SOLO Education Manager

Nantahala Outdoor Center•Asheville, NC

About The Position

For 48+ years NOC has led the outdoor industry, taking more guests whitewater rafting and teaching more paddlers than any other outdoor recreation company. NOC also provides top-quality aerial and trail-based adventures, wilderness medicine as well as unmatched retail service, foodservice, lodging, and trip planning services. Behind NOC's success is our staff’s commitment to our five core values: Lead by Example, Service Before Self, Do the Right Thing, Work Hard/Play Hard and Make it Happen. These core values unite a community of leaders and pioneers in an exciting, fun and always changing work environment.   NOC career opportunities offer a rare combination of work in beautiful locations, a chance to grow skills and to share a passion for active outdoor recreation. Ideal candidates are leaders in the workplace that wish to join a unique, values-driven organization. They aspire to excellence in their fields and disciplines and they demonstrate a commitment to the service of others. Above all, they want to provide guests with unforgettable experiences. If this sounds like you, we hope you'll apply to join the NOC team.     Job Summary:    The SOLO Southeast Manager will be directly responsible for the overall leadership, growth, and operational excellence of NOC’s SOLO Southeast wilderness medicine and survival education programs. This role oversees program delivery, instructor workforce development, and accreditation compliance while driving strategic expansion into new markets and course locations.  The Manager will build and lead a high-performing instructor team, ensure consistent delivery of curriculum, and identify opportunities to grow enrollment, geographic reach, and program offerings. This role serves as the primary liaison with accrediting bodies and plays a key role in shaping the future of wilderness medicine education at NOC.   The position requires off-site travel. The Manager could be expected to research and attend appropriate conferences and promote NOC’s full suite of businesses and locations. The Manager is responsible for the guest facing side of NOC’s Wilderness Medicine and Survival department as well as the program management and staff training side.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experiencerequired
Healthcare or wilderness medicine-related certificationrequired,WEMTor higher
5+ years of leadership experience withdemonstratedoperational andfinancial responsibility
2+ years of experience in wilderness medicine, outdoor education, or related fieldrequired
Experience managing distributed teams, instructors, or field staff
Strong leadership and team development skills
Strategic thinking with the ability to execute operationally
Excellent organizational and project management abilities
Strong communicationand interpersonal skills
Proficiencywith Microsoft Office and web-based systems (reservation systems, LMS platforms, etc.)
This role requires periodic travel to course locations, conferences, and partner sites

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with accreditation processes, compliance, or regulatory environments preferred

Responsibilities

Oversee all aspects of wilderness medicine and survival course delivery, including scheduling,logistics, and execution
Ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery across all locations
Instructcoursesat each level, includingtravel to off-site courses.
Continuously evaluate and improve operational systems, processes, and guest experience
Maintainappropriate inventory, equipment, and classroom resources
Track student feedback and provide meaningful feedback to instructors and make course adjustments whereappropriate.
Recruit, hire, onboard,expandandretaina high-quality instructor team
Build scalable systems for instructor training, evaluation, and advancement
Manage instructor scheduling andutilizationacross programs and locations
Maintain instructor certifications, compliance, and personnel records
Foster a culture of professionalism, continuous improvement, and instructional excellence
Coordinate instructor career progression andidentifycontinuing education and training opportunities
Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback
Ensure adherence to NOC’s core values, policies, and procedures
Maintain a safe, inclusive, and high-performing work environment
Lead the strategic expansion of wilderness medicine programs into new geographic markets and delivery formats
Identify, develop, and launch new course locations beyond NOC’s primary campus
Partner with Sales and Marketing to drive enrollment growth and develop new programming
Build partnerships with universities, outdoor programs, search and rescue organizations, and other key stakeholders
Serve as the primary liaison with accrediting organizations and regulatory bodies
Ensure all programs meet or exceed accreditation and industry standards
Lead accreditation reviews, audits, and reporting processes
Maintain compliance with state and national requirements for EMT and wilderness medicine programming
Own departmental budget, forecasting, and financial performance
Evaluate and implementcostreduction and control without diminishing service quality
In season, run weekly key performance indicators for the department to determine how each area is functioning to both guest experience and financial expectations
Ensure all payroll is controlled, accurate, and submitted on time
Collaborate on long-term planning and capital investments with senior leadership
Partner with Group Sales to understand client needs and deliver high-quality group experiences
Work closely with Marketing and Sales teams to ensureaccurateprogram representation and communication
Collaborate with HR on recruiting, hiring, and staff development
Work with other departmental Managers where appropriate to ensure proper communication across the NOC
Participate in leadership team meetings and contribute to organizational strategy