Field Staffing & Personnel Manager

Job Title: Field Staffing & Personnel Manager

Department: COR Expeditions  

Reports To: Assistant Director
Department: Operations / Field Programs
Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

The Field Staffing & Personnel Manager is responsible for the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, supervision, development, and retention of all field staff across COR Expeditions programs. This role ensures that programs are staffed with qualified, mission-aligned personnel who deliver safe, high-quality experiences for participants.

Working closely with the Assistant Director and program leadership team, the Field Staffing & Personnel Manager oversees the full staff lifecycle, maintains staffing systems and compliance requirements, and serves as the primary point of contact for field staff employment matters. The position plays a critical role in supporting organizational growth, staff culture, operational excellence, and risk management.

Essential Responsibilities

Recruitment & Hiring

• Develop and implement annual staffing plans based on program needs and projected growth.
• Lead recruitment efforts for seasonal and year-round field positions.
• Manage job postings, applicant tracking, interviews, reference checks, and hiring decisions.
• Build relationships with colleges, universities, outdoor leadership programs, and professional networks to expand candidate pipelines.
• Maintain a diverse and qualified applicant pool.

Staff Onboarding & Training

Coordinate the onboarding process for all field staff in partnership with the Business Administrator.

Work collaboratively with the Business Administrator to ensure completion of employment paperwork, background checks, safe environment training, payroll documentation, certifications, and other compliance requirements.

Coordinate and oversee field staff orientation and training schedules with program leadership.

Ensure staff complete all required pre-season and ongoing training requirements.

Maintain accurate personnel records, certification tracking, and training documentation in collaboration with the Business Administrator.

Serve as the primary point of contact for field staff throughout the onboarding process, ensuring a smooth transition from hiring to deployment.

Staffing & Scheduling, in coordination with the Assistant Director 

• Develop and manage staffing assignments for all programs, expeditions, and courses.
• Match staff placements based on qualifications, experience, certifications, and program needs.
• Monitor staffing levels and proactively address shortages or scheduling conflicts.
• Coordinate last-minute staffing adjustments and emergency coverage as needed.

Staff Supervision & Support

• Serve as the primary supervisor for field staff regarding employment matters.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and ongoing support.
• Address employee concerns, conflicts, and personnel issues in collaboration with the Assistant Director.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support corrective action processes when necessary.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and mission-driven staff culture.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure staffing practices comply with applicable employment laws and organizational policies.
• Track required certifications, training completions, and risk management requirements.
• Support incident review and follow-up related to staffing concerns.
• Maintain confidentiality of personnel records and sensitive information.

Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director and leadership team on strategic staffing initiatives and organizational planning.
• Develop and monitor staffing budgets and workforce projections.
• Serve as a steward of COR Expeditions' mission by helping cultivate relationships with donors, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Participate in fundraising efforts to support the Field Staffing & Personnel Manager position and COR Expeditions' field programs, including assisting with grant reporting, donor engagement, fundraising events, and other development activities as assigned.
• Work collaboratively with leadership to identify funding opportunities that strengthen staff development, recruitment, training, and field operations.
• Represent COR Expeditions professionally within the outdoor education community and at organizational events.

Qualifications

Required

• Ministry experience: COR Expeditions primarily serves Catholic organizations and Catholic clientele. It is therefore imperative that this person not lives his or her Catholic faith but is able and excited to share his or her faith with others. A background and previous coursework in Catholic theology is recommended for this position. Experience in youth or young adult ministry is a plus. 
• Bachelor's degree that includes involvement with Outdoor Education & Leadership. 
• Current WFR and CPR certifications, and ability to teach and run WFA and WFR scenarios. 
• 3 years of experience working with a reputable outdoor program, including leading trips in various outdoor activities. Demonstrated ability to lead multiple outdoor activities (such as rock climbing, backpacking, water and whitewater, skiing, etc.) and to train others to instruct them. 
• 3 years experience in planning and organizing a variety of outdoor trips including developing route plans, technical knowledge of the route, emergency and evacuation route/plans, choosing and finding qualified leaders/instructors. 
• Clean driving record. 
• Proven problem solving skills, ability to maintain a positive attitude in the face of changing priorities and deadlines, creativity with time management, self-motivated, proactive, and ability to excel when working with a team. 
• Clean driving record. 
• Extensive knowledge of risk management, wilderness safety, and industry standards in the previously mentioned outdoor activities. 
• Experience in staff management, human resources, operations, outdoor education, youth development, recreation, or a related field.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with scheduling, database, and office software systems.

Preferred

• Experience in outdoor education, experiential learning, expedition programs, camps, or youth-serving organizations.
• Knowledge of risk management and field-based programming.
• Experience managing seasonal or geographically dispersed staff teams.
• Familiarity with employment law, HR best practices, and workforce planning.

Core Competencies

• Leadership and team development
• Strategic workforce planning
• Communication and relationship building
• Problem solving and decision making
• Organization and attention to detail
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Commitment to safety and risk management
• Alignment with COR Expeditions' mission and values

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends during peak hiring and program seasons.
• Ability to travel periodically to program sites, trainings, and staff events.
• Ability to perform standard office-based work and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and electronically.

Success Measures

• Programs are fully staffed with qualified personnel.
• High staff retention and engagement rates.
• Efficient hiring and onboarding timelines.
• Strong compliance with certification and training requirements.
• Positive staff performance and program quality outcomes.
• Effective communication and support for field personnel across all programs.

As a partially fundraised position, the Field Staffing & Personnel Manager is expected to actively support COR Expeditions' development efforts. This includes participating in donor stewardship, fundraising initiatives, grant-related activities, and community engagement that advance the organization's mission and sustain high-quality field programming.