Outdoor Education Manager Job Pisgah Forest North Carolina USA,Outdoor/Nature/Animal Care

Location: Pisgah Forest

Eagle’s Nest Foundation Outdoor Education Manager

Job Description

Experiential education for young people promoting the natural world

and the betterment of human character.

Eagle's Nest Foundation (ENF) is a mission driven, non-profit that promotes the natural world and the betterment of human character through experiential education. ENF delivers three primary programs:
Eagle's Nest Camp (a residential, summer camp for children ages 6-17 celebrating its centennial season in 2027), Hante Adventures (an off-site adventure program for teens, both physically demanding and culturally immersive), and The Outdoor Academy (a residential “semester of a lifetime” school for 10th and 11th grade students). ENF also runs multiple short format or seasonal programs throughout the year that incorporate outdoor programming.

The “Nest” is a highly collaborative workplace, relying on team-based and committee formats for support of decision making, community, and reflection.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Outdoor Education Manager (OEM) is responsible for the development, delivery, and oversight of all outdoor programs for Eagle’s Nest Foundation. The OEM works closely with executive and program leadership on the conceptualization and implementation of quality outdoor programming at ENF, with roles to include: skill inventories and developmentally appropriate milestones for all participants, risk assessment and management, staff training, logistics, budgeting and inventory, evaluation of programs and of staff, new program design and implementation, etc.

The OEM will focus on staff/instructor training and support, and alignment of standards and systems across all Foundation programs. The OEM is supervised by the Executive Director. The OEM will supervise seasonal outdoor staff as well as mentoring OA Residents. To fully deliver responsibilities and training, this position is expected to spend between 30 and 60 days in the field per calendar year.

SUPPORT

PROGRAM CONCEPTUALIZATION & DEVELOPMENT

Collaborate with ENF leadership team and program leadership to build layers of outdoor skills for instructors and participants of all programs.

Maintain relationships that foster access to skilled guides and adventure leaders for various program needs. Support recruitment of seasonal staff.

Develop a “certification pipeline” nurturing campers, participants, and students to successfully complete first aid and outdoor certification programs to be more prepared for employment.

Envision and develop systems for skills advancement for all participants of ENF outdoor programs.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Train and supervise outdoor program instructors for Camp, Hante, and OA in the following disciplines: backpacking, tandem canoeing for flat and whitewater, climbing, and mountain/gravel biking), in outdoor program capacities. OEM is responsible for identifying options for outsourcing training, when needed, that is in alignment with mission and budget.

With program directors, schedule and staff trips, facilitate logistics/debriefs, lead some trips, and continually evolve ENF’s outdoor programs.

Serve as primary risk manager for ENF, following and further developing all plans for safety and risk management as outlined in the Eagle’s Nest Foundation (ENF) Employee Handbook. Work with ENF staff to ensure standardization of risk management procedures across the Foundation and smooth transition between the programs, program areas and program equipment and supplies in the fall and spring.

Design and teach outdoor education curricula and coordinate with all instructors to integrate outdoor skills and leadership across the curriculum.

Manage shared resources and outdoor program equipment budgets. Work with program managers on development of relevant…