Vice President of Wilderness Medicine

NOLS

  • Lander, WY
  • $135,000-150,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 day ago
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader who is energized by the opportunity to direct a complex, diverse, and global business unit directly involved in leading and advancing wilderness medicine educational training for NOLS. As a key executive team member and reporting directly to the NOLS President, the Vice President of Wilderness Medicine will act decisively to chart a fiscally sustainable and innovative path for the Wilderness Medicine team.The Vice President of Wilderness Medicine will have the vision and determination to set the Wilderness Medicine team's future direction, the willingness to listen carefully, ability to thoughtfully consider and incorporate input from key stakeholders, and the knowledge and experience needed to perpetuate the pillar's culture and educational philosophy. The Vice President of Wilderness Medicine will be responsible for the budget and growth targets for the NOLS Wilderness Medicine portfolio of programs, their future innovation and geographic distribution.KEY INFORMATIONPlease upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resume.Target Start Date: February 2026Location: Lander, Wyoming, USAQuestions: please contact peopleteam@nols.eduWhat does a Vice President of Wilderness Medicine do?Serve as a trusted member of the NOLS Leadership Team, setting a collaborative tone and helping to shape the School's strategic direction, inclusive of Wilderness Medicine and the broader whole-school mission.Drive the vision and innovation necessary to set and meet future growth goals.Guide a director team who supports high quality wilderness medicine educational products, as well as providing exceptional student, sponsor, and faculty support all while maintaining business efficiency.Plan annual financial budget, projection, and reporting cycles for a division that includes $8M+ in revenue.Orchestrate collaborative, data-informed processes to design annual course mix; and evaluate and adjust the course mix as necessary to respond to market trends, enrollment, staffing, and other shifting factors.Lead oversight of curriculum, pedagogy, program quality, faculty recruitment, training, and development.Engage with the Board of Trustees, serve on other leadership committees and steering committees as requested.What makes a great Vice President of Wilderness Medicine at NOLS?The ideal candidate will excel at growing a high quality and financially sustainable program. You will have an ambitious vision, a clear strategic plan, and effective execution, all in service to NOLS students, faculty, and business partners. The Vice President of Wilderness Medicine will be a collaborative, results-driven leader who is ready to engage, listen, model respectful discussion/ debate, set clear priorities and expectations, and be prepared to drive expansion and innovation of the program.Critical Leadership CapabilitiesAbility to bring strategic, financial, and operational acumen to the role; stewarding the Wilderness Medicine pillar's resources, and balancing short-term needs with long-term goals.Experience creating a sense of community and meaningful relationships in a dispersed workforce, supporting and growing a healthy and inclusive culture.Leading with transparency to instill trust among diverse stakeholders and lead towards a common mission and goals.Effective communication skills with past behavior that demonstrates decisiveness, collaboration, transparency, and a solutions-oriented mindset.Have the judgment necessary to understand and evaluate current programs and new initiatives and the credibility, courage, and skills to gain support and make decisions.Embrace the opportunity to collaborate across the organization, inviting discussion and debate, leveraging the expertise of experienced colleagues and staff, and create an environment where a diversity of voices is invited.An entrepreneurial driver with proven experience identifying market trends and implementing them successfully. Previous accomplishments improving efficiency and making informed decisions with financial strength in mind.Ideal ExperienceExtensive experience in the Wilderness Medicine education industry with a strong commitment to NOLS Wilderness Medicine's educational philosophy, mission, culture, and values.Outstanding communication skills, including public speaking and experience serving as the face of, and advocate for, an organization, with evidenced ability to handle difficult situations with diplomacy and judgment.Experience at a senior leadership level in one or more of the following areas: higher education or secondary school leadership, outdoor program management, or leadership of a non-profit and/or educational enterprise.Excellent interpersonal skills, with experience acting as a key collaborator and team player, creating productive and respectful relationships across diverse and disparate stakeholders.Genuine appreciation and passion for wilderness medicine education, the sanctity of wild places, and the NOLS mission. An advocate for the important skills learned and leadership developed in urban and wilderness classrooms.Extensive experience building strong teams of highly functioning and collaborative individuals, who have success setting and achieving common goals.Other Personal CharacteristicsBe an empathetic and community centric leader, with a focus on fostering relationships at all levels and operate within a transparent and collaborative team culture.You thrive in dynamic settings with demanding and shifting priorities, adeptly managing ambiguity, diverse stakeholder relationships, and intricate competing demands.Champion of daring ideas and embracer of calculated risks. Be confident to invite dialogue, listen carefully make decisions, and share credit.Creative thinker able to respect, honor, and balance the long-standing strengths of an organization while envisioning and implementing innovative approaches.How to ApplyIt's super easy! Just enter your email and click the “start your application” button at the top of the screen and upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resume.At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. The Applied platform will ask you some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.Who is NOLS?NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that believes in the transformative power of leadership through wilderness education. We are dedicated to developing leaders by providing immersive experiences that challenge you to step beyond your comfort zone and unlock your full potential. Whether in remote backcountry settings or through courses near home, we equip people with the skills, resilience, and confidence to lead in all walks of life.At NOLS, we're driven by a commitment to education, adventure, and a deep respect for the wilderness. These values are at the heart of every experience we offer, empowering students to make meaningful connections with themselves, others, and the world around them.Why is NOLS a great place to work?Awesome employees! Ask anyone at NOLS and they'll likely say they work here because of the community.Fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands.Discounts on NOLS Courses for you and your family.A flexible time off policy for all full-time regular employees, and accrued vacation for part-time regular employees.Sick time for all employees.403(b) available to all employees, with an annual employer contribution.An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with 24/7 access with 5 sessions per issue to assist employees with work or life concerns.Free equipment "rentals" at our various locations.Additional Information Pre-Employment CheckA criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.NOLS participates in e-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with People Team and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact . Equal Employment OpportunityNOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school's nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited. Reasonable AccommodationNOLS values community and fosters a sense of belonging for our employees and applicants. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace because they embody these values, as well as our operating principle of promoting a positive, safe, and learning environment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested at any point of the employment process, including during recruitment. Please email with your request.

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