Head Of Outdoor Education

Department: Outdoor Education

Reports to: Director of Learning

Starting date: August 2024

Application Closing date: April 15, 2024

Salary: $72,969 to $118,916, Plus Head of Department Stipend

St. George’s School is seeking a dynamic leader for the role of Head of Outdoor Education to oversee the extensive Outdoor Education offerings at the School. These include annual “Grade Programs” for all students in Grades 1 - 10, an intensive full-year integrated Grade 10 program (Discovery 10), and collaborating with a number of other school departments with outdoor offerings.

This full-time position is primarily administrative in nature with some field and school-based teaching responsibilities related to Outdoor Education. Ideal for a candidate with previous Outdoor Education or camp leadership experience, the responsibilities of this role are to organize and lead major grade trips and to provide administrative support for all aspects of the department. This individual works collaboratively with other full-time staff and coordinates part-time instructors to deliver a world-class Outdoor Education program that reflects the St. George’s School Mission and Vision. An important aspect of this role is the ability to objectively balance desired learning outcomes with associated risks.

The leadership role requires someone who demonstrates high EQ which encompasses self-awareness, self-management, social agility, empathy, impact and influence. In addition, having a foundational understanding of DEIJ work within a school context and helping to support students and faculty growth in this area is essential to all school leadership positions. In addition, this individual is a highly organized and a motivated advocate for outdoor, environmental, and experiential education.

In order to provide the best possible learning environment for our highly diverse, multicultural student population, St. George's actively seeks to recruit staff from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in independent and international schools. BIPoC and 2SLGBTQI+ people and those with disabilities are warmly encouraged to apply, and invited to reach out for more information about our commitment to pluralism.

Responsibilities will include:

Leadership

Be an advocate for the role of Outdoor and environmental education experiences and skills broadly in the life of the school through curricular and extra-curricular initiatives that bring energy and a love of learning through outdoor and environmental experiences.

Attend Head of Department meetings as required and act as a conduit of information to and from the department with respect to the strategic plan, instructional priorities, and school goals.

Coordinate and motivate department cohesiveness.

Planning and Administration

Facilitate planning, instruction, and assessment and provide the administrative support to manage Outdoor Education programs from inception to completion, including all of the logistical aspects.

Develop and manage the departmental budget.

Recruit and hire instructors and guides to support large programs.

Provide logistical and administrative support for instructors while they are in the field.

Develop and articulate clear standards and protocols for all Outdoor Education programs to ensure that best-practices and risk management concerns are adequately addressed.

Ensure that the BC Ministry and SGS curriculum is implemented in courses that Outdoor Ed is responsible for; with current focus on Core Competencies, Literacy, Numeracy, and First People’s Principles.

Work in tandem with department staff and cohort teachers to deliver Discovery 10; an integrated Outdoor Education program for Grade 10 students.

Work with the Residential Life team to oversee outdoor programs for boarding students.

Manage the use, repair and ongoing replacement of an extensive collection of Outdoor equipment.

Communication

Communicate program information and risks to parents and other stakeholders.

Respond to parent inquiries and work collaboratively with Student Resource, Personal Counselling, Residential Life and others with respect to student needs while participating in outdoor programming.

Work with Admissions and Advancement to communicate the educational merits and successes of Outdoor and environmental education within the School community.

Professional Development

Participate in professional development opportunities to ensure that St. George’s remains at the forefront in outdoor and experiential education.

Qualifications will include:

Minimum of five years of Outdoor and environmental education leadership experience with youth from a variety of age levels.

Demonstrated leadership abilities and strong interpersonal skills.

Ability to work in a collaborative manner with all stakeholders of the school.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.

Proven ability in budgetary planning and financial management.

Demonstrated organizational abilities with experience managing large-scale outdoor experiences and large staff teams.

Experience in the area of risk management.

Highly developed EQ skills in the following areas:

Self-awareness, self-management, social agility, empathy, impact and influence, mastery of purpose and vision.

Experience leading trips in remote areas with young adults/teens/children.

Experience and qualifications in some or many self-propelled outdoor activities: canoeing, sea kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing.

Required Certifications (or capacity to earn by August):

Advanced wilderness first aid (80+ hours).

BC Class 2 or 4 driver’s license.

Preference for candidates who have:

Teaching certification in BC or another region.

Experience with current teaching methodologies and implementing the BC curriculum within outdoor settings and in the classroom, with a particular focus on inquiry and experiential learning practices.

Demonstrated and ongoing work in diversity, equity, inclusion and justice practices.

Demonstrated interest in professional development, especially curriculum design and development.

Experience with interviewing and hiring outdoor guides and instructors.

Training or experience in teacher evaluation and development.

Fluency in school communication platforms, including Canvas, Gradebook, Google products (Meet, Drive, etc.), Zoom.

Experience with the operation of buses and vehicles with trailers.

Familiarity with backcountry experiences in southwest BC.

Familiarity or experience with summer/overnight camps in southwest BC.

Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to: careers@stgeorges.bc.ca