Outdoor Education Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Posting Details
Position Information
Job Category
Professional/Administrative
Position Title
Assistant Director of Outdoor Education
Full Time/Part Time
Part Time
Division
Athletics
Department
Outdoor Education
Work Arrangement type
On-Site (Hamilton, NY) - expected to work fully at the designated campus/office location.
Hiring Wage/Salary Range
$53,950
Professional Experience/ Qualifications

• 2 years of experience working in the outdoor education/recreation or adventure therapy field.
• One or more advanced technical outdoor skill sets (such as whitewater or sea kayaking, ski touring, rock climbing, etc), demonstrated by a professional and/or personal log and relevant certifications.
• Demonstrated ability to independently and safely manage a group of students and/or adults while traveling and engaging in outdoor education activities.
• Demonstrated ability to safely and effectively manage classes, learning settings, and/or facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to create and enforce policies as it pertains to courses or facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to instruct, train, supervise and evaluate student participants and student employees.
• Must be able to mentor college students in leadership, teaching, risk management, and technical skill development.
• Demonstrated ability to plan travel and manage trip logistics.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to plan, prioritize, and delegate across multiple projects.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population of people.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with, build relationships with, and serve as a resource for student leaders.
• A clear commitment to the university's academic mission and appreciation of its liberal arts curriculum.
• Skills and experience with both the Google and Microsoft software suites (Google Docs and Sheets, Excel, Word, etc.).
• Exhibits strong self leadership and expedition behavior.

Preferred Qualifications
One or more of the following areas of expertise:

• Whitewater paddling:
  • Demonstrated ability to manage students in whitewater up to class III or beyond.
  • ACA level IV certification preferred.
  • Personal experience and ability paddling in water up to grade IV/V.
  • Experience and/or training in swift water rescue techniques.
• Sea kayaking:
  • Demonstrated personal and professional sea kayaking experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and instruct students in level 3 coastal kayaking venues and conditions.
  • ACA Coastal Kayaking Level 3 certification preferred.
• Backcountry skiing/ski touring:
  • Demonstrated ability to manage students in alpine and/or avalanche terrain.
  • AIARE 2 or AIARE Pro 1 certification.
• Mountain biking:
  • Experience coaching mountain biking.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and instruct groups in a variety of mountain bike terrain.
  • Mountain biking skill and experience at an intermediate level or higher.
• Rock and ice climbing
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and instruct students in single pitch rock climbing terrain.
  • AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (or equivalent).
  • Rock climbing lead experience at an intermediate level or higher.
  • Intermediate level ice climbing skill or higher.
• Other demonstrated skill sets which may include, but are not limited to, telemark skiing, skate skiing, technical tree climbing, canyoneering, caving, challenge courses, teambuilding etc.

Experience managing one or more of the following:

• A fleet of outdoor equipment and/or an equipment rental center.
• An indoor rock climbing wall; experience route setting.
• A challenge course with emphasis on low ropes initiatives and a teambuilding program.

Experience working at a university outdoor education or recreation program, NOLS, Outward Bound, or High Mountain Institute.
Education

• Bachelor's degree in recreation, outdoor education, adventure education, adventure therapy, or other relevant field.

Certifications
Wilderness First Responder from NOLS, SOLO, or Wilderness Medical Associates; other certification(s) as related to relevant, technical outdoor skill sets.
Offer Determination
When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.
Physical Requirements
Ability to perform skills related to outdoor education and advanced technical outdoor skill sets to a satisfactory, safe, and professional level, sometimes in adverse weather or environmental conditions.
Other Information
Outdoor trip log requested with application materials, including resumes relevant for specific areas of technical expertise.
Benefits
Colgate University offers a competitive benefits package, with most benefits effective on the date of hire. Highlights include: medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, paid family leave, health & wellness, continuing education and professional development. We also offer unique perks, such as free parking, gym discounts, bookstore savings, athletic tickets, and access to cultural and recreational facilities. Explore the full benefits package on our Benefits page.
Department Statement
With over 100 years of history, Colgate Outdoor Education is a highly successful program known nationally for its focus on leadership, teaching, and skill development.
Colgate Outdoor Education provides Colgate students with leadership, wellness, personal growth, a sense of place, and community-building opportunities through outdoor and experiential programs. In addition, our community values sustainability, diversity and inclusion, safety, and improvement. We support Colgate's mission to help students:

• Prepare for lives of leadership and productive citizenship
• Develop the skills to participate in a lifetime of healthy activity
• Develop personal potential and experience the cohesion of shared purpose

The Assistant Director of Outdoor Education collaborates with the director in the oversight of sixty student staff and providing year-round outdoor and experiential programming to the Colgate community. The position is 10 months, with benefits year round. Typical months off are June and July.
Outdoor Education is housed in Basecamp, formerly the Colgate ski haus, now a rustic office space on the edge of campus, complete with kitchen, fireplace, and equipment rental center. Right next door, in the Huntington Gymnasium, the Angert Family Climbing Wall provides a teaching and training space and a home for the local climbing community. We also make good use of the Glendening Boathouse, located on Lake Moraine, for canoe, sea kayak, and SUP practice, and the Beattie Reserve, an 80-acre wilderness area, located four miles from campus, that includes a yurt and our high and low ropes course. Right out the back door, on the old ski hill, are miles of running, mountain biking, and cross country skiing trails across the 575-acre Colgate campus. The rolling hills and country roads of the Chenango Valley make for stellar road biking. Several local crags and ski areas also offer great teaching and learning destinations for our programs.
Just an hour from campus, the six-million-acre Adirondack Park provides world-class outdoor recreation opportunities. For whitewater kayaking, upstate New York's intensive hydrologic development lends itself to regular releases on classic runs such as the Moose, Beaver, and Raquette rivers. The Adirondack anorthosite is a high quality granite-like rock, perfect for both sport and traditional climbing, with over 1,600 recorded routes. In the winter, the park freezes over to create many destinations for skiing and ice climbing. The legendary Shawangunks Ridge, or "the Gunks," is just three hours away with some of the world's best multi-pitch traditional climbing and bouldering. Other renowned destinations for climbing and skiing, such as Rumney, North Conway, Mt. Washington, Killington, Stowe, Lake Willoughby, and Smuggler's Notch are all within a 4-6 hour drive.
Accountabilities
This position will provide comprehensive leadership and administrative support for Colgate's robust Outdoor Education department and facilities, including outdoor education physical education courses, advanced skills seminars, backyard adventure days trips, and other longer trips and programming. Reporting to the Director of Outdoor Education, and working in partnership with the Assistant Director of Outdoor Education, responsibilities may include:

• Budget planning
• Planning, marketing and execution of schedules and programs
• Administrative oversight of daily operations of the Outdoor Education department and associated programming
• Training, supervising and evaluating assigned staff, including student workers
• Instruction of physical education courses

The individual serving in this position must exercise independent judgment and unchallengeable authority in decision-making while leading all outdoor education programs and trips. They are responsible for the safety and welfare of all participants and retain unchallengeable decision-making ability regarding participant activities.
Responsible for the effective management of one or more of the following areas and/or facilities of the Outdoor Education program:

• Outdoor Equipment Rental Center & Base Camp
• Angert Family Climbing Wall
• Beattie Challenge Course
• Pre-Orientation Programs
• Advanced Seminar Courses
• Physical Education programming
• Special Events (e.g. Annual Climbing Competitions, Banff Film Festival, etc.)

Effective management shall be achieved through the following responsibilities, as assigned by the Director:

• Budget management of assigned areas
• Oversight of programming logistics, including but not limited to travel planning, budget development, execution, etc.
• Tracking and replenishing inventory to gear and equipment
• Facilitating equipment repair and facility maintenance
• Organizing storage for space and efficiency
• Training, supervising and evaluating student leaders
• As it relates to course seminar and course institution, development of course outlines and learning outcomes, as well as instruction of courses
• Assessing risk management and participant safety

Administration of daily operations of the department may also include:

• Promoting positive customer service of department and providing timely responses to requests for information
• Managing programming calendars and itineraries and assisting with scheduling an service requests related to both campus and outside vendors and services
• Supporting general office upkeep and execution of tasks, such as maintaining office supplies, coordinating with campus partners, website maintenance, processing quotes, creating purchase orders and requisitions and submitting for timely payment
• Maintaining department records, research information, analyze data, prepare reports, edit and format documents and presentations, and produce standard reports

Responsible for leading trips with and for students. Fall, winter, and spring break trips are expected, as is evening and weekend work.
Responsible for adherence to assigned Outdoor Education budgets. Exercises independent discretion on all purchases and budgetary decisions for assigned areas.
Accountable for maintaining professional relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and for role modeling behaviors and leadership for students.
Mission of Colgate's Division of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics: To be an inclusive community of competitive excellence.
This position has been designated as a Campus Security Authority {CSA), in accordance with the federal statutory requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act. CSAs are required to and responsible for reporting allegations of crimes they receive from students and employees to the Campus Safety Department.
Posting Detail Information
Requisition Number
2026S061Posting
Temporary
No
Work Schedule
Job Open Date
09/01/2026
Job Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions Summary
EEO Statement
The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
Clery Act
CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS
The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housi