Salary: $95,000 - $120,000
Application Deadline: June 14, 2024

ABOUT NYC OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS

Why can’t school be more like an Outward Bound course? NYC Outward Bound Schools believes that students benefit greatly from tapping into the world beyond their classroom and their immediate community to partake in joyful learning experiences that can prepare them to thrive in community, college, and career. In partnership with the NYC public school system, NYC Outward Bound Schools is a non-profit organization that serves over 28,000 students in almost 80 schools across the five boroughs of New York City. NYC Outward Bound Schools provides opportunities for unique, liberatory, experiential learning for students in their social, emotional, and academic development. The organization supports NYC young people both by leading students in outdoor adventure programming that pushes beyond their traditional school experiences and also by coaching and supporting educators on how to incorporate lessons from these catalytic experiences within the classroom. Ultimately, our diverse and committed staff support NYC young people in unique ways to develop the knowledge and skills to lead with confidence and curiosity, persist in the face of challenges, and live fulfilling lives.

Role Summary:

Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Outdoor Adventures leads the development and implementation of all outdoor and climbing wall programming offered by NYC Outward Bound Schools where young people have access to inclusive programming that centers student leadership and allows discovery through exploration. The Director of OA provides oversight and direction to a team while serving as an active participant on the organization’s leadership team to make strategic decisions and build an equity-focused staff culture that values diverse perspectives and experiences.

Essential Functions:

• Oversee all outdoor adventure programming, both in the city and at remote location in NY state, to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, SEAD-aligned, equity-centered adventures
• Develop and coordinate calendar in collaboration with sales and develop/refine staffing assignments to support the calendar
• Research and implement best practices in outdoor education and its connection to NYC Outward Bound Schools’ mission, vision, and guiding principles.
• Design new and innovative programmatic offerings in the outdoor space, including new courses within and/or outside of NYC, that offer opportunities for NYC young people that center student leadership, offer intellectual risk-taking, and foster belonging
• Coordinate the development and/or refinement, in collaboration with the team, of program materials such as instructor guides, curriculum and lesson plans for outdoor programs, and training materials
• Ensure all outdoor adventure staff receive the training and feedback they need to deliver high-quality programs for young people
• Oversee the climbing wall programming to ensure a safe and compliant environment that effectively expands the boundaries for young people
• Continuously assess program implementation to ensure consistent adherence to safety standards; collaborate with Director of Safety to uphold safety standards
• Ensure effective transportation for students to and from course and, when needed, drive students, staff, and/or equipment/gear to address emergent issues on site
• Manage relationship with course/site owners, including but not limited to serving as the Sharpe Reservation point of contact, to ensure effective communication and access to high-quality facilities for young people.
• Serve as organizational representative in regional and national outdoor adventure networking meetings and conferences
• Identify, pursue, and implement strategic partnerships and grant-funded initiatives that further the organization's mission
• Adapt programming using a continuous improvement framework to respond to shifts in strategy using data when possible, in order to support teams’ growth
• Ensure the effective management and development of a team of instructors and outdoor adventure program staff

• Contribute to and support the creation of reports, case studies, articles and other materials that capture the stories of the organization’s outdoor adventure programming for NYC young people
• Manage the outdoor adventure programming budget to ensure fiscal sustainability of the program
• Manage specific course programs and instruct students on course, when needed.

General Expectations for All Leaders:

• Cultivate an engaging and inclusive environment that attracts and retains a diverse pool of qualified talent.
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and supervise staff to effectively attain the goals of the department and the organization
• Monitor organizational culture and employee morale to identify improvement opportunities.
• Provide regular meaningful feedback, coaching, and support to direct reports in alignment with NYC Outward Bound Schools’ mission, vision, and core values as well as to the individual’s developmental needs.
• Foster a culture of cross-departmental collaboration, individual initiative, accountability, and responsibility across the organization.
• Model and promote the organization's core values, including leading by example and bringing awareness to the importance of the organization's efforts toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Provide guidance and support to the organization's leaders and employees.
• Develop presentations and memorandum, as needed.
• Maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to educational equity for BIPOC youth, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated dedication to our core values of community, courage, equity, integrity, and learning throughout all aspects of their work
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at least three of which has been in leadership or management positions
• Deep understanding of the approach to teaching and expanding opportunities for young people from varied and diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to lead safe, high-quality, and impactful programming that supports and accommodates diverse learners
• Strong skills in designing and facilitating professional development and training for adults
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, work collegially, and achieve influence across a wide range of diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated skills in harnessing and growing team talent to deliver on the goals of development and communication initiatives
• Ability to generate innovative ideas, take initiative, and prioritize tasks effectively
• Ability to remain detail-oriented while also maintaining focus on the big picture
• Skilled in working independently and following through on assignments with minimal direction.
• Demonstrated flexibility, maturity, and ability to juggle competing priorities
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal; experience and skill in public speaking and presentations
• Unquestionable integrity and ethical standards in leadership.
• Excellent digital literacy skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Office and Google.
• Ability to successfully obtain and maintain necessary certifications for outdoor adventure, upon start of employment and after completing required training
• Current and valid U.S. driver’s license held for a minimum of the past five (5) years, with the ability to drive, when needed, in the city and to remote locations
• Successful completion of a NYC Department of Education background check.
• Ability to work long hours, lift up to 50 lbs, and perform physical, outdoor jobs in all weather
• Ability to work outdoors for up to five days, overnight (i.e., camping), in many weather and temperature conditions

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• HRA/FSA/Transit accounts
• Life insurance
• 403(b) with employer match after one year
• Generous PTO

Location:

• Hybrid position; Requires time spent overnight at remote course location as well as work on site, when courses are not running at the organization's headquarters in Long Island City (Queens) multiple days per week as outlined in the organization’s remote work policy.

NYC Outward Bound Schools is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against and harassment of any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable state or federal law.

NYC Outward Bound Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against, and harassment of, any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable state or federal law.

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