Position Summary

The Senior Director, Programs & Safety provides overall leadership to all programming, and is responsible for program safety, quality, and educational outcomes. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Director ensures alignment, continual improvement, and collaboration between all programs. This role serves as the school-wide Safety Director, in continuous pursuit of high quality programs in accordance with Outward Bound USA (OBUSA) Safety and Risk Management policies and procedures. The successful candidate will also be expected to have a commitment to and past experience with integrating equity, inclusion, and diversity priorities across all programming.  

This position is expected to be 1.0 FTE. Anticipated start date is November 29, 2021.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Supervise, mentor, and lead the three Program Directors and their teams to deliver high quality programing across numerous locations and course areas in the Northwest.
• Partner with Student Services Director and other staff to ensure timely, accurate and strategically aligned development of annual Open Enrollment offerings.
• Partner with other staff to track and adapt to enrollment trends and custom contract opportunities, expanding additional course and revenue opportunities.
• Support organizational equity, inclusion & diversity efforts across all programs, students and staff.  
• Ensure consistent, measured and continually improved upon student outcomes in coordination with OBUSA efforts and assessment tools.
• Collaborate on the development and implementation of annual field staff training programs to ensuring high quality technical and student management skills for course instructors and leaders.
• Oversee budget forecast/tracking for all individual programs, working closely with staff on alignment, efficiencies, and strategic investments. 
• Work with key program leaders to use research data on student outcomes to inform strategic programmatic decisions, training opportunities, and strategic funding opportunities .
• Assure all programs adhere to OBUSA and NWOBS safety, operating and human resource policies and procedures, as well as local, State, and Federal laws.
  • Serve as escalation point for key customer needs, including interactions with students and their families.

Safety & Risk Management

• Act as school-wide Safety Director, working with OBUSA, NWOBS Program Directors and Safety Manager, national and school safety committees to develop, track, and improve organization’s safety and risk management systems and annual goals, delegating specific program responsibilities to appropriate Program Directors and program staff.
• Actively uphold and further develop the school’s culture of safety, mentoring staff and role modeling the balance between safety and quality course outcomes that is tantamount to experiential learning.
• Organize and lead the NWOBS Safety Committee, partnering with Committee Chair and Executive Director on quarterly meetings, agendas, and discussion topics.
• Plan and direct all Emergency Response Protocol trainings, drills, and debriefs.
• Act as the organization’s default Incident Commander in any circumstance where the Emergency Response Protocol is enacted.
• Lead NWOBS engagement for all Safety Audits or Reviews, including directing staff participation, responses, and Safety Committee involvement.
• Attend OBUSA Safety Directors’ convenings and represent NWOBS at national safety and risk management conferences.
• Participate in Safety Audits and Reviews of other Outward Bound schools and charters across the country as needed.
• Ensure compliance with National Safety Policies & Standards.

Strategy

• Work with Executive Director and Senior Leadership Team to execute organizational strategy and measure key outcomes including financial results, students served, educational outcomes, and other key metrics.
• Support the execution of organizational strategy including, but not limited to, the:
  • Development of a sustainable business model that aligns with the mission of NWOBS
  • Development of expanded Portland area programming, including the possible build out of new facilities and locations
  • Use of national evaluation tools and trainings to ensure exceptional student outcomes
  • Establishment of stronger partnerships with regional organizations and schools
  • Identification and dismantling of institutional structures and curriculum practices that are not in line with our values of equity, inclusion, and diversity
  • Establishment of a comprehensive training and professional development program for new and existing staff to ensure a culture of high quality student outcomes across all programming.
  • Standardization of protocols and practices across all program areas to increase efficiency, consistency, and collaboration.