Director of Outdoor Adventure & Programs

New York City Outward Bound Schools•Long Island City, NY

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

NYC Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit organization that partners with more than 100 public schools across NYC to engage students in equitable, immersive and joyful learning that prepares them to thrive in community, college and career. Our unique approach to programming focuses on adventurous learning — daring exploration, real-world engagement, and meaningful challenge — whether in school, local communities, or the outdoors. In schools, we coach teachers and school leaders to implement Crew, our signature advisory structure that supports student connection and belonging, and Instruction for Deeper Learning in the classroom. Outdoors, whether in the city or upstate at our wilderness basecamp, we deliver adventure programming to students, helping them realize that they can do hard things, and develop leadership skills like collaboration and initiative that transfer to the academic classroom. In all spaces where we work, we support students to be co-creators of their own learning and growth, in environments where their voices are heard and valued. Every day, we are proving that transformation and innovation can happen within a public school system, and that with truly equitable schools, all students — regardless of background or circumstance — are capable of achieving at high levels. Role Summary: Reporting to the VP, Programs with a matrix line to the CEO, the Director of Outdoor Adventure & Programs leads the strategy, operations, and delivery of all experiential outdoor and climbing wall programming at NYC Outward Bound Schools — creating inclusive opportunities where young people discover their capacity through challenge, exploration, and student-led adventure. This is an exciting moment for the organization as we envision significant growth in our outdoor programming footprint. The Director will build and maintain the systems, structures, and staff culture needed to realize that vision. This role calls for a systems-minded, strong people leader who excels at delegation, coaching, and balanced risk management. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the Director contributes to strategic decisions and helps foster an equity-focused culture across the organization.

Requirements

Strong commitment to educational equity for BIPOC youth and demonstrated dedication to our core values of community, courage, equity, integrity, and learning
Strong people leader — skilled at developing, coaching, and delegating to a team
Proven ability to assess, manage, and mitigate risk in outdoor and experiential programming environments, balancing participant safety with developmental challenge
Systems thinker and planner — builds and maintains the operational infrastructure that supports sustained program growth
Demonstrated ability to build trust and influence across diverse stakeholders
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with adaptability a cross audiences
Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, at least 5 in leadership or management roles overseeing teams with multiple reporting levels
Deep understanding of experiential education and positive youth development, with a demonstrated ability to design programming that supports young people's social, emotional, and academic growth
Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate professional development and training for adults
Demonstrated experience managing six-figure budgets, including developing financial projections and tracking fiscal performance
Experience with complex, multi-site program planning across diverse timelines and stakeholder groups
Experience managing foundation grants and working toward sales or revenue targets preferred
Digital proficiency, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
Ability to obtain and maintain required outdoor adventure certifications upon hire (training provided)
Current and valid U.S. driver’s license held for a minimum of 5 years; ability to drive in the city and to remote locations
Ability to work outdoors for extended periods (including overnight camping), in varied weather conditions, and to lift up to 50 lbs.
Successful completion of a NYC Department of Education background check

Nice To Haves

Equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of multi-year strategy, operational plans, and budgets for outdoor adventure programming
Oversee all outdoor adventure programming — in-city and at remote locations in NY State — ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality, SEAD-aligned, equity-centered experiences
Design new and innovative programmatic offerings, including new courses within and outside NYC, that center student leadership, intellectual risk-taking, and belonging
Research and implement best practices in outdoor and experiential education in alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and guiding principles
Oversee climbing wall programming to ensure a safe, compliant, and student-empowering environment
Continuously assess program implementation for adherence to safety standards; collaborate with the Director of Safety to uphold and evolve those standards
Ensure staff understand and consistently follow all OBUSA and NYCOBS safety policies; proactively manage operational hazards, maintain culturally responsive safety briefings, and drive continuous improvement through timely incident reporting and analysis
Oversee the NYCOBS on-call system and in-field emergency response operations, participating in on-call rotation as needed
Partner closely with the School-Based Coaching team to align outdoor programming with in-school Crew and deeper learning frameworks — intentionally designing experiences that reinforce shared language, student development goals, and the transfer of growth from the wilderness back to the classroom
Develop and coordinate the program calendar in collaboration with the sales team; develop and refine staffing assignments to support delivery
Coordinate the development and refinement of program materials — instructor guides, curriculum, lesson plans, and training resources — in collaboration with the team
Manage site relationships, including serving as the Sharpe Reservation point of contact, to maintain effective communication and access to high-quality facilities
Develop and manage the outdoor adventure programming budget, including revenue forecasting and fiscal performance tracking, to ensure financial sustainability
Ensure compliance with grant agreement requirements, including monitoring progress toward impact targets and reporting obligations
Apply a continuous improvement framework to adapt programming using data, responding to strategic shifts and supporting team growth
Contribute to the creation of reports, case studies, and communications that capture the impact of outdoor adventure programming for NYC young people
Ensure all outdoor adventure staff receive the training, feedback, and support needed to deliver high-quality programs
Lead the effective development and management of a team of instructors and outdoor adventure program staff
Cultivate an engaging and inclusive environment that attracts and retains a diverse pool of qualified talent
Provide regular coaching and meaningful feedback to direct reports, aligned with the organization’s mission, vision, and core values
Foster cross-departmental collaboration, accountability, and individual initiative across the organization
Model and promote the organization’s core values, including leading with awareness of our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
Serve as the organizational representative in regional and national outdoor adventure networking and conferences, including as the lead liaison with Outward Bound USA
Identify, pursue, and implement strategic partnerships and grant-funded initiatives that advance the organization’s mission, including our vision for outdoor infrastructure across the five boroughs and beyond
Contribute to fundraising efforts, including donor cultivation and volunteer engagement, to support the growth and sustainability of outdoor programming