Trail Operations Manager

Job Title: Trail Operations Manager

OMBA’s vision is world-class mountain bike experiences throughout the Northern Front Range Region of CO & WY. The Trail Operations Manager is critical in pursuit of this vision by working to build, maintain and advocate for high-quality trails that enhance the mountain biking experience throughout the region, maintaining positive and productive relationships with regional land managers, recruiting and developing trail volunteers, and overseeing our trail-focused operations. This region has a large robust existing trail system with over 400 miles open to mountain bikes. OMBA expects to be associated with a significant number of trail projects over the next 5-10 years, ranging from advocacy to upgrading existing trails to planning and building new trails. This is a unique opportunity to help transform an already outstanding place to ride a mountain bike. 

PRIMARY POSITION DUTIES AND GOALS

The Trail Operations Manager must be self-directed and self-motivated to perform the following ongoing tasks of our Trails Program in coordination with OMBA’s Executive Director: 

Trail Advocacy & Planning

Effective advocacy and planning is critical to balancing our workload across all available resources.  

• Establish & maintain effective relationships with key individuals within our partner land managing organizations.
• Develop & pursue new trail projects including building & maintenance.
• Assist with the planning & design of trail layouts including new trails & reroutes for existing trails within guidance of land agency partners.
• Work with land agency partners to improve trail experiences and sustainability of existing trails.
• Foster working relationships and projects with our partner organizations such as outdoor recreation advocates, youth corps organizations, event promoters and local businesses.
• Assist with the development and continuation of an OMBA Vision Plan for Trails.

Volunteer Recruitment & Training

Volunteers are critical to our trail-building and maintenance success.

• Recruit trail building volunteers.
• Develop a system for training, nurturing and retaining key volunteers to take on leadership roles, with the goal of building our volunteer crew leaders to maintain high value to local land agencies.
• Manage & develop a specialized volunteer crew to ensure we have the needed strength to tackle the most challenging trail projects.

Trail Building Events

This allows us to reach our goal of providing world-class mountain biking experiences and fosters engagement among our members, partners and the trails community.

• Recruit & develop OMBA’s Trails Committee Team:

  • Conduct monthly Trails Committee meetings to organize our efforts and share best practices.

  • Develop & direct land agency liaisons and/or team leads for each focus area.

• Schedule & manage support staffing for volunteer trail building events throughout the year.

Manage OMBA’s Trail Stewardship Crew

• Conduct interviews, hiring & onboarding of crew members
• Manage crew work throughout the season
• Formulate scope of work documents for each project
• Ensure crew remains on schedule & productive throughout their season

Manage Contracted Trail Professionals

• Assist with the development of RFP’s & RFQ’s
• Assist with the selection process of qualified trail contractors
• Manage and supervise trail development contracts and contracted trail professionals in a professional manner

Other Duties

• Assist in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities for trail development projects
• Assist with project funding efforts, including but not limited to project budgeting, grant writing, presentations and other tasks as needed
• Attend Monthly OMBA Board of Directors meetings as needed
• Create an annual Trail Stewardship Plan to guide activities for the year
• Create an annual Trail Stewardship Summary to highlight work completed for the year
• Develop & maintain an OMBA Trail Project tracking document
• Ensure the necessary and proper management, storage & maintenance of OMBA’s tools, equipment & tool trailer, including security measures.
• Provide budgetary information for the tools inventory annually.
• Purchase new tools & equipment as required & approved.
• Work with the Executive Director on annual budgeting and financial tracking
• Additional duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Passion, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and a self-directed entrepreneurial spirit. Mechanically inclined; organized.
• Passion for and interest in mountain biking, outdoor recreation, and conservation.
• Trail building experience with a public lands manager.
• Experience with planning & leading volunteer trail building events.
• Experience training trail volunteers & volunteer trail crew leaders.
• Skilled in effective trail project management techniques.
• Ability to work outdoors for long periods performing manual labor & operating equipment.
• Familiar with machine & tool preventive maintenance techniques.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced trail building skills, specifically mountain bike optimized trails and features.
• Exhibit a range from competent to proficient operation of mini-excavators, mini-skid loaders, and various mechanical and manual trail building tools and techniques.
• Intermediate or above MTB riding skills including the ability to ride technical or jump trails.
• Possess a vehicle capable of towing a 3500 lbs rated trailer (5×10’ enclosed).