Position: Rocky Mountain Lead Instructor
Immediate Supervisor: Rocky Mountain Program Manager
Location: Canmore, AB
Start date: March-April 2021
Employment Type: Full-Time Fixed Term Contract (6-8 month contract)
Outward Bound Canada is committed to helping Canadian youth change the trajectory of their lives. With young people desiring to thrive in an unpredictable and changing world, OBC, a registered charity, offers social-emotional education through experiential adventures in the outdoors. Since 1969, OBC has inspired over 150,000 participants, with a particular emphasis on providing greater access to those facing socioeconomic barriers, to discover their potential. These experiences develop resilience, social and emotional intelligence, and environmental leadership to contribute to a better, more compassionate, and resilient society. The impact of our work on young people in Canada is found in our recent case for support.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Outward Bound Canada has prioritized the health and wellbeing of our employees, participants and the wider community. As of August 2020, we resumed some of our programs and implemented new COVID-19 Field Procedures to prioritize the health and safety of staff and participants. We are looking forward to a renewed connection with youth in nature in 2021.
ABOUT THE POSITION
OBC Rockies courses are multi-day/weeks wilderness trips that teach our core curriculum through outdoor skills (Backpacking, Snowshoeing and Canoeing). We look for experienced outdoor educators who are growth-oriented and passionate about teaching. The wilderness environments OBC Rockies’ courses travel through are remote, dynamic, and physically and emotionally challenging. These environments, along with the educational activities, require instructors to be fully committed to, hard-work, responsibility of the whole group, working effectively with their peers and leading students positively to achieve the course goals. The goal of this position is to maintain the successful candidate in the field leading expeditions but as the COVID era presents high uncertainty, this position may help with the region’s administration and operation should any field course get canceled.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Accountable for the health and well-being of students, physical, emotional and cultural risk management while on course.
● Design, implement and supervise program plans with a logical progression of activities and skills to achieve the course objectives.
● Present clear and effective lessons to engage students to attain the course’s educational goals implementing OBC curriculum. Coach other instructors in doing so.
● Effectively utilize group and risk management skills, maturity and role modelling in line with the values of OBC to create a safe and supportive environment for student-centered learning.
● Monitor, assess and evaluate students and program with clear and objective evaluation.
● Lead and manage in-field risk management decisions on course and preparation to carry out the emergency response and protocols as necessary.
● Identify and intervene unacceptable student behaviors, call for support when appropriate and evacuate students if the behavior surpasses the ability of OBC and poses a safety or violation concern.
● Understand and use medical and behavioral protocols, evacuation procedures, crisis protocols, and deliver clear communication through satellite devices.
● Evaluate the risk management skills of co-instructors and provide coaching to increase their potential to manage risks to identify, understand, and consider objective risk management and decision-making factors.
● Regularly works in a mentoring role with Instructors and Assistant Instructors, including OBC’s accepted field practices and application and support co-instructors in preparing lesson plans.
● Complete various program-related administrative documents and tasks to document events that occurred during the course and staff and student performance.
● Ability to operate within and provide direction to peers surrounding performance-based training and assessment guidelines.
● Build an effective team, setting the tone for open communication and a positive culture and dynamic.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DESIRED
● Commitment to the growth and development of social and emotional skills, resilience and environmental leadership in youth.
● Experience coaching instructors and students in rugged and remote alpine, forested terrain including but not limited to: boulder fields, rivers, snow slopes, and mountain passes.
● Experience in adventure and experiential educational module delivery and working with youth in an outdoor setting.
● Effective in creating a positive growth oriented expedition culture for students and co-instructors, promoting equity and inclusion skills.
● Experience navigating in the wilderness on and off trail, teaching land navigation using topographic maps and aids.
● Skilled in behaviour management, crisis intervention and problem-solving.
● Proven ability to make effective decisions and manage emergency situations and execute evacuations.
● Understanding and application of Outward Bound methods and philosophy, and be able to coach other instructors.
● Ability to apply OBC hiking practices and techniques, recognizing and mitigating hazards.
● Ability to facilitate and lead both youth and adults of various abilities and backgrounds.
● Ability to identify how aspects of staff and student identity may influence the expedition and acting on it.
● Minimum of 10 weeks of OBC field experience is highly preferred.
Certifications
● Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) & CPR-C or higher
● Class 4 Driver’s License and Driving Abstract (or equivalent)
● Post-Secondary education in outdoor education, adventure therapy, or relevant field.
● ACMG hiking guide certifications (Asset).
● Position requires police background check including Vulnerable Sector Check
COMPENSATION
Full Time Fixed Term Contract (6-8 month contract term)
Pay Range: $45,500-$50,000/year (prorated to contract duration) & benefits
READY TO APPLY?
Cover letters, resumes and trip logs can be submitted via our application database: click here.
If you encounter any problems with our online application process, please email your application to employ@outwardbound.ca.
Please identify the position as “Rocky Mountain Lead Instructor” when you apply.
Application deadline: March 7, 2021
Outward Bound Canada is an equal opportunity employer, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience beyond technical requirements of a job, if your experience is close to what you see listed, please consider applying. Diversity of experience and skill combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence. Outward Bound Canada strives to have a broad representation that is reflective of the diversity of Canada and values the diversity of people and communities and is committed to inclusion in our organization. We encourage applications from all individuals who will help us achieve our goals, including women, racialized people, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and all other equity-seeking groups.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please let us know if you require accommodations at any stage during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.
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