2026 Program Manager (5 Months) - Rocky Mountain Program presso Colorado Outward Bound School

Description

Position: Rocky Mountain Program Manager

Location: Leadville, CO

Department: Rocky Mountain Program

Reports To: Rocky Mountain Program Director

FLSA: Exempt

Position: Part time/Seasonal

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 applicable 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.

Working at the Colorado Outward Bound School means joining a growth-minded community where we are actively creating a more inclusive organizational culture. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion shows up at all levels of the organization – in our trainings, meetings, courses, and daily lives. This work can be challenging at times and we are committed to navigating it together to create a supportive and inclusive environment for our staff and our students. To foster a more welcoming outdoor community for all, we are working to address barriers related to race, culture, socioeconomics, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, geographic location, and mental health.

Position Summary

The 5 Month Rocky Mountain Program Managers (PMs) work within the Program Leadership Team to support program operations. The Program Manager is an entry level manager position who is primarily responsible for course oversight. The Program Manager holds administrative responsibilities, serving as the primary overseer of Course Directors, instructor teams, supporting logistical systems and staff, as well as being accountable for ensuring a safe and quality experience for staff and students. Key Program Manager responsibilities include developing, training, coaching and mentoring staff in their capacity to deliver our educational framework, curriculum and ensure student outcomes are met.  

Requirements

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Serves as a collaborative and active member of the Rocky Mountain Program Leadership Team to ensure high quality support for all courses and students.
• Responsible for the delivery of high-quality student experiences through coaching and mentoring of instructional staff in alignment with school progressions, curriculum, and policies and procedures.
• Develops and manages instructional staff through active coaching and mentoring through utilization of organizational performance and goals documents.
• Under the direction of the Associate Program Director of Staffing and Program Delivery, the Program Manager is expected to address performance issues of instructional staff. This includes addressing policy violations, performance transgressions, and conduct infractions that are observed as well as reported by instructional staff.
• Collaborates as part of the Program Leadership Team in implementing strategies to meet program needs, goals, and direction. 

Safety & Risk Management

• Writes and reviews incident reports and analyses to ensure thorough and accurate reporting. Leads staff team debriefs on select incidents. Ensures pertinent feedback from incidents are delivered and documented to instructional staff and program administrators.
• Adheres to all local operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures outlined in the Staff Manual and Employee Handbook.
• Participates in the Emergency On-Call system. Including responding to field calls and emergencies, decision-making, acting as incident command for incidents and following the Emergency Response Plan. This includes being part of a 24/7 on-call rotation monitoring calls coming from courses in progress. Typically, these rotations are 24-72 hours at a time.
• Upholds guidelines, which align with policies and procedures, and maintain appropriate conduct and behavior expectations on course.
• Manages student groups and handles field emergencies directly or through our Incident Support Network as requested.

Course Oversight

• Responsible for ensuring safe, high-quality student experiences for assigned Open Enrollment and Partnership courses.
• Delivers pre-course safety briefings and provides oversight and instruction regarding course itineraries.
• Designs and delivers professional development opportunities for staff.
• Conducts supervisory visits to field operation sites. Oversees assigned trainings, courses, and technical sites as needed. 
• May be required to fill in for instructional positions on courses and logistical support as assigned, including driving school vehicles with students.
• Collects, reviews, and files course end paperwork, updates and/or maintains electronic records and resources. Organizes and maintains staff, supervisor and program paperwork resources as assigned.
• Actively coaches, and mentors, staff while behavior incidents occur on course.
• Provides clear, effective and timely communication with Instructors, Course Directors, Supervisors or other staff. Committed to receiving, openly sharing, and resolving feedback that comes from staff.
• Acts as a communication conduit between field staff and program leadership.
• Clearly, professionally, and compassionately communicates with student families during and after course.

Community Building

• Models and promotes a positive and inclusive community culture.
• Assists with basecamp upkeep, standards, and systems, including shared oversight of staff housing.
• Assists in planning and executing Rocky Mountain Program events and celebrations.

Special Projects

• Connects with service partners to arrange logistics and ensure quality projects.
• Conducts supervisory visits to course sites to oversee assigned trainings, curriculum, and technical skills.
• Fills trainer roles as assigned and supports development and implementation of field staff training.
• Assists with pre-season and post-season programming preparation and shutdown.
• Completes other duties as assigned. 

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Personal commitment to, and working knowledge of, the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Comfort with a wide range of groups serving and educating youth to executive teams.
• Experience working in customer service or hospitality.
• Knowledge and experience with outdoor recreation and adventure education programs are preferred.
• Ability to effectively work on diverse teams and with a diverse range of people and identities, including those that might be different than your own lived experience.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Able to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proactive and effective communicator and collaborator.
• Possesses skills to promote a welcoming and inclusive community culture.
• Proficiency in using the Microsoft Office suite and Salesforce platform, or technical skills and a willingness to learn such software upon hire.
• Excellent driving skills and record. Experience in large vehicles with trailers preferred.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in the outdoor education and experiential learning field or any other similar combination.
• Experience working with youth and managing group dynamics.
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certification.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid training.
• Must have held a driver’s license for over 5 years.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including but not limited to camping, backpacking, rock climbing and ropes courses.
• Ability to lift and move a minimum of 50 pounds.
• Sitting at a desk or computer 60% of the time or greater.
• Ability to lift, crawl, bend, carry and pull. Work is sometimes done in confined spaces and at height.
• Could potentially work in outdoor weather conditions, occasionally during poor weather.

Compensation and Benefits

• Full-time, seasonal exempt position with a monthly salary range of $3,466 to $3,624/month, approximately mid-April to end of August/mid-September. 
• The general schedule is approximately 22 days/month based on a 5 out of 7 days/week schedule, which many need to flex due to programming needs, with weekends and/or holiday work required based on COBS’s program calendar.
• 56 hours of paid Sick Leave, Employee Assistance Program.
• Eligibility for professional development funds after completion of training.
• Onsite housing provided; Colorado PMs are required to live on the premises at COBS’s Leadville, CO basecamp.
• Meals provided during May training and summer Open Enrollment season.
• Prodeal eligible.

Application Process

• Please apply using the application link and address cover letter and resume to Bri Golden Copeland (she/her), Program Director, [email protected].
• Download a copy, complete, and upload this technical experience log with your application

**Colorado Outward Bound School is an E-Verify Employer**