The Assistant Director of Field Studies is responsible for supporting the design and implementation of K-12 Field Studies year-round programming informed by the school’s mission and educational philosophy. The field studies curriculum heavily integrates with the classroom curriculum and enhances the Sequoyah experience as students are intentionally led towards increasing levels of responsibility, self-reliance, relationship skills, and an understanding of our world.

Sequoyah’s Field Studies program begins in kindergarten and continues through 12th grade, ranging from three to fifteen-day trips. We seek candidates who are committed to using the outdoors as a medium for teaching critical thinking and life skills.

This position involves a significant amount of time leading students in the field as well as the administration of other trips and development of the program on campus and reports to the Director of Field Studies.

Position Overview
The Assistant Director of Field Studies is responsible for supporting the design and implementation of K-12 field studies year-round programming.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Co-design, staff, and direct the school year program, encompassing roughly 24 overnight trips annually, including acting as trip leader on 8-10 of these trips
• Facilitate and support the many logistics involved in running overnight trips, including food orders and packout, vehicle safety, itinerary development, land agency outreach, permitting,  instructor hiring, and clean-up
• Help transport students in 10-passenger vans or a cargo van
• Regularly review and develop curricular integration, risk management, and systems development for an equitable learning experience for all students
• Maintain a trip-ready inventory of gear, including tents, stoves, backpacks, kitchen equipment, etc.
• Assure proper documentation of a trip, including proactive communication with parents before and after
• Oversee the work of vendors, outfitters, and field studies instructors
• Provide appropriate physical and emotional support and care for all trip participants
• Consistent with the school’s mission and ethos, steward a culture of community and belonging for all participants, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity
• Collaborate effectively with members of the administration team in support of the goals of the field studies program
• Attend relevant school and departmental meetings, as needed
• Represent the school in its mission and values of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Field Studies

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of experience organizing and leading outdoor education trips with youth, or equivalent transferable experience
• Technical proficiency in backpacking and camping
• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, or willingness to complete and maintain this certification
• Enthusiasm for spending around 40 to 50 days in the field annually with youth and parents
• Strong risk management experience in a field and wilderness context
• Ability and desire to live in the Pasadena or Los Angeles area – this is an in-person position
• Outstanding interpersonal, organizational, and facilitation skills
• Detail-oriented, resourceful, and able to prepare multiple trips at the same time
• Proficient in Google Sheets, Docs, Forms
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to work in an intimate office and field environment
• Flexibility to adjust workday schedule to include some weekends and holidays
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Ability to communicate with students and staff across all intersections of identity in ways that are respectful and mindful

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Prior experience designing curriculum for outdoor education programs and/or classroom experiential learning teaching experience
• Additional technical proficiencies in rock climbing, flat water kayaking and canoeing, etc
• Additional valid certifications such as: AMGA SPI, LNT Master Educator, WEMT, ACA or BCU Paddling
• Bachelor’s degree
• Conversational Spanish
• Experience with permit applications, obtaining academic waivers, and reservations on Recreation.gov
• Experience running international programming