Assistant Director of Davidson Outdoors

Summary:

Davidson College is seeking a skilled and experienced candidate for the Assistant Director of Davidson Outdoors (DO) position to support and lead Davidson's student-focused outdoor programs. The DO Assistant Director is a year-round position that works with the program director, staff, and student leaders, delivering a broad range of adventure-based programs.

The primary responsibility is the execution of all aspects of Davidson's Outdoor Odyssey - Pre-Orientation Trips. This program allows incoming first-year and transfer students to engage in a multi-day overnight outdoor education experience led by current students. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with student leaders to ensure the success of Davidson's Outdoors programs and is responsible for all administrative functions related to outdoor recreation, including assessment of student leader capabilities, risk management, and marketing.

Davidson Outdoors is an office located within the College Union and advises the student-led organization, also known as Davidson Outdoors. This position reports to the Director of Davidson Outdoors and is a member of the College Union staff, within the Student Life division at Davidson College.

Essential Functions:

Student Development:

• Student Trip Leaders
  
  
  
  • Guide and mentor student leaders of Davidson Outdoors as they lead and teach their peers; contribute to their growth as leaders to support peer-led experiences
  • Train student leaders in our Trip Leader Training (TLT) course. This course specifically focuses on backpacking and building the confidence and competence to lead safe and enjoyable student trips. This includes:
    
    
    
    • Development of course outline and learning outcomes
    • Instruction of courses
    • Supervision and risk management of participant safety
    • Administrative oversight of all course logistics (i.e. travel planning, budget development, promotion, etc.)
    
    
  • Train student leaders in additional outdoor technical disciplines - (i.e., climbing, paddling, biking, coastal paddling, caving)
  
  
• Student Employment:
  
  
  
  • Responsible for the weekly student staff meeting agenda and outcomes to ensure student staff members receive appropriate information, training, and development
  • Supervise 10-20 student staff for the gear rental, climbing wall, trip, and equipment support as needed
  • Enforce safety policies for the facility and its users
  
  
• Enhance the student employee and trip leader experience through training and development programs, including interpersonal and technical skills, advancement of leadership and transferable life skills, and fostering a sense of belonging

Risk Management:

• Serve as on-call point person for all trip-related emergencies during Outdoor Odyssey and 5-7 weekends during the semesters; organize the emergency response team, assist with on-site evacuations or other urgent logistical support
• Exercise independent judgment and appropriate authority in decision-making while leading all outdoor education programs and trips. Responsible for the safety and welfare of all participants and has unchallengeable decision-making ability regarding participant activities
• Lead Davidson Outdoors staff and student leaders by teaching risk management skills, identifying and addressing areas of risk and exposure; implement best practices. Advise the Director on areas of concern and recommend policy changes.

Administration:

• Maintain a complete inventory of our outdoor recreation equipment, which includes a projected life and forecast of likely needed replacement
• Develop and implement robust marketing of Davidson Outdoors offerings, including WildcatSync and social media
• Develop and manage the Davidson Outdoors budget in areas assigned. Adhere to all college accounting, procurement, and purchasing policies

Other Functions:

• Serve on college, division, and department committees, task forces, and work teams
• Other duties as assigned

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree
• Three years of experience in outdoor recreation, education, or a comparable field
• Two seasons of experience teaching backpacking or a set of technical skills that closely relate to backpacking
• Significant technical experience (able to train student instructors) in three or more of the following areas: Rock Climbing, Whitewater Canoeing, Backpacking, Ultralight Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Indoor climbing, Route Setting, Whitewater Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting, Swift water rescue, Coastal paddling, Ropes course facilitation, Teambuilding, Caving, Whitewater Stand-up Paddle Boarding, Leave No Trace (LNT), Mountaineering, Adaptive sports. Include copies of your certifications and/or field logs with your application
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience responding to medical and personal emergencies, including risk management policies, procedures, and best practices
• WFR & CPR certification or acquired within six months of hiring
• Experience in teaching and instructing leadership skills, with experience facilitating conversations that center on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to meet the requirements of Davidson College's automobile policy
• Frequent evening and weekend work is required. Outdoor Odyssey sessions are each 7 days, including 5 nights in the field. Three weekend trips per semester are typical, and break trips can be up to 14 days/nights in the field, including travel time

Physical & Mental Requirements:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting, walking, twisting, bending, climbing, pulling, pushing, squatting, crawling, kneeling, balancing, reaching, and coordination (eye, hand, foot).
• Extensive physical exercise and exertion during outdoor activities require cardiovascular strength
• Conditions that result in falls (impacts) from height or traditional walking and playing surfaces
• Prolonged computer use, including keyboard and/or mouse usage, as well as viewing a computer monitor
• An employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds to perform essential position functions
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus
• The overall work environment requires the mental ability to shift focus quickly due to interruptions

Preferred Qualifications or Skills:

• At least two years of experience in hiring, training, supervising, evaluating, and mentoring employees
• Instructor certification in a broad range of outdoor activities, including, but not limited to: whitewater paddling, rock climbing, mountain biking, caving, or other activities or proven experience that demonstrates that instructor certification could be completed within 6 months of hiring. Please upload certifications or an experience log demonstrating progress toward instructor certification
• Experience responding to interpersonal conflicts
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Outlook, and databases
• Highly creative problem-solving skills
• Experience in facilities management and/or equipment repair, especially canoe and kayak repair and climbing wall maintenance
• The ability to comply with highly inflexible deadlines is required to perform the essential functions of this position successfully; there will be multiple occurrences of sudden, urgent task completion required

Information about how to submit an application can be found at https://employment.davidson.edu