Overnight Incident Commander; seasonal

Summary of Position

North Cascades Institute (NCI) seeks a qualified, safety-minded individual to serve as the Overnight Incident Commander (OIC) at the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) in the heart of the North Cascades. The OIC is a key member of our risk management team, is responsible for after-hours operations, responding to guest and staff needs, and overnight incident response. This position requires strong judgement, clear communication, and the ability to remain calm, professional, and responsive in a remote environment setting.

• End of Spring Season:
  April 29 - June 5, 2026
• Summer Season:
  June 13 - September 6, 2026

• Current Wilderness First Responder certification; valid for the full term of employment.
• Ability to communicate kindly, clearly, and effectively through email, in person, and over the phone.
• Excellent customer service, situational awareness, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, identities, and ages.
• Capacity to work a varied schedule including evenings, nights, and weekends.
• Ability to live and work in a small, rural community with limited amenities.
• Ability to remain alert, responsive, and with communication range throughout the entire overnight shift.

• Experience at outdoor learning centers, public lands agencies, camps, schools, or similar residential programs.
• Experience with emergency response, incident command, or risk management systems.
• Familiarity with emergency communication systems such as radios, POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) phone lines, Garmin InReach units, or similar tools.

• Weather conditions vary significantly across seasons and may include heat, rain, snow, ice, and low-visibility conditions.
• Staff must be able to use personal outdoor gear to perform duties in all weather.
• The remote setting requires reliable personal transportation for commuting and errands.
• Overnight staff are expected to maintain the same professional conduct, work quality, and safety standards upheld during daytime operations.
• During after-hours shifts, the OIC holds operational authority for incident response until relieved by the Daytime IC, on-site director, or other designated staff.

• Oversees and coordinates after-hours emergency responses in accordance with NCI protocols.
• Establishes scene safety and manages ongoing risk during incidents.
• Assesses incident severity and follows appropriate escalation procedures based on NCI’s Incident Severy Scale.
• Leads communication with internal teams and external emergency services as needed.
• Coordinates evacuations, medical responses, and other appropriate actions to ensure participant and staff safety.
• Maintains readiness with appropriate safety gear, communication tools, and emergency supplies while on shift.
• Maintains situational awareness of campus conditions, program activities, and environmental hazards.
• Completes accurate and timely incident documentation following NCI reporting protocols.
• Leads post-incident debriefs with involved staff, ensuring professionalism, confidentiality, and actionable learning.
• Supports continuous improvement of NCI’s risk management practices by contributing to post-incident reviews and Standard Operating Procedure updates.
• Remains within reliable WiFi range of the Learning Center and ensures the IC phone remains charged and monitored at all times.

• Responds to the after-hours Learning Center “Duty Phone” promptly, courteously, and professionally.
• Assists guests with after-hours needs, such as room lockouts, heating or plumbing issues, and general access needs at the Learning Center resources.
• Provides accurate information, reassurance, and clear communication during guest interactions.
• Upholds NCI’s culture of safety, hospitality, and accountability in all decisions and actions.

• Communicates regularly with Daytime Incident Commanders to ensure smooth transition between shifts.
• Shares relevant updates at shift handoff and reviews weekly ELC meeting notes to remain informed of campus priorities.
• Occasionally attends ELC…