Director of Business Operations

With over 50 years of innovation in experiential and outdoor education in the Pacific Northwest, Northwest Outward Bound School (NWOBS) continues to change lives through challenge and discovery. Our transformative and educational wilderness courses are set in some of the most dramatic and stunning parts of the United States. NWOBS was founded in 1965 and facilitates wilderness-based programs in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and also serves urban youth and schools in the Portland metropolitan area. As an Outward Bound School, we are committed to the core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, equity, inclusion and diversity, and strive to achieve the following outcomes: building character, developing leadership skills, and creating an ethic of social and environmental responsibility.

Job Overview

The Director of Business Operations (DBO) is the lead operations staff at Northwest Outward Bound School. The DBO is responsible for managing finance, human resources, and general operations, while building organizational capacity, designing, and implementing structures and systems that support the organization’s strategic priorities. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the DBO provides operational and administrative leadership in collaboration with and in support of the Executive Director, enabling efficient and effective management of NWOBS. The successful candidate will be expected to have past training and experience in equity, inclusion, and diversity work, ideally pertaining to education settings.

This position is based in the Portland Metro area and will primarily work remotely from a home office, with the expectation to work in our Old Town Portland office at least once a week. Participation in in-person team meetings and gatherings will also take place in the Portland region, with additional travel to our base camp locations in Central Oregon and Northern Washington generally 3-4 times per year.

Special Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

• This is a full-time salaried position; compensation is commensurate with experience within Northwest Outward Bound School’s annual range of $60,000 – $80,000.
• This is a benefits-eligible position. NWOBS benefits package includes comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance. Employees accrue 15 days of paid time off, 12 days of paid sick time, and 13 paid holidays in the first year.
• Free and discounted Employee Assistance Plan services, including 24/7 Crisis line, up to 5 counseling sessions per occurrence valued at $1,000 per case, well-being coaching, and screened referrals for childcare, eldercare, legal, and financial services.
• Professional development opportunities, including $250/year toward external training, as well as in-house training on Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Mental Health First Aid, Community Resiliency Model, and other role-specific training.
• All positions qualify to participate in our gear discount program and course tuition discounts.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge and Skills

• Minimum 6-8 years of relevant experience (business, non-profit management, human resources) is required, with at least 2 years previous experience in non-profit organizations. A bachelor’s degree (not required) in a related field can replace 2 years of required experience.
• Minimum 4 years team management and supervisory experience required.
• Strong understanding of financial management, human resources management, and business operations, including systems and policy development.
• Strong personal motivation, initiative, commitment, follow-through, and values consistent with NWOBS mission, values, and principles.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative environment with field staff, program management staff, and organizational leadership.
• Ability to perform under tight deadlines and meet financial goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail, and ability to present information concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work in a dynamic environment and work independently with little supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Administrator experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS platform.
• Proficiency in G-Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• A demonstrated commitment to engaging in equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts (either within a professional or personal setting).
• Ability to have open, honest, and difficult conversations, including the ability to give and receive positive and constructive feedback with direct reports and colleagues.