Overview
For a full job description, please visit https://www.bigcitymountaineers.org/careers/national-program-director
The National Program Director (NPD) holds primary responsibility for BCM’s programming and mission-directed work nationwide. This includes leading and supporting a team of six Regional Program Managers, providing strategic vision and direction for BCM’s programming, project managing the organization’s continuous program improvement processes, and holding responsibility for the organization’s field risk and safety practices and procedures. The NPD will take lead in troubleshooting program challenges that arise leading up to and during the program season, and will create and implement plans to improve program quality, staff capacity, impact evaluation, and future program development.
As part of the organization’s leadership team, the National Program Director will collaborate closely with the Executive Director and the Director of Development to steward the organization’s direction and culture. The NPD can also expect to collaborate with all staff, and the Board Risk and Safety committee to best understand and support BCM’s programming and each region’s work. As the Regional Program Manager team operates remotely, exemplary people management skills and experience with remote teams is required.
This role reports to and is supported by the Executive Director, with whom the incumbent will work closely. The NPD will have ample opportunity to think creatively and expansively about their work and hold decision making responsibilities relative to the creation of the organization’s program structures and systems. The NPD will regularly communicate work progress and goals to the Executive Director and Board of Directors. The NPD will also represent BCM to the external community and hold many outward-facing relationships.
The National Program Director will work out of BCM’s headquarters in Arvada, CO (preferred), or one of BCM’s other program regions: Seattle WA, SF Bay Area, Minneapolis MN, Boston MA, Birmingham, AL. No candidates will be considered who live outside of these regions. Some travel is expected; the National Program Director can expect to make 3-6 trips to BCM’s various regions per calendar year.
Qualifications:
Personal passion for and unwavering commitment to BCM’s mission, values, and principles, including principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Deep motivation to increase access to the outdoors for youth from disinvested communities and belief in the power of nature-based experiences
Experienced and accomplished field practitioner: 5+ years leading field experiences for youth similar to BCM’s programming, 3+ years supervising others to do the same
Required Skills:
Demonstrated ability to create and improve program strategy and vision in similar environments and to engage others to buy into such vision
Love for data, experience effectively collecting and analyzing data sets (both qualitative and quantitative) and making data-informed decisions
Collaborative spirit, eager to work within and across a small organizational hierarchy
Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, both in person and electronically
About Big City Mountaineers
At Big City Mountaineers, we work alongside the transformative powers of nature to foster a lasting impact in the lives of youth from disinvested communities. BCM creates opportunities for 12 to 18 year-olds to connect with nature and realize their own sources of strength, resilience, confidence, serenity and joy by providing free, fully outfitted, and professionally led outdoor experiences. BCM’s programming culminates in a weeklong backcountry trip, which is often the first time the youth we serve experience the outdoors in such a way. The BCM experience enables youth to take on healthy and relevant challenges and cultivate a connection to themselves, their community, to nature, and to joy.
