Apply on Employer Site

Colorado Outward Bound School · 1 day ago

Director of Programs and Safety

Colorado, United States

Full-time

Hybrid

Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

$85K/yr - $100K/yr

3+ years exp

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a non-profit experiential-based education organization that emphasizes personal growth through challenge and adventure. The Director of Programs and Safety is a senior leader responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, mission-aligned programs that manage risk well across Colorado and Utah.

Education

Culture & Values

Hiring Manager

Kelsey Maxwell

Responsibilities

Collaborates as a member of the COBS Senior Leadership Team to identify school-wide needs, set strategic direction, and advance the organization’s mission

Leads a strong culture of safety, risk management, and continuous learning and improvement across programs and operations

Advances organizational goals across programming, training, and staff development

Serves as primary staff liaison to the Board Safety Committee; participates in all Board meetings and provides regular briefings on safety, programs, and risk-related matters

Oversees program functions to ensure cross-department alignment, including course scheduling, program quality, facilities planning, and financial forecasting, with an emphasis on operational efficiency and simplicity

Emphasizes and role models a culture of psychological safety and focus on learning to improve systems as well as emotional and physical well being of staff and students on course and in the workplace

Supervises, mentors, and evaluates Program Directors, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, inclusive programs that manage risk

Supervises and supports the Safety Manager to meet strategic and operational goals and annual safety priorities

Supervises the Facility Director and provides oversight of facilities and base infrastructure to ensure they meet programmatic, safety, risk management, and regulatory requirements; collaborates on facility planning, maintenance priorities, and capital improvements

Ensures performance management processes are implemented consistently across programs and directly manages performance for all direct reports

Partners with Sales and Admissions to maximize program capacity, align scheduling, and support enrollment processes including admissions criteria, eligibility requirements, and medical screening

Works closely with the Human Resources Director to support staff recruitment, hiring, scheduling, training, and employee relations

Advocates for COBS in public land use, regulatory, and policy processes at the local and national levels

Develops and manages the department’s revenue and expense budgets

Serves as COBS’s Safety Director and provides overall leadership for organizational, program, reputational, and financial risk management and ensures compliance with Outward Bound USA National Safety Standards

Partners with the Board Safety Committee to develop, prioritize, and implement safety goals and initiatives

Oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety systems through training, data analysis, policy development, organizational culture, mentoring, as well as safety reviews and audits

Ensures the Emergency Response Plan is current and that staff are trained in emergency procedures; oversees on-call reporting and incident response

Leads incident investigations through resolution and collaborates with Outward Bound USA on recommendations and compliance with National Safety Standards

Ensures quality incident reporting and analysis, and timely completion of required safety documentation

Leads the development and implementation of a school-wide vision for educational practices and curriculum, ensuring exceptional student and family experiences

Ensures consistency and quality in curriculum design and delivery across all programs

Oversees field staff and base management orientation and training to maintain high professional and safety standards

Qualification

Risk managementProgram oversightPeople managementEmergency responseBudget managementCommunication skillsStrategic decision-makingLeadership presenceCommitment to diversityCollaboration

Required

Strong alignment with the COBS mission and demonstrated integrity, initiative, and leadership presence

Recommended minimum of 3 years of director-level experience overseeing programs, teams, and operations in outdoor education, experiential learning, or a related field, including responsibility for people management, performance management, risk and safety systems, emergency response, budgeting, and strategic decision-making

Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and meeting firm deadlines

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to staff, leadership, and board-level audiences

Demonstrated commitment to creating access and belonging in programming and organizational culture

Benefits

Benefits eligibility for medical, dental, and vision insurance, where COBS pays a significant amount toward healthcare premiums and provides employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage and basic life insurance

20 days of Paid Time Off that accrues throughout the first year, with an additional day of PTO added with consecutive years of service

56 hours of paid Sick Leave

401K eligibility available after one year of service

ProDeal eligibility