The University of Denver’s vision is to be a “great private university dedicated to the public good.” Founded in 1864, DU is actively implementing its dynamic strategic plan, DU IMPACT 2025. Among the plan’s most significant goals are strengthening the 4-dimensional (4D) Experience for all students, including advancing intellectual growth, pursuing careers and lives of purpose, exploring character, and promoting well-being.

At the Kennedy Mountain Campus, we build Pioneers for Life through excellence, character, and connection. We operate with an adventure mindset, creating and fostering a daring culture every day. Inspired by our location in the Rocky Mountain West, we always find a better way forward; we work with optimism, passion, grit, and integrity. We forge lasting relationships one interaction at a time, and our value to the University of Denver is the degree to which we offer connection points to a broad and diverse community. Thats why were always looking ahead, not just to the next adventure or whats next in outdoor programs. Were also looking at whats next for you and how we can help you build a career youre proud of.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director of The Outdoor Experience, the Experiential and Field Programs Manager will be instrumental in developing and delivering programming such as outdoor skill development clinics, trips, student leadership training, challenge programs, and working with revenue-generating programs at the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus. This position will work split time between the Urban and James C. Kennedy Mountain (KMC) campuses and field locations throughout the state and beyond.

Essential Functions

Program Management and Delivery

• Design, coordinate, and execute a variety of outdoor programs and activities for the DU Community, including skill development clinics, wilderness trips, team-building programs, and adventure retreats.
• Develop engaging programming for diverse audiences, including families, alumni, and community members, while maximizing revenue-generating opportunities.
• Ensure thorough documentation and safety compliance for all adventure programming, including accident reports and participant evaluations.
• Coordinate logistics with government agencies and other stakeholders to facilitate smooth program delivery.

People Management and Development

• Recruit, interview, hire, lead, and mentor a team of part-time staff, fostering a culture of excellence and teamwork.
• Ensure all staff have completed required certifications and training prior to working; maintain certification expiration dates and ongoing training.
• Provide day-to-day supervision of outdoor experience staff to ensure high-quality program delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as an on-call resource during overnight activities, supporting staff and ensuring participant safety.

Event Management and Execution

• Act as onsite programming lead for the First Ascent-New Student Orientation program and other campus events requiring Outdoor Experience staff.
• Manage logistics for Outdoor Experience and KMC events and adventure-based trips, ensuring seamless execution and exceptional customer service.
• Address post-event feedback and implement improvements to enhance future experiences.

Risk Management and Safety

• Identify risk issues and areas of improvement and provide viable and logical solutions.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections to identify and mitigate potential risks associated with programming.
• Ensure staff adherence to safety policies and procedures, providing ongoing training, industry certifications, and support as needed.
• Facilitate activity certifications and wilderness medicine training for staff to maintain safety standards.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Ability to work with event scheduling, employee scheduling, and program registration software.
• Ability to plan, direct, and evaluate the work of others.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong Work Ethic
• Good Interpersonal Skills
• Proactive
• Flexibility
  Teamwork

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in outdoor leadership, kinesiology, sports management, health education, recreation, student affairs, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two (2)+ years working as a professional in an adventure industry setting.
• Demonstrated competency in creating team-building and bonding programs that utilize games, low elements, and a high ropes course.
• Demonstrated competency in leading various outdoor skill development and field-based adventure programs.
• Wilderness First Responder certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4)+ years’ experience in adventure programming.
• Management of overnight and extended adventure trips
• Demonstrated competency in developing curriculum for skill development and field-based programs.
• Demonstrated ability in two of the following:
• Wilderness Medicine Instructor
• AMGA SPI training or certificate (or higher level of training)
• Leave No Trace Master Educator
• AIARE or Similar Course Lead
• Experience instructing ski, snowboarding, and backcountry touring
• Fly Fishing Instruction and/or guiding experience
• Experience leading multiday rafting and/or kayaking trips
• Experience instructing mountain biking
• Demonstrated competency in developing skill development and field-based programs.

Working Environment

Works in all weather conditions and varying facilities and environments.
Works regularly in the field, overnights, weekends, and holidays.
Noise level is moderate.
Exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

Physical Activities

Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
Ability to speak with people in person and over the phone.
Physical ability to navigate outdoor terrain with and lift up to 70 lbs.

Work Schedule
37.5 hrs/week – Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays regularly.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 20, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 8.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $55,000-$60,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (“POWR”) Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver’s Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.