SOLO Wilderness Medicine Education Manager
Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City, NC, United States
NOC career opportunities offer a rare combination of work in beautiful locations, a chance to grow skills and to share a passion for active outdoor recreation. Ideal candidates are leaders in the workplace that wish to join a unique, values-driven organization. They aspire to excellence in their fields and disciplines and they demonstrate a commitment to the service of others. Above all, they want to provide guests with unforgettable experiences. If this sounds like you, we hope you'll apply to join the NOC team.
Job Summary
The SOLO Southeast Manager will bedirectly responsible for the overall leadership, growth, and operational excellence of NOC’s SOLO Southeast wilderness medicine and survival education programs. This role oversees program delivery, instructor workforce development, and accreditation compliance while driving strategic expansion into new markets and course locations.
The Manager will build and lead a high-performing instructor team, ensure consistent delivery of curriculum, and identify opportunities to grow enrollment, geographic reach, and program offerings. This role serves as the primary liaison with accrediting bodies and plays a key role in shaping the future of wilderness medicine education at NOC.
The position requires off-site travel. The Manager could be expected to research and attend appropriate conferences and promote NOC’s full suite of businesses and locations. The Manager is responsible for the guest facing side of NOC’s Wilderness Medicine and Survival department as well as the program management and staff training side.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Operations
Oversee all aspects of wilderness medicine and survival course delivery, including scheduling, logistics, and execution
Ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery across all locations
Instruct courses at each level, including travel to off-site courses.
Continuously evaluate and improve operational systems, processes, and guest experience
Maintain appropriate inventory, equipment, and classroom resources
Track student feedback and provide meaningful feedback to instructors and make course adjustments where appropriate.
Team Leadership, Development and Culture
Recruit, hire, onboard, expand and retain a high-quality instructor team
Build scalable systems for instructor training, evaluation, and advancement
Manage instructor scheduling and utilization across programs and locations
Maintain instructor certifications, compliance, and personnel records
Foster a culture of professionalism, continuous improvement, and instructional excellence
Coordinate instructor career progression and identify continuing education and training opportunities
Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback
Ensure adherence to NOC’s core values, policies, and procedures
Maintain a safe, inclusive, and high-performing work environment
Growth & Expansion
Lead the strategic expansion of wilderness medicine programs into new geographic markets and delivery formats
Identify, develop, and launch new course locations beyond NOC’s primary campus
Partner with Sales and Marketing to drive enrollment growth and develop new programming
Build partnerships with universities, outdoor programs, search and rescue organizations, and other key stakeholders
Accreditation & Compliance
Serve as the primary liaison with accrediting organizations and regulatory bodies
Ensure all programs meet or exceed accreditation and industry standards
Lead accreditation reviews, audits, and reporting processes
Maintain compliance with state and national requirements for EMT and wilderness medicine programming
Financial & Business Management
Own departmental budget, forecasting, and financial performance
Evaluate and implement cost reduction and control without diminishing service quality
In season, run weekly key performance indicators for the department to determine how each area is functioning to both guest experience and financial expectations
Ensure all payroll is controlled, accurate, and submitted on time
Collaborate on long-term planning and capital investments with senior leadership
Partner with Group Sales to understand client needs and deliver high-quality group experiences
Work closely with Marketing and Sales teams to ensure accurate program representation and communication
Collaborate with HR on recruiting, hiring, and staff development
Work with other departmental Managers where appropriate to ensure proper communication across the NOC
Participate in leadership team meetings and contribute to organizational strategy
Qualifications and Education
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
Healthcare or wilderness medicine-related certification required, WEMT or higher
Experience
5+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated operational and financial responsibility
2+ years of experience in wilderness medicine, outdoor education, or related field required
Experience managing distributed teams, instructors, or field staff
Familiarity with accreditation processes, compliance, or regulatory environments preferred
Strong leadership and team development skills
Strategic thinking with the ability to execute operationally
Excellent organizational and project management abilities
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web-based systems (reservation systems, LMS platforms, etc.)
Additional Information
This role requires periodic travel to course locations, conferences, and partner sites
The responsibilities listed are intended to describe the general scope of the position and may evolve based on business needs
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to provide a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of this position. As the nature of business demands change, so too may the essential functions of this position.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any and all terms, conditions or privileges of employment including hiring, promotions, termination, training and compensation. The NOC does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic condition or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, where applicable. Furthermore, the NOC is committed to a work environment free of discrimination and harassment through respecting and valuing the diversity among employees and all those with whom the NOC does business.
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Job Summary
The SOLO Southeast Manager will bedirectly responsible for the overall leadership, growth, and operational excellence of NOC’s SOLO Southeast wilderness medicine and survival education programs. This role oversees program delivery, instructor workforce development, and accreditation compliance while driving strategic expansion into new markets and course locations.
The Manager will build and lead a high-performing instructor team, ensure consistent delivery of curriculum, and identify opportunities to grow enrollment, geographic reach, and program offerings. This role serves as the primary liaison with accrediting bodies and plays a key role in shaping the future of wilderness medicine education at NOC.
The position requires off-site travel. The Manager could be expected to research and attend appropriate conferences and promote NOC’s full suite of businesses and locations. The Manager is responsible for the guest facing side of NOC’s Wilderness Medicine and Survival department as well as the program management and staff training side.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Operations
Oversee all aspects of wilderness medicine and survival course delivery, including scheduling, logistics, and execution
Ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery across all locations
Instruct courses at each level, including travel to off-site courses.
Continuously evaluate and improve operational systems, processes, and guest experience
Maintain appropriate inventory, equipment, and classroom resources
Track student feedback and provide meaningful feedback to instructors and make course adjustments where appropriate.
Team Leadership, Development and Culture
Recruit, hire, onboard, expand and retain a high-quality instructor team
Build scalable systems for instructor training, evaluation, and advancement
Manage instructor scheduling and utilization across programs and locations
Maintain instructor certifications, compliance, and personnel records
Foster a culture of professionalism, continuous improvement, and instructional excellence
Coordinate instructor career progression and identify continuing education and training opportunities
Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback
Ensure adherence to NOC’s core values, policies, and procedures
Maintain a safe, inclusive, and high-performing work environment
Growth & Expansion
Lead the strategic expansion of wilderness medicine programs into new geographic markets and delivery formats
Identify, develop, and launch new course locations beyond NOC’s primary campus
Partner with Sales and Marketing to drive enrollment growth and develop new programming
Build partnerships with universities, outdoor programs, search and rescue organizations, and other key stakeholders
Accreditation & Compliance
Serve as the primary liaison with accrediting organizations and regulatory bodies
Ensure all programs meet or exceed accreditation and industry standards
Lead accreditation reviews, audits, and reporting processes
Maintain compliance with state and national requirements for EMT and wilderness medicine programming
Financial & Business Management
Own departmental budget, forecasting, and financial performance
Evaluate and implement cost reduction and control without diminishing service quality
In season, run weekly key performance indicators for the department to determine how each area is functioning to both guest experience and financial expectations
Ensure all payroll is controlled, accurate, and submitted on time
Collaborate on long-term planning and capital investments with senior leadership
Partner with Group Sales to understand client needs and deliver high-quality group experiences
Work closely with Marketing and Sales teams to ensure accurate program representation and communication
Collaborate with HR on recruiting, hiring, and staff development
Work with other departmental Managers where appropriate to ensure proper communication across the NOC
Participate in leadership team meetings and contribute to organizational strategy
Qualifications and Education
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
Healthcare or wilderness medicine-related certification required, WEMT or higher
Experience
5+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated operational and financial responsibility
2+ years of experience in wilderness medicine, outdoor education, or related field required
Experience managing distributed teams, instructors, or field staff
Familiarity with accreditation processes, compliance, or regulatory environments preferred
Strong leadership and team development skills
Strategic thinking with the ability to execute operationally
Excellent organizational and project management abilities
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web-based systems (reservation systems, LMS platforms, etc.)
Additional Information
This role requires periodic travel to course locations, conferences, and partner sites
The responsibilities listed are intended to describe the general scope of the position and may evolve based on business needs
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to provide a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of this position. As the nature of business demands change, so too may the essential functions of this position.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any and all terms, conditions or privileges of employment including hiring, promotions, termination, training and compensation. The NOC does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic condition or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, where applicable. Furthermore, the NOC is committed to a work environment free of discrimination and harassment through respecting and valuing the diversity among employees and all those with whom the NOC does business.
#J-18808-Ljbffr