BOLD & GOLD Course Director

About the role

BOLD & GOLD is a program of the Camping & Outdoor Leadership branch of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. The Course Director role is seasonal and exempt, with a daily rate compensation of $185.00. The position is based at the Cascade People’s Center in Seattle, WA, and involves remote wilderness locations across Washington State. The role is primarily office-based, with occasional field-based support.

Responsibilities

• Direct all aspects of wilderness courses including logistics, staff supervision, participants, risk management situations, and a positive group culture.
• Oversee the safe delivery of wilderness courses ranging in length from 5 to 15 days.
• Work within a leadership team to ensure all staff and participants have the equipment, tools, and knowledge needed to be successful.
• Build strong rapport with participants, staff, and families, foster positive group development, create structure, and draw learning from experiential activities.
• Train and mentor staff in how to: Build emotionally and physically safe environments with groups of middle and high school participants. Help participants build emotional intelligence and multicultural leadership skills through wilderness experience. Ensure both a physically and an emotionally safe and inclusive environment for youth and staff. Model cultural humility and celebrate diversity, effectively working with people of different identities, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience making the transference of a wilderness experience relevant to the everyday lives of youth.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with youth and adults from a variety of backgrounds.
• Ability to role model compassionate and confident leadership.
• High level of self-awareness and can work in a collaborative setting.
• Commitment to working with diverse groups of youth and staff.
• Possesses strong organizational skills, flexibility, and a problem-solving mentality.
• Ability to mentor staff in technical backcountry skills, including backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, and mountaineering.
• Ability to mentor staff in interpersonal skills, including clear consistent communication, building positive group culture, and supporting participants through challenges such as homesickness, conflict, etc.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Current WFR or W-EMT, and CPR Certification.
• Current Washington State Food Handlers Permit.
• Leave No Trace 101 Certification.
• 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.