Denver Regional Program Manager

About Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers (BCM) is committed to providing transformative experiences through nature for youth ages 12–18 from disinvested communities. Through free, fully outfitted, and professionally led outdoor programs, BCM strengthens social-emotional wellbeing, deepens connection to nature, and promotes positive youth development. By creating space for belonging, personal growth, and shared challenge, BCM helps young people build confidence, resilience, leadership, and a lasting relationship with the outdoors.

For 35 years, BCM has grown into a recognized national nonprofit with a dedicated team of staff, seasonal instructors, and volunteers. We are also at an exciting moment, one full of potential to reimagine how we best deliver on our mission.

Though headquartered in Colorado, BCM’s regional hubs span the country: Denver, CO (Ute); Minneapolis, MN (Dakota and Anishinibawaki); San Francisco Bay Area (Ohlone, Ramaytush, Chochenyo, and Muwekma); Seattle, WA (Duwamish); and Birmingham, AL (Muscogee Creek and Shawnee).

Position Overview

The Denver Regional Program Manager (RPM) oversees all aspects of BCM programming in the Denver area, including logistics and execution of day trips, overnights, and weeklong backcountry expeditions. The RPM manages relationships with youth agency partners, coordinates instructors and volunteers, and oversees the regional budget.

This is a solo, home-office role. The RPM must be physically located near BCM’s storage unit in Arvada, CO and should expect on-site time for gear management and local logistics such as food procurement, laundry, and van pickups.

Job Duties

Stakeholder Engagement

The RPM maintains clear communication with five stakeholder groups: youth agency partner (YAP) staff, youth and families, instructors and volunteers, and community partners (land management agencies, local coalitions, etc.). The RPM upholds organizational policies, communicates logistics, and ensures all adults involved in BCM trips feel prepared and resourced.

• Communicate with YAP staff to keep registrations, surveys, and trip enrollments on schedule
• Provide YAP partners with logistical resources including packing lists and program manuals
• Uphold BCM’s partnership expectations with YAPs, secure signed agreements by deadlines, and lead key negotiations with confidence and ownership
• Manage field instructors: hire, train, schedule, support, and confirm for trips and admin days
• Delegate administrative day tasks to volunteers and ensure they are properly resourced
• Serve as BCM’s liaison to the regional advisory board
• Represent BCM in the Denver community, building and maintaining relationships that advance our mission and organizational health

Program Logistics and Administration

The RPM oversees logistical and administrative tasks required to get BCM programs into the field. BCM provides a per-trip checklist that includes (but is not limited to): gear inventory, food and supply procurement, van pickup, laundry, and cleaning. In the off-season the RPM is expected to collaborate and support national-level program projects.

• Track student and adult participation using Salesforce; administer surveys and assessments
• Collaborate with Regional Managers and the National Program Director to maintain accurate program records
• Complete end-of-season closeout, including annual gear inventory
• Off season project examples include but are not limited to: curriculum development, menu refinement, and training development

Risk and Safety Management

RPMs actively manage risk as it applies to outdoor programs. This includes:

• Review student registration forms, waivers, and other key documents prior to each trip
• Conduct thorough pre- and post-trip briefings with instructors and volunteers
• Inspect and manage equipment
• Serve as on-call support for programs in the field
• Lead emergency and incident response with support from the broader BCM team

Role Requirements

• Personal and professional values aligned with BCM’s mission, centering belief in nature’s power to help youth build life skills and community
• Residence in or near Denver/Arvada with ability to be physically present at BCM’s storage unit
• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification or equivalent
• Experience managing risk in youth outdoor programs including on-call capacity
• Personal or professional experience in backcountry settings: hiking, camping, and backpacking
• Demonstrated experience managing backcountry trip logistics for groups, preferably youth
• Experience working remotely and independently; comfort with technology platforms for remote collaboration
• Clean driving record and reliable transportation for local travel
• Prior experience working with youth (ages 12–18) from disinvested, racially and socioeconomically diverse communities, preferably in outdoor or educational settings

Qualifications

• Familiarity with communities BCM serves and natural areas BCM uses in the Denver region
• Prior or current experience in youth-serving nonprofits of BCM’s general size
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently, and to know when each is required
• Strong interpersonal awareness and ability to build trust across lines of difference
• Demonstrated capacity to manage complex administrative details and maintain accurate records
• Clear and effective communicator across formats (written and verbal) and audiences
• Track record of successful problem-solving in the field
• Comfort giving and receiving feedback within a supervisory hierarchy
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously in an ambiguous, geographically remote role
• Ability to inspire passion for BCM’s work internally and externally
• Strong understanding of outdoor industry and outdoor education safety standards for backcountry travel
• Commitment to holding self and others accountable to program and organizational policies

Employment and Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary of $59,000/year. The RPM is eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance within one month of hire. Start date: ASAP

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (options for 100% employer-paid coverage)
• 34 paid days off per calendar year (prorated for start date)
• Flexibility and discretion over work schedule
• 401(k) program (no current employer match)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Optional long- and short-term disability, life, hospital, accident, and critical illness insurance
• Optional Flexible Spending Accounts (medical, parking, transit, dependent care)
• Optional Legal/ID Shield
• Mileage reimbursement at the federal rate
• All-expenses-paid annual staff camping trip
• Pro discounts (~40%) on outdoor gear and member rewards

How to Apply

Submit a current resume and cover letter to jobs@bigcitymountaineers.org by May 22 at 11:59 PM MT. Please combine both documents into a single PDF and use the subject line: [Your Full Name] – DEN Regional Program Manager Application.

Pay: From $59,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• outdoor recreation: 3 years (Preferred)
• Program management: 1 year (Preferred)
• community partnership: 1 year (Preferred)
• outdoor instruction: 1 year (Preferred)
• youth development: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Wilderness First Responder Certification (Preferred)
• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Arvada, CO