Director of Outdoor Leadership and Education
Williamsport, PA
Full Time
Experienced
Lycoming College is hiring a Director of Outdoor Leadership and Education. Lycoming College provides a first-rate undergraduate experience for an increasingly diverse student body that comes from across the United States and the globe. Toward that end, as outlined in its 2021 Strategic Plan, the College commits to fostering an inclusive and equitable campus community that supports all students, faculty, and staff.
To help us become more inclusively equitable, the Director will facilitate co-curricular leadership and educational opportunities for all students through the College’s Outdoor Leadership and Education (OLE) program. Fulfilling this expectation requires that the Director be exceptionally attuned to the needs and experiences of all members of Lycoming’s diverse community and be adept at supporting and enhancing the campus experience of all with whom they work. Additionally, to create authentic relationships with students, faculty, and staff, the Director will acknowledge and appreciate each individual's unique identity, characteristics and lived experiences.
To this end, the Director, while working independently and collaboratively, will be the primary coordinator of a vigorous program of outdoor leadership and educational pursuits for students. Equally, the Director will be a resource for and collaborator with faculty and staff using outdoor pursuits to accomplish faculty and staff programming goals and objectives.
This position is a full-time benefits eligible position.
Who We Are:
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected residential liberal arts and sciences colleges and is becoming increasingly recognized for the quality of its experiential programming and for students gaining the skills needed upon graduation in today’s world. Students partner with faculty in doing original research, thrive in a robust program of internships, study abroad in more than two dozen countries, and compete in 19 NCAA Division III sports. Lycoming College’s strong endowment per student provides the foundation to support a first-rate undergraduate education. The College offers more than 100 majors, minors, and concentrations to about 1,100 active learners, including 30% international and domestic students of color. Students represent 25 states and territories and 15 countries.
The College proudly celebrates and values the principle of inclusive excellence. In support of its commitment to establishing an inclusive and equitable campus, Lycoming College seeks to recruit more faculty and staff from historically underrepresented groups with the recognition that doing so advances institutional excellence.
Lycoming College is an equal opportunity employer.
What will I do in this role?
Leadership and Administration
What are we looking for?
Education
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
What We Offer.
Lycoming College has an excellent benefits package that includes:
Health & Wellness Benefits:
How do I Join the Warrior Team?
To be considered for the position, apply directly online by submitting your resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Within the cover letter, please address your interest in serving as the Director of Outdoor Leadership and Education at Lycoming College, your field experiences and certifications, and commitment to provide programming and support for all students with diverse identities and lived experiences. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Post-offer motor vehicle record and criminal history background checks will be conducted.
Lycoming College Proudly Celebrates and Values Diversity.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive campus community supporting all faculty, staff, and students. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse identities and all who are interested in supporting and contributing to our mission and strategic plan. Lycoming College is an equal opportunity employer.
To help us become more inclusively equitable, the Director will facilitate co-curricular leadership and educational opportunities for all students through the College’s Outdoor Leadership and Education (OLE) program. Fulfilling this expectation requires that the Director be exceptionally attuned to the needs and experiences of all members of Lycoming’s diverse community and be adept at supporting and enhancing the campus experience of all with whom they work. Additionally, to create authentic relationships with students, faculty, and staff, the Director will acknowledge and appreciate each individual's unique identity, characteristics and lived experiences.
To this end, the Director, while working independently and collaboratively, will be the primary coordinator of a vigorous program of outdoor leadership and educational pursuits for students. Equally, the Director will be a resource for and collaborator with faculty and staff using outdoor pursuits to accomplish faculty and staff programming goals and objectives.
This position is a full-time benefits eligible position.
Who We Are:
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected residential liberal arts and sciences colleges and is becoming increasingly recognized for the quality of its experiential programming and for students gaining the skills needed upon graduation in today’s world. Students partner with faculty in doing original research, thrive in a robust program of internships, study abroad in more than two dozen countries, and compete in 19 NCAA Division III sports. Lycoming College’s strong endowment per student provides the foundation to support a first-rate undergraduate education. The College offers more than 100 majors, minors, and concentrations to about 1,100 active learners, including 30% international and domestic students of color. Students represent 25 states and territories and 15 countries.
The College proudly celebrates and values the principle of inclusive excellence. In support of its commitment to establishing an inclusive and equitable campus, Lycoming College seeks to recruit more faculty and staff from historically underrepresented groups with the recognition that doing so advances institutional excellence.
Lycoming College is an equal opportunity employer.
What will I do in this role?
Leadership and Administration
- Serve as a member of the Student Life Leadership Collaborative that focuses on student leadership development
- Provide administration, management, and field instruction of outdoor leadership and education programming that respects and supports all students
- Develop and implement risk management standards and practices as well as function as the chief risk management officer for all OLE operations
- Monitor programs for conformance with accepted industry standards, federal and state regulations, and land management permits
- Supervise student employees including student assistants (work study), student instructors (trip leaders), and manages any program subcontractors
- Select and purchase equipment while negotiating best pricing from suppliers/manufacturers
- Lead, or facilitate with student instructors, an annual number (~18-20) of predetermined field courses/trips that will appeal to all students of unique identities and lived experiences; these learning opportunities include (but are not limited to) weekday experiences, weekend trips, alternate spring break, College’s First-Year Outdoor Experience (summer) program, Winter Experience, May Term (in collaboration with faculty) Partner with students, faculty, and staff to deliver campus-wide programming that strives to be inclusive and creates a sense of belonging (e.g., Open Houses, Warrior Days, First-Weekend, Involvement Fair, Leadership programming, campus-wide programs, etc.)
- Oversee all aspects of the operation of the climbing/bouldering wall, gear/pack out room, and bike/ski shop
- Advise (or identify advisers for) student groups with outdoor interests such as the Lycoming Marathon Canoe Team and Climbing Wall Club
- Develop or approve course curriculum/content and formats as well as teaching progressions and guidelines for all activities offered by OLE (e.g., programming offered by temporary or contract staffing)
What are we looking for?
Education
- Master’s Degree in outdoor education, recreation, or related field; 5 years of program management experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility
- Current WFR or WEMT certification
- Professional instructor certification in at least one of the following areas: Wilderness medicine, AMGA SPI/CWI, ACA SWR, ACA Canoeing/Kayaking
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Prior experience with fostering an inclusive environment in support of all students
- Significant wilderness leadership experience in all seasons
- Significant program design, management, and administration experience
- Excellent communication and group facilitation skills
- Risk management experience at both the field and programmatic levels
- A high level of technical and instructional proficiency in several outdoor pursuits including some or all of the following: Rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, expedition canoeing, backcountry skiing, and whitewater kayaking, preferably at the instructor trainer level
- Knowledge of student development, outdoor education/leadership, and recreation theories
- Active member of one or more of the following: AEE, AORE, ACA
What We Offer.
Lycoming College has an excellent benefits package that includes:
Health & Wellness Benefits:
- Health insurance – Lycoming College offers a wide variety of health plan options available
- Dental insurance, including orthodontia coverage
- Vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
- Life & accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Long-term disability insurance
- Short-term disability insurance
- Cancer insurance
- Personal accident insurance
- Wellness program
- Employee assistance program
- 403(b) retirement plan with up to 9% contributions from the College
- Free tuition for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents at Lycoming College
- Free tuition for eligible dependents at over 600 colleges nationwide through Tuition Exchange, Inc.
- Free tuition for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents at the Pennsylvania College of Technology
- Generous paid time off (PTO)
- Paid Parental Leave
- 14 holidays per year
- Summer hours
- 15% discount at the campus bookstore, excluding textbooks and snacks
- Reduced rates for meal packages for on-campus dining facilities
- Use of the campus recreations center and gym facilities for employees and household family members
- Use of the campus Library
How do I Join the Warrior Team?
To be considered for the position, apply directly online by submitting your resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Within the cover letter, please address your interest in serving as the Director of Outdoor Leadership and Education at Lycoming College, your field experiences and certifications, and commitment to provide programming and support for all students with diverse identities and lived experiences. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Post-offer motor vehicle record and criminal history background checks will be conducted.
Lycoming College Proudly Celebrates and Values Diversity.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive campus community supporting all faculty, staff, and students. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse identities and all who are interested in supporting and contributing to our mission and strategic plan. Lycoming College is an equal opportunity employer.
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