Associate Program Director - Partnerships and Safety (RMP) bei Colorado Outward Bound School

Description

Position: Associate Program Director of Partnerships and Safety

Location: Leadville, CO

Department: Program

Reports To: RMP Program Director

FLSA: Exempt

Position: Full Time, 10 months

Date Updated: October 2025

Organizational Overview

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a non-profit adventure-based education organization that emphasizes personal growth through challenge and experience. For over 60 years our wilderness courses have focused on inspiring responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Colorado Outward Bound School celebrates diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nation origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is based on qualifications and business needs. Outward Bound has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect and will report any suspected abuse or neglect.

We want to be transparent with all applicants that working at the Colorado Outward Bound School means joining a growth-minded community where we are actively dismantling our organization’s white supremacy culture. This conversation shows up at all levels of the organization – in our trainings, in our meetings, on our courses, and in our daily lives. Anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion work can be messy at times and we remain committed to navigating that together. Challenge and discovery are what we do and (un)learning is a fundamental part of our practice. COBS was originally built for and by white men, and now in support of our community members with marginalized identities – at COBS, in the outdoor industry, and beyond – we are actively working on changing that story to support individuals with different identities to empower themselves as we address barriers related to race, culture, socioeconomics, ability, gender, identity, geographic location, and mental health. While we are committed to learning and making necessary changes, we recognize we have a long way to go and want to notify applicants of that up front.

Position Summary

Colorado Outward Bound School seeks to hire a competent, courageous, and creative leader to join the Rocky Mountain Program Leadership Team (RMP PLT).  The Associate Program Director (APD) of Partnerships & Safety ensures high-quality program delivery by managing coordination with partnership organizations and maintaining safety systems across the Rocky Mountain Program (RMP). This role manages group logistics, curriculum, and communications, supervises staff involved in group programs, and upholds safety standards, training, and emergency response procedures. They will report to the Rocky Mountain Program Director, work closely with other members of the COBS Operations Team, as well as serve on the Program Leadership Team.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Management  (20%)

• Serves on the Rocky Mountain Program Leadership Team, focusing on strategy implementation, program optimization, and training development to achieve goals. 
• Supports the development and maintenance of a professional, engaging, and inclusive team culture across the school and specifically in the Rocky Mountain Program.  
• Supervises Program Managers in their responsibilities, ensuring course and student experiences consistently meet the school’s safety and quality benchmarks.  
• Adheres to all local operating procedures, safety policies, and emergency procedures outlined in the Field Staff Manual and Employee Handbook, and maintains appropriate conduct and behavior expectations on course. 
• Model best practices and approaches through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion 

Partnership Programs and Course Quality (50%)

• Oversees partner course outcomes and collaborates with Program Director for overall program quality for programs at the RMP
• Collaborate with APD – Staffing to staff, train, and manage partner program staff through systems such as Smartsheets, RMP Binders, and Logistics Planner.
• Meet with clients and partners pre-program to confirm logistics, answer questions, and ensure program alignment.
• Coordinate with Kitchen Manager and Logistics Department to ensure group needs (e.g., meals, equipment,  accommodations) are met.
• Manage Groups Approval process and act as liaison between Program, Logistics, and Client Relations teams.
• Coordinate weekly with APDs and leadership to align on group logistics, client needs, and program requirements.
• Supervise group programs during peak season, including oversight of staff and program delivery, group schedules, logistics, and progressive curriculum management. 
• Oversee group resources, structures, and training materials (e.g., Group CDs, handbooks, and checklists).

Safety (30% of the role)

• Lead and participate in weekly safety meetings and briefings to review schedules, trends, and risk management practices.
• Manage and mentor On-Call Systems and Scheduling, including staff supervision and communication processes.
• Oversee and support the On-Call Coordinator role and Program Managers tasked with Safety responsibilities, ensuring effective communication with staff and partners.
• Supervise High Ropes and Low Ropes inspections and training needs, including programming, audits, documentation, tracking, inventory management, and coordinating or conducting inspections and repairs. Maintain ACCT Level 2 standards.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to  course supervisors, monitoring safety and course briefings.
• Support Emergency Response Plans (ERP), including drills, incident response, and risk management oversight.
• Partner with program leadership to ensure compliance with national safety standards and staff training requirements.
• Accountable for tracking RMP safety learnings, including the collection, maintenance and distribution of all incident and safety related materials. 
• Oversees RMP incident reporting, incident learning and debriefing, analysis, and database management in line with OBUSA standards. 
• Contribute to staff debriefs, feedback, and documentation.
• Support organizational compliance with occupational safety and health standards.

Requirements

 Skills and Knowledge

• Microsoft Suite: Intermediate working knowledge of Office, Word and Excel. 
• Clean driving records.
• Strong leadership, organizational skills, and attention to detail. 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Able to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. This role requires a strong ability to communicate clearly and compassionately, including delivering positive reinforcement and constructive feedback to supervisees, peers, and supervisors. 
• Valid WFR, Epi, CPR certifications, and Youth Mental Health First Aid training.

Education and Work Experience

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in the outdoor education field, including training and safety management responsibilities.
• Experience with expeditionary learning models and outdoor adventure activities in mountainous terrain. 
• Current WFR, Epi, CPR, and Mental Health First Aid training, or willingness and ability to obtain by start date.  
• Project management experience preferred
• Experience working for or maintaining and building quality relationships with leadership at schools and youth-serving organizations.
• Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Level 2 Practitioner certification preferred
• Other preferred certifications include AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Avalanche Pro, and Leave No Trace.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Sitting at a desk or computer about 60% of the time, with some field and overnight requirements. 
• Must be able to lift and carry 40 lbs. 
• Ability to undertake field visits in inclement weather conditions.