Coordinator for Sustainability and Outdoor Programs

Harvard University is seeking a Coordinator for Sustainability and Outdoor Programs to enhance sustainability initiatives and outdoor programs through student engagement. This full-time, two-year position involves supporting the First-Year Outdoor Program, planning trips and events, and collaborating on sustainability efforts. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree, 1-3 years of outdoor education experience, and strong communication skills. A master’s degree and Wilderness First Responder certification are preferred. The role emphasizes risk management and sustainability practices.
Job Summary

The Coordinator for Sustainability and Outdoor Programs is
responsible for supporting the growth and development of Harvard
College’s sustainability initiatives and outdoor programs through
the lens of student engagement. This position will also assist the
First-Year Outdoor Program Director in the management and execution
of the First-Year Outdoor Program. This position is responsible for
supporting Student Engagement’s sustainability initiatives
including supporting student organizations, student events, and
student leadership programs. The coordinator serves as a team
member responsible for planning weekend trips, extended break
trips, speaker programs, film events, and social programs. This
position is a 2-year term-position.

Auto req ID

67560BR

Job Code

404038 Coordinator II (FSS)

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Business Title

Coordinator for Sustainability and Outdoor Programs

Sub-Unit

College

Salary Grade

055

Time Status

Full-time

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• One to three years of experience in the outdoor industry
facilitating outdoor education. Experience as a direct in-the-field
facilitator for outdoor trips is required. Experience managing the
administration of a program, preferably in the outdoor industry, is
also required for this role.

Additional Qualifications and Skills
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience engaging, advising, collaborating, and
cultivating connections with college-aged populations.
• A strong understanding of sustainability and impact on
communities
• Experience working with outdoor education and sustainability
initiatives.
• Excellent written and oral communication, presentation, and
interpersonal skills are required.

Additional Information

Risk Management & Safety (15%)
• Collaborate with First-Year Outdoor Program Directors to
maintain and enhance the risk management and safety protocols of
outdoor trips in accordance with industry best practices. This
includes annual policy updates, improving trainings and additional
in-the-field experience for our leaders, improving systems of
communication for logistical and emergency response for trips in
the field, and analyzing incident data and feedback each year to
identify and rectify policies or practices that may have
contributed to incidents in the field.
• Aid in organizing and facilitating Wilderness First Responder
and Wilderness First Aid courses for student leaders, working with
contractors from certification organizations such as NOLS or SOLO,
and assisting in the delivery of the curriculum. The Sustainability
coordinator should hold a Wilderness First Responder certification
or higher medical certification to serve as an effective assistant
facilitator during these trainings.

Sustainability Initiatives (25%)
• Lead sustainability initiatives within the First-Year Outdoor
Program and collaborate with Student Engagement initiatives to
improve the percentage of equipment sourced from federally
recognized sustainable labels, improve waste streams, and review
practices to reduce our environmental impact.
• Manage sustainability services for student organizations in
conjunction with Student Organization staff. The coordinator will
partner with these student organizations to assess current
sustainable practices and work to improve on-campus events and
partnerships with FOP (First year Outdoor Programs).
• Assist in developing and promoting sustainability programming
and initiatives for campus events such as Crimson Jam and Harvard
Yale to provide better access to local food, vegan or low carbon
emission food, and merchandise sourced from companies with a
federally recognized sustainability label.

Department

Dean of Students office

Pre-Employment Screening

CORI, DMV, Education, Identity

Schedule

Monday -Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Job Function

Faculty & Student Services

Position Description

First-Year Outdoor Program (30%)
• Advise and support the First-Year Outdoor Program Steering
Committee and Leader Corps by guiding program development and
participant engagement. The Steering Committee is responsible for
reviewing and editing long-term program goals such as
sustainability, EDI initiatives, new trip offerings and updating
FOP policy, as well as shorter term projects like selecting and
training new leaders, confirming itineraries of current trips,
managing FOP swag, and managing program outreach through social
media, email, and our website. The Sustainability coordinator will
work with the FOP Director to support the SC in these initiatives
as well as leadership development for the SC members. The LC is
responsible for attending trainings, facilitating trainings (for
returning leaders), gaining relevant certifications to safely
operate, and facilitating the actual trips we lead in the field.
The Sustainability Coordinator will work with the FOP director in
designing and implementing these trainings, training LC
facilitators to deliver good curriculum, working on additional LC
leadership development initiatives, and co-facilitating logistical
and emergency support for trips in the field. Thier role as an
advisor focuses on helping these students to accomplish their goals
as Steering Committee members and Leader Corps members.
• Work with the FOP Director to directly facilitate leadership
training programs and initiatives for the First-Year Outdoor
Program Steering Committee and Leader Corps. They will assist in
the development and delivery of leadership curriculum for both SC
and LC. Their role as a facilitator involves being physically
present and delivering curriculum to our SC and LC.
• Each year there is a rigorous application for becoming a fop
leader with more than double the amount of applicants as we have
open spaces for. This position will assist the First-Year Outdoor
Program Director in selecting, training, and developing members of
the Steering Committee and Leader Corps. They will be in the room
for the decision process and be an active part of FOP’s
consensus-based model for leader decisions.

Trip & Outdoor Operations Management (30%)
• Manage logistical operations and expand offerings of Harvard
Outdoor Programs in collaboration with the First-Year Outdoor
Program Director. Logistical operations of Harvard Outdoor Programs
include transportation, food, equipment, permits, campsites,
lodging, and working with community partners for our on campus
events and off campus camping trips.
• Planning operations include identifying and securing the
necessary and appropriate transportation, lodging resources, as
well as emergency response protocols for the trip leaders and
participants.
• Work with student gear managers and the FOP Director to
purchase, maintain and ensure the safety of all the equipment for
both the rental & trip programs. They will be providing
training to student gear managers on the proper use and maintenance
of our equipment, applying for wholesale purchasing deals from our
gear suppliers, and completing purchases of new gear.
• Coordinator will manage equipment inventory by tracking
purchase, use, maintenance, and student feedback data over time to
determine future gear purchases and decommissioning old or unsafe
equipment.
• Manage the student gear managers to ensure a high quality of
repair, and instruction for users.
• Track and process all trip and FOP related expenses and
payments to both vendors and individuals in accordance with
University Financial policies and procedures.

See remaining responsibilities in Additional Information
section

School/Unit

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants
will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected
veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and
pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected
by law.

Certificates and Licenses

Yes: Driver’s License with clean record for the past 2 years

Physical Requirements
• Lifting, walking, and hiking long distances outdoors.
• A fully packed pack on one of our trips can be between 50-70
lbs.
• The equipment in the gear room ranges from less than one pound
for single items, 20-40 pounds for a fully loaded bin of gear, and
over 100 pounds to be carried by two people for a fully loaded bin
of food.
• The distances on our trips range from 1-3 miles of walking per
day to 9-11 miles of walking per day with considerable elevation
gain on these hikes (1000-4000 feet of elevation gain depending on
itinerary).

Working Conditions
• Office & frequently outside coordinating numerous outdoor
trips throughout the fall and spring semester (day trips and single
night overnights with the potential for longer trips facilitated
over official school breaks),
• 8-10 training trips in May, as well as 40-50 FOP trips in
August.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and
Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and
belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and
fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to
create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of
talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing
individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities,
life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website ( https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more
about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per
year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for
administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year,
12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal
days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks
of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and
vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with
voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start
date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care
resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee
Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress
management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with
contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age
and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program
including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced
tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90%
reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses
taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little
or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace
Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options
handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking,
half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit
passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access
to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus
events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various
types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure
activities throughout metro-Boston.

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

LinkedIn Recruiter Tag (for internal use only)

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts.
Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.
All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard
Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia,
Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and
California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and
funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work
location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.