Outdoor Program Director Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Outreach & Programs Coordinator
Reports to: Trailside Director
Status: Full-time, exempt
Location: Dena'ina lands in Anchorage, Alaska. This is an in-person position. Work will take place at our Anchorage office, community events, outreach activities, or one of our program sites. The primary work location is the Anchorage office, with regular off-site work during the summer and other peak program periods.
Compensation: $66-$69K/annually
Please Note: This position was originally listed as a part-time role and has since been updated to support a full-time employee. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this position may evolve based on the needs of the program and the scope of the role.
Position Overview
The Outreach & Programs Coordinator supports Trailside Discovery Camp's year-round programming, community outreach, camper and staff recruitment, and program readiness. The position represents Trailside at community events, builds relationships with families and partners, supports seasonal recruitment, and helps coordinate winter, spring, summer, and partner programming.
The manager maintains Trailside's existing curriculum resources and ensures program materials and supplies are organized, stocked, and ready for use. This may include making limited updates, adapting existing materials, or identifying resources developed by partner organizations. Developing an extensive new curriculum is not a primary function of this position.
During summer camp, this position will serve in a leadership or operational role based on program needs, staffing, and the individual's strengths. This may include site manager, program manager, logistics manager, or another comparable summer leadership assignment.
This position reports to the Camp Director and works closely with the Camp Manager & Operations Administrator and summer leadership team.
Organizational Overview
The Alaska Center Education Fund envisions a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations. We engage and empower Alaskans of all ages to support clean air and water, a strong and resilient democracy, and a fair and equitable transition from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.
Trailside Discovery Camp is an environmental education program providing outdoor education opportunities to local Alaskans. Our primary focus is on 12-week summer camps currently held at three locations in Anchorage and one in Eagle River/Chugiak. Trailside also offers winter and spring programs and may expand through future out-of-school-time partnerships.
Core Responsibilities
Program Coordination, readiness Delivery

• Help plan, coordinate, and deliver Trailside programming, including winter break camp, spring break camp, summer camp, and special programming with partner organizations.
• Prepare program materials and ensure staff and program sites have the supplies needed to deliver scheduled activities.
• Maintain existing curriculum and make limited updates or adaptations as needed, including identifying relevant resources from trusted organizations.
• Maintain organized, appropriately stocked program bins, curriculum binders, equipment, and supply areas.
• Coordinate purchasing, inventory, distribution, and replenishment of program supplies.
• Assist with day-to-day program implementation, including scheduling, preparation, communication, and field-based support.
• Help prepare and deliver seasonal staff training related to programming, outdoor education, youth engagement, and program expectations.
• Directly support youth programming in the field as needed.
• Support consistent, safe, and high-quality programming across Trailside locations.
• Gather feedback and identify program, supply, training, curriculum, or safety needs for follow-up with the Camp Director.
• Help prepare and deliver seasonal staff training related to programming, outdoor education, youth engagement, and program expectations.
• Be prepared to take on a site leadership role during the summer camp season if necessary.

Outreach, Recruitment & Community Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with schools, families, community organizations, staff alumni, and other partners.
• Represent Trailside at community events, school events, job fairs, tabling opportunities, presentations, and recruitment activities.
• Support camper enrollment and seasonal staff recruitment through community outreach, partner engagement, hiring fairs, interviews, and scholarship promotion.
• Work with Communications staff to keep Trailside website content, social media, promotional materials, storytelling, and community communications accurate and current.
• Serve as a trained backup for administrative processes in BambooHR and CampBrain, supporting staff recruitment, onboarding, enrollment, family communication, and record management as needed.

Summer Leadership Assignment

• Serve in a summer leadership or operational role based on program needs and the employee's skills and experience.
• The summer assignment may include site manager, program manager, logistics manager, or a combination of responsibilities.
• Participate in required summer training, leadership meetings, and other seasonal preparations.
• Support staff, campers, families, supplies, field trips, site operations, and program delivery as appropriate to the assigned role.

Flexibility of Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Trailside Discovery Camp and The Alaska Center Education Fund, including cross collaboration of programs.
• As the Outreach & Program Manager and Camp Manager and Operations Administrator positions are implemented, responsibilities may be adjusted between the positions based on program needs, workload, and the skills and strengths of each employee.

Qualifications, Skills & Working Conditions
Skills

• Strong communication, organization, and follow-through skills.
• Comfortable engaging with the community, including families, schools, partner organizations, prospective campers, and seasonal staff.
• Ability to represent Trailside professionally at outreach events, presentations, tabling opportunities, recruitment events, and community programs.
• Ability to work directly with youth in outdoor, camp, school, or community-based settings.
• Comfortable using standard office tools, email, shared drives, website or social media tools, and basic data systems.

Required

• Experience in youth programming, outdoor education, recreation, camp, education, community outreach, nonprofit programs, or a similar field.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, or ability to complete certification within six months.
• Current, valid driver's license and ability to drive camp vehicles, including 15-passenger vans and trailers, or willingness to complete training within six months.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends when needed, especially during outreach events and peak camp season.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, move around camp and community event settings, work outdoors in varying weather conditions, and lift up to 50 pounds.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in education, youth development, community health/development or at least three years relevant work experience preferred but not required.
• Previous camp, outdoor education, recreation, teaching, or youth program experience.
• Experience organizing or updating curriculum materials.
• Experience supporting staff training or seasonal staff onboarding.
• Experience with environmental education, place-based learning, or Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements of this job. It is not meant to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or
requirements.
This is a full-time position based in Anchorage, Alaska. Position and Salary are dependent on experience, with a generous and competitive benefits package. Alaska Center staff have access to professional development opportunities, including training and support. The Alaska Center provides a supportive work environment with excellent benefits and incentives. The Alaska Center is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law. We are committed to supporting, centering, and working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, Working-Class and Low-Income people, Women, LGBTQIA2+ people, and Disabled people in addressing the many crises that impact us. We strongly encourage people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities to apply.
To Apply:
Please complete the form including submitting all requested materials. In your cover letter, be sure to address how your qualifications match the job description and why you want to work for our organization in your cover letter. Position open until filled. Email info@akcenter.org with any questions. No phone calls, please.