Outdoor Leadership Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We have a strong commitment to equity

The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.

Job Summary

Outdoor Leadership Instructors provide amazing outdoor experiences through environmental education, challenge courses, and outdoor recreation including hiking, paddling, rock-climbing, and snowshoeing. Applicants have a passion for helping people push themselves and learn through group experience and adventure. Outdoor Leadership believes that experiential activities combined with the elements of choice, personal interest, skill development, and risk-taking promote positive youth development. Outdoor Leadership experiences give participants essential tools to develop their fullest potential as happy, healthy, socially responsible members of our community. Outdoor Leadership offers year-round environmental and outdoor programming that promotes youth voice, develops leadership skills, builds community, and encourages relationship development with the natural world. Programs engage schools, non-profits, community-based organizations, and individuals to design and implement transformative outdoor and environmental education experiences.  

What you'll get from working at The Y:

• Individual membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle
• Free access to mental health resources
• Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO) available immediately upon hire
• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare, day camp, overnight camp and outdoor leadership programs. 25% for part-time staff, 50% for full-time staff

Hiring Range: $21.30-22.00/hr DOE

• Provide high quality outdoor recreation and environmental education programming, activities, and lessons to school groups, family camps, and individual participants ranging in age from children to adults.
• Provide programming on low and high rope challenge course elements, as well as facilitate ground-based teambuilding initiatives. Facilitate camp activities such as crafts, archery, large group games, campfires, etc. Lead hiking, paddling, rock-climbing, cycling, and/or snowshoeing activities.
• Effectively communicate with, instruct, train, and coach individuals and groups in a developmentally appropriate manner to manage risk and ensure inclusion and physical, mental, and emotional safety.
• Build strong rapport with participants, partners, and staff; foster positive group development; create structure and draw learning from experiential activities.
• Model cultural humility and celebrate diversity, effectively working with people of different identities, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
• Manage set-up and break-down/cleanup of program materials, gear, equipment, and facilities including pre/post inspection of activity areas, equipment, gear and program supplies.
• Transport participants in 14-passenger mini-buses to and from program areas.
• Participate in occasional overnight shifts, such as overnight backpacking or multi-day programs.
• Participate in a variety of internal meetings to maintain knowledge of industry requirements, support optimal customer care, and maintain team collaboration.
• Maintain required minimum qualifications for the position such as licenses, certifications, or credentials and participate in internal meetings and trainings to collaborate with the staff team, partners, and customers and maintain knowledge of industry requirements, and best practices.
• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and state and federal regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

The position may also be modified to accommodate the specific needs of the business or participant group. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Code of Conduct for Applicants  

All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries, completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements.

Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• 21 years of age or older
• Two or more years of experience working with children and teens in an organized setting, including facilitating activities that address issues facing adolescents.
• Knowledge of developmental needs of children and teens; demonstrates an understanding of the needs of children and teens and the ability to evaluate their needs individually.
• Strong group facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills. Personal or professional experience in backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, cycling, snowshoeing, and/or hiking.
• Be able to hike and/or backpack over a variety of terrain and teach techniques for approaching that type of terrain.
• Have experience and knowledge of basic backcountry equipment, and/or techniques such as stove use, bear hangs, water purification, and/or shelter craft.
• Have experience and knowledge of reading maps and using them for navigation.
• Effectively manage physical risks for self and participants including terrain, weather, and wildlife interactions. Current WFA and CPR Certification* Current Washington State Food Handlers Permit* Ability to pass a criminal background and reference check per company policy.
• This position requires driving: 21 years of age or older Current Driver’s License with a minimum of 3 years of safe driving experience and a driving record which meets or exceeds YMCA standards Maximum of one minor violation No speeding violation of more than 20 mph over the speed limit YMCA Pre-employment Drug Screening Outdoor Leadership uses 14-passenger mini-buses to transport passengers and equipment to trailheads and campsites. This includes driving on interstates, city streets, and rural roads.
• At least one (1) season of environmental education and/or outdoor recreation experience.  
• Have experience and knowledge of using specialized climbing and challenge course equipment.  
• Experience making the transference of a wilderness experience relevant to the everyday lives of underserved youth.  
• Knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.)  
• Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.  
• Experience with anti-racism practices and coalition building.
• Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.

*At hire, or earliest possible training (but no later than 30 days after employment.)

Authorized Driver Requirement

This role transports clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using an employer-provided vehicle. Driving duties for this role are Required.* Driving roles are safety-sensitive. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have possessed a driver's license for at least 3 years, and pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances (including marijuana) in addition to meeting the driving record standards below: 

YGS Driving Record Standards 

Within the last three (3) years: No more than two (2) vehicle related suspension(s) and/or reinstatement(s). No more than two (2) moving violations and/or accidents. Moving violations include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Speeding
• Improper Lane Change
• Failure to Yield in Right-of-Way
• Failure to Obey Traffic Signal
• Failure to obey Traffic Sign

Within the last five (5) years: No Major Violations which include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, BUI (Boating), Administrative Per Se, or Refusing to Test
• Driving with an open container of alcohol
• Reckless Driving
• Hit andRun– property damage only (Incidents involving injury fall under Permanent Disqualification) 
• Racing
• Driving with a suspended/revoked license/insurance
• Speeding over 20 mph
• Fleeing and/or eluding police
• Any other felony driving conviction(s)

Driving records that result in Permanent disqualification from driving duties: 

• More than 3 DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, BUI, Administrative Per Se, or Refusing to Test forentiretyof driving history. 
• More than 3 Driving with a suspended/revoked license
• Hit andRunresulting in bodily injury or death 
• Manslaughter/felony death by motor vehicle

*Due to state-specific reporting requirements in our driver management system, we are not currently able to enroll California Driver's License holders as Authorized Drivers. 

Physical Requirements 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.  
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  
• Employees must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50lbs, safely travel over varied terrain (trails, tree roots, boulder/rock fields, shoreline, mud, snow, ice) up to 10 miles per day, be comfortable spending multiple hours and/or days in a wilderness setting, and communicate both verbally and non-verbally with other staff, partners, and participants.  
• The employee may also be required to climb, support their own body weight, work at heights of 20-40 feet, and perform participant rescues.  
• This role has the potential to transport clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using an employer-provided vehicle. Driving duties for this role are optional, but preferred. Driving roles are safety-sensitive. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have possessed a driver's license for at least 3 years, and pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances (including marijuana) in addition to meeting the YGS Driving Record Standards listed in the job description. (*Due to state-specific requirements in our driver management system, we are not currently able to enroll California Driver's License holders as authorized drivers.)

Working Conditions

• Employees must be able to commute to the Cascade People’s Center, 309 Pontius Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 and locations within the King County service area; other travel required for work may be done in YMCA vehicles.  
• This is an Authorized Driver position, read more in the Position Requirements.  
• This position will spend 5 - 10% of time in an indoor office environment.  
• Requires driving and other travel up to 10% of the time.  
• Frequently works in outdoor weather conditions.  
• The regular weekly schedule for this position, and available hours will fluxuate based on programming demand. Some weekday and evening programs, as well as weekend programs should be expected. Regular availability for at least one Saturday or one Sunday a week should be expected. Occasional programs may involve overnight shifts. A typical weekly schedule might look like the following: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM PST - 4:00 PM PST or 5:00 PM PST  -9:00PM PST or Saturday, 8:00 AM PST - 4:00 PM PST or 1:00 PM PST  -9:00PM PST or Sunday, 8:00 AM PST - 4:00 PM PST or 1:00 PM PST  -9:00PM PST  
• Position may occasionally require some evenings or weekends to meet job requirements. 

Preferred Qualifications

• 21 years of age or older
• Two or more years of experience working with children and teens in an organized setting, including facilitating activities that address issues facing adolescents.
• Knowledge of developmental needs of children and teens; demonstrates an understanding of the needs of children and teens and the ability to evaluate their needs individually.
• Strong group facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills. Personal or professional experience in backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, cycling, snowshoeing, and/or hiking.
• Be able to hike and/or backpack over a variety of terrain and teach techniques for approaching that type of terrain.
• Have experience and knowledge of basic backcountry equipment, and/or techniques such as stove use, bear hangs, water purification, and/or shelter craft.
• Have experience and knowledge of reading maps and using them for navigation.
• Effectively manage physical risks for self and participants including terrain, weather, and wildlife interactions. Current WFA and CPR Certification* Current Washington State Food Handlers Permit* Ability to pass a criminal background and reference check per company policy.
• This position requires driving: 21 years of age or older Current Driver’s License with a minimum of 3 years of safe driving experience and a driving record which meets or exceeds YMCA standards Maximum of one minor violation No speeding violation of more than 20 mph over the speed limit YMCA Pre-employment Drug Screening Outdoor Leadership uses 14-passenger mini-buses to transport passengers and equipment to trailheads and campsites. This includes driving on interstates, city streets, and rural roads.
• At least one (1) season of environmental education and/or outdoor recreation experience.  
• Have experience and knowledge of using specialized climbing and challenge course equipment.  
• Experience making the transference of a wilderness experience relevant to the...