Job Announcement: Program Director

Open until filled; resume review begins June 15.  If you need additional time to prepare materials but you intend to apply, or for any other questions, email amoderow@alaskaavalanche.org.

Join the Alaska Avalanche School and Lead Avalanche Education in Alaska

The Alaska Avalanche School (AAS) seeks an avalanche professional to lead our programming approach for the 2025-2026 season. As a member of the leadership team of two, this position will oversee all aspects of our program delivery, while the administrative side of courses and our operation will be handled by the school’s Business Director. Collaboration will be key for the successful candidate, who will work closely with the organization’s Board President and Business Director to implement a successful season.

The Program Director is focused on the quality and safety of our offerings. The successful applicant will oversee the staffing of courses, review and lead our risk management approach, and ensure that our curriculum and course structure is up-to-date. They will design and actively implement instructor development and mentorship opportunities, both in the field and classroom setting, to meet the needs of our new and established instructors alike. Finally, as a leader in Alaska’s avalanche community, they will represent the school in national conversations about avalanche education, and help shape the strategic direction of AAS for the years to come.

About the School:

The Alaska Avalanche School (AAS) is a respected nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Anchorage, Alaska. For nearly 50 years, AAS has been a pioneer in avalanche education, providing exceptional training on avalanche hazards, safety, and rescue. Our mission is to provide exceptional experienced-based avalanche safety education to all users of the mountain environment. Each season, we empower around 1,200 students, both youth and adults, with our independent curriculum aligned with American Avalanche Association guidelines. Our course offerings include recreational and pro courses alike, along with motorized, wilderness medicine, and glacier travel offerings.

About the Position:

Piloted last year, this new position updates the school’s traditional Executive Director model by dividing the role into a co-leadership structure. The school will be led by two directors who assume distinct but complementary responsibilities. Within this arrangement, the Program Director will focus specifically on instructor development, curriculum refinement, and a review of our risk management approach.

The key responsibilities for this position are:

• Program and Product Management: Ensure that courses have the personnel, curriculum, materials, and google drive resources to achieve learning outcomes. This includes connecting with instructors, instructing/auditing course offerings to maintain consistency and quality of product, reviewing/driving the revision of curriculum, and working with the Business Director & available budget to make revisions and investments,
• Instructor Hiring & Development: Intentionally develop new instructors while retaining/establishing systems that better support our entire instructor pool. This will include working with new, recently hired instructors and our experienced instructor base alike, to ensure that ongoing training, feedback from courses, and mentorship continually improves our offerings. This will include auditing/shadowing courses in the field.
• Risk Management: Review, update, and lead the school’s comprehensive risk management plan, including instructor qualifications and training, field procedures, and our emergency response plan.  + transferable plan structure.
• Community Relations: Promote the school’s image and represent the school in the avalanche professional community, across Alaska and nationally as well.
• Shaping The School’s Future: Work with the Board of Directors and members of Alaska’s Avalanche community to help drive school priorities for the years to come.

The position will not handle course logistics or the business management of the school, but will work closely with the Business Director as is necessary to achieve the Program Director goals.  

Work Schedule/Compensation:

• This exempt position is budgeted for five months of full time employment during the 2025-2026 season, at $33-37/hour depending on experience. While the responsibilities outlined above include a mixture of pre-season (August – November) and season (December – April) obligations, applicants who have creative scheduling needs due to other obligations are encouraged to apply. This includes applicants who seek a mixture of full time and part time months to perform the obligations outlined above.

Ideal Candidate Attributes:

• Extensive background in the avalanche industry, with A3 Professional Membership required
• A proven commitment to mentorship in the avalanche industry
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Educational experience in teaching, training, or outdoor instruction
• Expertise in fostering a risk-aware culture through program design, compliance, and crisis management.
• Computer skills, proficiency with computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, website maintenance, and social media management.

How to Apply:

Application review begins June 15, and will continue until the role is filled. To be considered, submit a resume and cover letter expressing your interest, along with two professional references. Submit your application or any questions to Andy Moderow at amoderow@alaskaavalanche.org.

The Alaska Avalanche School is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Join us at AAS and be a leader in shaping the future of avalanche education in Alaska. We look forward to receiving your application!