NOLS Pacific Northwest Operations Assistant

The NOLS Pacific Northwest (PNW) Operations Assistant will provide excellent service to staff and students at NOLS Pacific Northwest through support in the various operations departments at NOLS PNW – equipment, food services, facilities, and transportation. This position presents the opportunity for a great variety of work tasks all over campus with the bulk of work being outdoor based!

Key Logistical Information:

• Applicants must have legal working rights in the United States.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. NOLS Insurance requires drivers to be at least 21 years old, have a clean driving record, and be able to pass a Motor Vehicle Check.
• Start Date: May 20th, 2024.

• Questions? Please email peopleteam@nols.edu 

What does an Operations Assistant do?

This role works under the supervision of the Operations Manager. It includes the following activities:

• Support the pre and post course processes by working in the Rations Room, Equipment Room, and/or Kitchen.
• Assist with regular cleaning of campus facilities.
• Perform drives to and from the field for expedition courses
• Assist with ensuring NOLS vehicles are cleaned and regularly maintained; perform minor vehicle maintenance when necessary.
• Assist with day to day operations in rations, equipment, and transportation
• Use lawn care equipment including lawn mowers, lawn tractor, weed trimmer, chain saw, and hand tools safely and responsibly
• Collaborate as a team to complete a regular list of daily tasks
• Work on small and large projects campus wide

What makes a great Operations Assistant at NOLS?

For this position, we are seeking a person who is passionate about working as a team, enjoys dynamic day to day operations, and takes pride in living/working in a small communal environment.

• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Ability to be self-directed, take initiative, and make decisions independently
• Adaptable to last minute adversity and uncertainty in logistics
• Ready to work and communicate as a team
• Willing to accommodate flexible work hours/schedules including holidays/weekends and arrive promptly to work
• Able to lift and carry 60+ lbs (items such as propane tanks, laundry, and tools)
• Eager to live and work in a small community that shares responsibility for maintaining common areas.
• Capacity to approach challenges on campus with empathy
• Be comfortable driving passengers in a 15 passenger van with trailer

Who are we and what can we offer you?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help people step forward boldly as a leader.

We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

We are looking for a hardworking individual who understands and shares our passion to join our dynamic and growing team.

NOLS really is a great place to work:

• We have locations in seven U.S. states, and six countries; and courses in all 50 U.S. states and over 10 countries.
• We have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands
• All employees can benefit from free outdoor equipment rentals at our various locations
• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available at a special NOLS rate to seasonal employees.
• Wellness Time: Accrued leave that may be used for many HR-approved reasons throughout the season.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access to counselors that are available 24/7 to assist employees with work-life balance concerns.

Next steps

At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. Applied aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using your resume alone, we’ll be asking you to answer questions to test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymized, and reviewed in a random order by members of our team. 

The Applied platform also asks some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.

All you need to do is start the process by clicking on the yellow button on the top right. 

Additional Information

Pre-Employment Check

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.
• NOLS participates in E-verify for U.S. employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location. Applicants must have legal working rights in the United States.
• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with human resources and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

Reasonable Accommodation

NOLS values community and fosters a sense of belonging for our employees and applicants. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace because they embody these values, as well as our operating principle of promoting a positive, safe, and learning environment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested at any point of the employment process, including during recruitment. Please email peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.