries, reservations, etc.

• Maintain basement gear systems, including keeping gear inventories, repair schedules, repairing broken gear, and regularly organizing gear storage.
• Supporting instructors in inventorying and managing their team equipment and helping to train instructors in best gear management practices. 
• Responsible for maintaining, organizing, and deploying First Aid kits and Epinephrine Kits for use in the field.
• Support instructors in inventorying and managing their team equipment. 
• Assist with overall vehicle readiness, including keeping maintenance logs up to date, driving program vehicles to their regular maintenance appointments, and keeping the YEL parking area maintained. 
• Support instructors in preparing vehicles pre-course and washing vehicles post-course.
• Assist Yellowstone Coordinators with food preparation, shopping, and storing for all Yellowstone field programs. Support instructors in packing course food and distributing unused food after a course.

Enrollment Duties

• Process Yellowstone Local and Conservation Leadership program enrollment paperwork.
• Process Yellowstone Local program tuition payments.
• Conduct the medical review process and follow ups for all Yellowstone Local participants.
• Assist YEL Local Programs Coordinator in accomplishing other recruitment and enrollment tasks.
• Assist in the delivery of Yellowstone Local programs, as follows:
  • Help to recruit, select, and process enrollment paperwork for students.
  • Assist with pre-season instructor recruitment, hiring, and training in the office and in the field, as able.
  • Collaborate to ensure communication is complete between research mentors, interns, and partner organization administrators.
  • Assist with regular pre- and close-day tasks and season close days with program instructors.

Field Operations

• Responsible for instructing on Yellowstone courses as assigned.
• As needed, responsible for being available for emergency or last-minute substitutions.

Qualifications, Skills, and Certifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental science, recreational management, education, or related field. 
• 2 years of experience in experiential/environmental/outdoor education non-profit organizations, or other relevant non-profit work.
• 1 years of experience managing complex logistics and field operations for field-based programming.
• 1 year of experience in customer service or other communications-oriented roles.
• Skills: 
  • Knowledge of and ability to use Salesforce and Asana (preferred) or other CRMs and productivity apps (accepted).
  • Ability to use, navigate, set-up, and improve accounting systems (e.g. Bill.com)
  • Basic knowledge of auto mechanics, sufficient to speak to field instructor teams (for troubleshooting) and repair shops for maintenance and repair issues.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google products
  • Ability to multitask and move fluidly among simultaneous, complex projects
  • Excellent outward-facing verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with vendors and partners.
  • Ability to think and act in whole systems, creating global solutions by attending to many interconnected local details.
  • A punctual, detail-oriented, thorough, and independent approach to work while maintaining high level of initiative and flexibility
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and dynamic environment.
• Commitment to EPI's mission and values.
• English language fluency.

Preferred:

• Certification in Wilderness First Responder (WFR), or willingness to obtain one.
• Intermediate/Advanced vehicle maintenance skills: troubleshooting vehicle codes and/or trailer wiring repair, checking fluid levels, maintaining tires, changing bulbs.
• Comfort and ability to use power and hand tools to maintain and repair outdoor recreation equipment, such as sewing machines, patches and glue, basic construction tools, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. 
• Knowledge of, and experience in, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.