Aspiring Course Director -Southwest Program

Role summary

Aspiring Course Director -Southwest Program is a full-time role at Colorado Outward Bound School in Moab, Utah, United States (on-site). Posted 2026-10-20. Salary: USD 175 per day. Experience level: 5-10.

Job title

Aspiring Course Director -Southwest Program

Company

Colorado Outward Bound School

Location

Moab, Utah, United States

Work arrangement

on-site

Employment type

full-time

Category

Software Engineering

Salary

USD 175 per day

Experience level

5-10

Date posted

2026-10-20

Job description

Description

Organizational Overview

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a non-profit adventure-based education organization that emphasizes personal growth through challenge and experience. For over 60 years our wilderness courses have focused on inspiring responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Colorado Outward Bound School celebrates diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nation origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is based on qualifications and business needs. Outward Bound has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect and will report any suspected abuse or neglect.

Working at the Colorado Outward Bound School means joining a growth-minded community where we are actively creating a more inclusive organizational culture. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion shows up at all levels of the organization – in our trainings, in our meetings, on our courses, and in our daily lives. This work can be challenging at times and we are committed to navigating it together to create a supportive and inclusive environment for our staff and our students. To foster a more welcoming outdoor community for all, we are working to address barriers related to race, culture, socioeconomics, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, geographic location, and mental health.

Position Summary

This position is intended as a pathway for Outdoor Education Leads with significant field experience to become Course Directors with COBS. (Candidates seeking an entry level instructional position or who have minimal field experience with outdoor education should apply to the Instructor job posting.) This role starts in the Lead Instructor Role to learn local systems, and/or Outward Bound model through training and work. Candidates are expected to be moving towards the Course Director Role within 45 to 100 COBS field days. These positions are accountable for all safety and delivery aspects of the field experience. In the lead position, staff supervise and develop Instructors and Interns, and are in turn supervised by Course Directors and Program Managers. Their manager is the APD-Staffing and Training.

The Lead Instructor is responsible for supervising, teaching and facilitating students in the field throughout the duration of our primarily wilderness-based courses. Lead Instructors also support pre and post course needs through planning, packing and structuring the course, course debrief paperwork, safety analysis and gear cleaning.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities and Duties

· Deliver the Outward Bound mission and outcomes while teaching course components. Utilizing the instructor role to educate students about character development, leadership, and service

· Fully participates in course planning; including development of educational and technical curricula, route planning, food and equipment organization/packing

· Supports the other instructors and Course Director in all aspects of course safety; identifying, assessing and managing environmental and social risk

· Utilize ‘THE Plan’ as a risk assessment and decision-making tool

· Demonstrates the ability to behave as a role model for students, able to manage a range of student behaviors in a positive manner

· May be required to manage a student group and all emergencies in co-instructor’s absence

· Able to locate and use communication systems in the event of an emergency

· Follow warehouse and basecamp systems to ensure a high functioning basecamp and program. Packing, cleaning, repairing, and inventorying of gear and food. Serves as a role model in the community both during work and in off hours.

· Communicates concerns through appropriate channels and is solution-oriented when possible.

· Participate in the emergency on-call system by supporting evacuations and responding to field emergencies when needed

· Adheres to all local operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures outlined in the Field Staff Manual and Employee Handbook

· Provide clear, effective and timely communication with an Instructor, Course Director, Supervisor, or other staff. Committed to openly sharing and receiving feedback from staff

· Committed to the Inclusion and Access efforts at COBS.

Minimum criteria for all course areas:

· Has worked at least 120 days in the field with another Outward Bound school or similar expedition-based program with at least 30 of those days in the role of Single Point of Accountability for program safety and quality

· Has worked at least three field-based, overnight programs over 5-7 days in length

· Has worked at least 5 overnight expeditions 4 days or more in length with students aged 13-17

· Experience teaching leadership skills to youth

· Experience designing courses/selecting curriculum based on needs of the student population

· Plans and delivers engaging experience-based educational lessons to achieve desired outcomes

· Medical Certifications: current Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT, CPR, and Wilderness Epinephrine administration

Education and Work Experience

· Able to articulate a lesson plan for an activity

· Demonstrates group presentation skills

· Exhibits sound and accurate judgement

· Uses equipment and materials properly

· Reports potentially unsafe conditions

· Has passed the technical credentialing/assessment for the course activity.

· Demonstrates the ability to behave as a role model for students, new Instructors, and other field and staff and is able to manage a range of student behaviors in a positive manner

· Ability to effectively work on divers