Lead Staff

Overview

First Descents (FD) is a nonprofit that provides life changing outdoor adventures for young adults (ages 18-39) impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. Our participants experience free outdoor adventure programs that empower them to climb, paddle, and surf beyond their diagnosis, reclaim their lives, and connect with others doing the same. As a Lead Staff, you must be approachable, adaptable, understanding, communicative, organized, hardworking, and motivated.  As a member of our team, it is imperative you are passionate about our mission and demonstrate a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in the outdoor and healthcare spaces. FD strongly encourages people from underrepresented groups to apply.

Job responsibilities include:

Leadership and Facilitation:
– Lead or co-lead a participant group of up 15 young adults impacted by cancer, Multiple Sclerosis,
and other serious health conditions, including COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers and clinical caregivers
– Organize on-site programming including but not limited to on-site group logistics and transportation, traditions and ceremonies, group discussions, daily team debrief meetings, and volunteer management
– Act as the on-the-ground point of contact between FDHQ and third-party vendors (e.g. outfitters, lodge owners/managers, vehicle rental companies, etc.)
– Work in close coordination with caterers and/or chefs for meals and help set up the space for meal time

Safety: 
– Ensure the physical and emotional safety of all participants, volunteers, and staff
– Quickly and effectively address medical issues and emergencies as they arise, if and when necessary and communicate incidents and issues to FDHQ
– Ensure adherence to FD’s risk management policies

Administrative:
– Act as the main point of contact for participants one week prior to the program start date to answer any programmatic and logistics related questions, including sending the pre-program email, texts, and phone calls to participants
– Complete all necessary reporting back to FDHQ in a timely manner including but not limited to post-program emails, program recaps, participant and volunteer surveys, incident reports, expense reports, etc.
– Maintain the highest level of confidentiality and professionalism surrounding participant information 

Tagged as: Backcountry Skills, Camp Counselors, Camp Staff, Instruction and Guiding, Therapeutic Counselors

Qualifications:

- Must be at least 21 years of age or old
- Have a valid driver’s license and can pass a motor vehicle background check
- Have experience in outdoor group facilitation, leading, or guiding
- Must have a current minimum certification in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) – Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Required Skills:

- Must have ability to maintain ample energy and have the ability to hold space for others
- Ability to participate in strenuous physical activity including but not limited to whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, and/or hiking
- Ability to move and carry gear and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds
- Ability to move about on feet for majority of the day in both indoor and outdoor environments on uneven surfaces

Preferred Skills:

- Must be passionate about FD’s mission and is committed supporting those impacted by cancer and ther serious health conditions
- Must be approachable, adaptable, understanding, communicative, organized, hardworking, and motivated
- Must be able to effectively address issues and resolve conflict in a diplomatic and timely manner