Description
Why Voyageur Outward Bound School, Twin Cities Center?

Adventure, community, and impact await you as an Instructor with Voyageur Outward Bound School! Imagine spending your days leading middle and high school students from all over the country on epic week-long canoeing expeditions, where they’ll push beyond their limits, discover their inner strength, and grow into leaders. You’ll teach them vital life skills like resilience, problem-solving, and teamwork, all while immersing yourself in the awe-inspiring wilderness of Minnesota and Wisconsin!

When you’re not out on the trail or paddling down the river, you’ll live in a vibrant house, in the heart of the Twin Cities, with an incredible community of fellow adventurers. It’s the perfect blend of wilderness exploration and city living! With supportive teammates by your side, you’ll have the chance to make lifelong connections, share stories, and grow both personally and professionally.

This is more than a job; it’s a transformative experience for you and the students you lead. If you’re passionate about the outdoors, ready to create unforgettable moments, and eager to make a lasting impact, we want you on our team!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Course Director works under the supervision of the Program Management Team to oversee the safety, quality, and educational effectiveness of all courses. This includes overseeing and managing all pre-course and post-course work. Primary responsibilities include supervising and evaluating Instructors, managing technical student sites, and overseeing all logistical details of courses in the field.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Delivery & Implementation

Serve as the primary resource and mentor for instructors, ensuring courses of high educational quality, designed and conducted according to national and charter operating policies and procedures.
Schedule and facilitate course planning to ensure all courses are designed according to OB design principles, VOBS education consistencies, age progression and partner/OE goals.
Oversee instructors in the field including field checks, logistics coordination, emergency communications and coordination, and technical site management.
Facilitate course debrief, complete all course paperwork, and oversee equipment check in and wrap up.
Develop field staff through mentorship, feedback and pairing meetings, and in-service training.
Instruct staff training to help instructors develop individual, technical and educational skills.
Maintain professional communication between VOBS staff, students, parents, partners and chaperones during pre-course, course, and wrap up. This includes emergency situations.
Reconnaissance of new course areas.
Assist in the refinement and educational effectiveness of VOBS programming.
Ensure course documentation and data retention from students & staff is delivered according to expectations.

Community Development

Role model participating in and belonging to a culture where all students and staff feel a sense of belonging.
Provide clear, effective and timeline communication with field staff regarding performance, including strengths and areas for growth.
Deliver workshops and trainings as requested.

Student Supervision & Safety

Identify, assess and manage environmental, physical, social and emotional risk during all course activities.
Adhere to local and national operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures as outlined in the field staff manual.
Review incident reports and other course documentation
Manage student emotional and physical safety in times of duress, such as field emergencies.
Maintain professional presence and relations at sites, and with parents, program delivery partners and public interactions.
Support VOBS Twin Cities Center on-call field response system. This could include paddling or hiking to evacuate an injured student from the wilderness, answering the emergency field line, and preparing food and gear for evacuation teams.
May be required to step into Lead Instructor role as program and staffing needs indicate.

Other Duties as Assigned

Requirements
KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Collaboration – Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds to effectively meet shared objectives, while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions.
Communication – ability to clearly convey ideas, facts and information in a variety of settings using different mediums, while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions.
Conflict Management – Ability to manage and resolve conflict productively and with minimal negative impact by integrating a diversity of viewpoints, addressing harm, and fostering understanding and empathy.
Continual Learning -The ability to assess and recognize one’s own strengths and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement through formal and informal channels including feedback, training, or stretch assignments. An interest in and commitment to knowing oneself and others.
Cultural Competence -The ability to recognize and appreciate patterns of cultural differences and commonalities and to shift cultural perspective and change behavior in culturally appropriate and authentic ways.
Decision Making – The ability to make sound and timely decisions that accomplish goals, even in the face of uncertainty or high-pressure situations.
Dealing with Ambiguity – Can effectively cope with change, shift gears comfortably and act in a reasonable manner without having the total picture.
Instills Trust – The ability to gain the confidence and trust of people from varying backgrounds and lived experiences through honesty, integrity, authenticity, and consistency between words and actions.

SKILLS

Self Management – The ability to set well-defined and realistic personal goals, take on and complete tasks in a timely manner, and complete work with an appropriate level of supervision.
Situational Adaptability – The ability to modify approach and demeanor in real time to align with the shifting demands of different situations. The ability to “read the room” and adjust accordingly.
Teaching Others – The ability to help others learn through formal and informal methods, identify training needs, provide constructive feedback, and coach others on how to successfully perform tasks.
Directing Others – The ability to establish clear direction, set objectives and distribute workload appropriately.
Organizing – Can focus on what matters most and get things done. Able to coordinate multiple activities at once, to support goal(s).
Outdoor Technical Skills – Demonstrated competency in expedition skills like canoeing, portaging, backpacking, rock climbing, campcraft, map and compass navigation, winter activities, urban adventuring, expedition logistics and risk management.
Demonstrated experience teaching the above skills to students.
Demonstrated experience leading others.
Risk Management – Ability to lead self and others in anticipating, mitigating, and engaging in healthy risks to meet goals.
Demonstrated ability to assess students’ ability and backcountry hazards and use that information to mitigate the risk of participating in expeditions-style travel in a natural environment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

21 years of age as of start date of employment
Valid Driver’s License (held for 3 years) that passes Outward Bound USA screening criteria.
The following certifications (or the ability to obtain them after hiring) are required:
Wilderness First Responder and CPR
Wilderness Water Safety or Active Lifeguard Certification (Water Safety class provided to staff at a reduced cost during staff training cycle)
2+ years experience instructing courses in the outdoor education/ experiential education field.
Preference for team building experience and/or top-rope rock climbing, sea kayaking, and high ropes course facilitation experience.
Precedence for Single Pitch Rock Climbing Site Manager (PCIA, AMGA or ability to obtain equivalent certifications).
Preference for Whitewater canoeing skills, including knowledge of hazards in Class I-II environments (Swiftwater Rescue training or the ability to obtain training after employment).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Mental resilience sufficient to endure occasional physically and/or emotionally difficult situations, including but not limited to: working with staff, students, partners, chaperones or parents in emotionally charged circumstances.
Ability to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including but not limited to backpacking, paddling, portaging, running, carrying canoes overland, swimming, rock climbing and kayaking.
Must be able to participate in all site and course activities and maintain ample energy, strength and focus to aid students and instructors, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 60 lbs, generally in the form of a backpack.
Sufficiently fit to participate in vigorous physical activity including but not limited to running, swimming, backpacking, climbing, skiing and canoeing.

WORK CONDITIONS

On feet most days – sometimes for up to 16+ hours a day, or possibly more in the case of an emergency.
Constantly works in outdoor weather conditions, often during poor weather
Ability to lift, crawl, bend, carry and pull. Work is sometimes done in confined spaces and at height .
Ability to work a varied and flexible schedule including weekends.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This is a seasonal, exempt position.
Per Diem according to VOBS’ Field Staff Pay scale (Course director salary $115 -160 per diem based on experience).
Room and board provided while on contract and/or stipend depending on location
Pro deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates)
Paid sick time (accrued at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked)
Eligible for a 403b retirement plan with a 2% employer match up to 2% of total earnings.
Access to VOBS Employee Assistance Program