Program Leader (Spring – Summer 2025)

Rustic Pathways; Ohio; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in experiential education is seeking a passionate Program Leader to guide students through transformative travel experiences. This seasonal role involves ensuring the safety and well-being of participants while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Ideal candidates will have a background in youth mentorship, customer service, or outdoor leadership, along with a commitment to cultural sensitivity and responsible travel practices. Join a dynamic team dedicated to empowering students and making a positive impact in communities worldwide.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in service-learning or experiential education.
• Experience working with young adults in multicultural settings.

Responsibilities

• Ensure student safety and well-being during travel.
• Act as a mentor and role model for students.
• Communicate updates and manage student health issues.

Skills

Leadership

Customer Service

Cultural Sensitivity

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Rustic Pathways is a student travel organization that offers the world's finest experiential education, community service, foreign language, and adventure programs. Our destinations stretch from the white-sand beaches of Fiji to the rainforest canopies of Costa Rica, the high Atlas mountains to the Great Barrier Reef, and many places in between. We provide superior quality travel and service in some of the most welcoming countries for students around the world. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of our operations, insists on quality in all aspects of our programs, and places a strong emphasis on the protection, safety, and well-being of our students and staff. We empower students through innovative and responsible travel experiences to positively impact lives and communities around the world.

Program Leader at Rustic Pathways

The Position

As a Program Leader, you are a visitor in the country of operation. Your primary responsibility is the care and well-being of our students while they travel . You are a primary responder in all escalated situations, incidents, and emergencies. In partnership with your co-leader, you’ll collaborate to create a safe and successful program experience for all Rustic Pathways students. You’ll work directly with local leaders, community partners, activity operators, and Rustic Pathways managers. You are a liaison between the program experience and all stakeholders, providing trip updates and managing communication with parents and the global Rustic Pathways team. Expect to spend long days in some of the most welcoming communities on the planet. Community service professionals, customer service experts, globally conscious travelers, logistics lovers, and youth development facilitators are encouraged to apply. Rustic Pathways is committed to increasing diversity in our staff and recognizes the benefit of having a diverse, inclusive work environment. We actively encourage those from equity-seeking groups to apply. We believe in the value of diverse perspectives and experiences represented by our leaders.

Must be safety-oriented, with a passion for experiential education. The position requires a lot of physical and emotional stamina.

This is a seasonal position.

Responsibilities

• Embody Rustic Pathways’ mission, vision, and values
• Act as a role model and mentor to students
• Protect the safety of students and children by abiding by our zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior
• Monitor and manage student well-being
• Follow Rustic Pathways’ protocols while on the program
• Address any student health issues and communicate action plans with parents
• Communicate daily updates and photos to our team to share with parents, and provide real-time info regarding student health and behavioral issues
• Respond calmly to issues as they arise with a focus on customer service and safety
• Demonstrate responsible leadership and judgment, including cultural sensitivity
• Create positive and inclusive group dynamics
• Partner with local Program Leaders to ensure students understand the history, culture, and context of the places visited
• Model responsible travel by adhering to Rustic Pathways' sustainability protocols
• Facilitate discussions drawing from your own personal experience and Rustic Pathways' discussion guides

Job Qualifications

• Experience:
  • At least 2 years of relevant experience in service-learning, tourism, outdoor leadership, youth mentorship, customer service, or experiential education.
  • At least 2 years of experience working with young adults and/or adolescents
  • At least 6 months of experience living and/or working in an international, multicultural, or cross-cultural environment
• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university OR equivalent work experience
• Requirements:
  • Must be legally eligible to be employed in the United States
  • Must be 22 years of age or older before your start date
  • Demonstrated maturity and leadership skills
  • Professional working proficiency in English
  • Basic CPR and First Aid certification from a licensed provider
    • NOTE: Certifications must ONLY be obtained through classroom or a blended online + classroom training. Online-only certifications are not acceptable. Certificates must be submitted to Rustic Pathways at least three weeks prior to the start of Program Leader training
  • Fluency in Spanish is required for Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Peru
  • Professional working proficiency in Arabic, Burmese, Fijian, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Karen, Khmer, Italian, Japanese, Lao, Mandarin Chinese, Mongolian, Nepali, Quechua, Shan, Swahili, Thai, or Vietnamese is a plus
  • A valid driver's license and a clean driving record are required for programs in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand
• Working knowledge in the following areas and/or roles:
  • Adventure Guiding, Outdoor Education, or Wilderness Therapy
  • Teaching and/or instruction, specifically middle school or high school, in a multicultural environment
  • Teaching (any subject) to non-native English speakers
  • Leadership Instruction
  • Customer Service
  • Volunteering with AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and/or national service, or comparable positions
  • Sociology or Anthropology
  • Social Justice, Immigration, or Migration
  • Marine Biology, Environmental Studies, Conservation, or Wildlife Biology
  • Public Health, Global Health, or Water sanitation and hygiene program
  • Mountaineering or Technical Climbing
  • Community Service Coordinator
  • Surf Instructor
  • Soccer Coach
  • Camp Counselor
• Preferred Certifications (including but not limited to):
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness EMT
  • Ocean Lifeguard
  • Teaching Certifications (ex. TEFL/TESL)
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Appreciation for diversity in cultures and experiences
  • Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Patient, enthusiastic, analytical, flexible, and solution-oriented
  • Passion for discussion-based learning and helping students make meaning of their experiences
  • Understands the value of experiential education and travel for high school students
  • Understands the value of parental communication for high school travel
  • Eager to learn from colleagues and enjoys open collaboration and teamwork
  • Able to maintain excellence under pressure and ever-changing conditions

Location:

Ability to work in one of our country destinations for at least 1-10 consecutive weeks at a time (s tart date determined by mandatory in-person training dates, which vary by country operation ).

Compensation:

The weekly rate for this position is between $400 to $1200 per week (weekly rate is determined by the number of years of Rustic Pathways program leader experience and by country operation).

A Note About Equal Employment Opportunity Questions:

Though you are not required to answer them, we do encourage applicants to answer the Equal Employment Opportunity questions on our application. We cannot see your answers as we review your application. We only see the data as a full set, not connected to any identifying data on your application. In order to most effectively work to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion at Rustic Pathways, we need the data to know where we stand. Numbers are powerful. Please help us to improve as an organization by answering these questions if you are comfortable doing so.

Rustic Pathways is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

At-Will Notice:

Each employee of Rustic Pathways is employed “at will,” which means either the Company or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any or no reason, with or without advanced notice. No individual or representative of Rustic Pathways can change this at-will relationship absent a specific, written contract signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or designee.

Have you worked with Rustic Pathways previously?*

If yes, please list the previous position(s) held, year of employment, and country of work. If no, please leave blank.

Please select all languages you speak at a 4 or higher, using the following scale for reference:
0 – No proficiency
1 – Elementary proficiency
2 – Limited working proficiency
3 – Professional working proficiency
4 – Full professional proficiency
5 – Native or bilingual proficiency* Arabic Berber/Amazigh Burmese English Fijian French Haitian Creole Italian Japanese Karen Khmer Lao Mandarin Chinese Mongolian Nepali Quechua Shan Spanish Swahili Thai Tibetan Vietnamese

Please indicate any/all windows of time you are available during Spring 2025 (Jan 11 - May 10).* This time frame varies slightly within each of our countries of operation. Please indicate all time frames that you are available from January 11 - May 10.

*Indicating availability means we may contact you for program-leading opportunities inside of this window. **

Please indicate any/all windows of time you are available during Summer 2025 (May 20 - Aug 20).* This time frame varies slightly within each of our countries of operation. Please indicate all time frames that you are available from May 20 - August 20.

*Indicating availability means we may contact you for program-leading opportunities inside of this window. **

Please check all certifications held (must be valid through the period of employment).* Basic First Aid and CPR Wilderness First Aid Wilderness First Responder Wilderness EMT Wilderness Medical Instructor Ocean Lifeguard Waterfront Lifeguard Basic Lifeguard SCUBA Open Water Diver SCUBA Rescue Diver EMT Registered Nurse Mountaineer/Technical Climber TEFL/TESL None

Which Rustic Pathways country of operation interests you the most? Please note that this is simply a preference - not a guarantee! Your application will be considered for any of our countries of operation.*

What is your #2 country of interest? Please note that this is simply a preference - not a guarantee! Your application will be considered for any of our countries of operation.*

For our international program leader role, our minimum age requirement is 22. Will you be 22 years of age or older by May 30, 2025?*

For our United States program leader role, our minimum age requirement is 24 and you must have a valid United States driver’s license, do you meet these minimum qualifications?

What specific skills do you have that make you a fit for your top location(s)?*

What personal experience do you have in international travel?*

What experience do you have working with teenagers?*

What professional experience do you have in the field of outdoor or experiential education?*

What do you think are the top 3 skills required to be a great Program Leader?*

What other unique skills do you have?*

Are you authorized to work in the United States?*

If hired, can you present evidence of your identity and legal right to live and work in the United States?*

Are you able to perform the essential job functions of the program leader position for which you are applying with or without reasonable accommodation? Note: We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and consider reasonable accommodation that may be necessary for qualified applicants/employees to perform essential job functions.*

Please list 3 professional references. Include name, title, and email address.

Who referred you to this position? Please select one.*

Please provide the name of your referrer.

Applicant Authorization:

I understand that if I am selected for hire, it will be necessary for me to undergo a background check in order to be considered for employment with Rustic Pathways.*

Applicant Authorization:

I hereby authorize Rustic Pathways to thoroughly investigate my references, work record, education and other matters related to my suitability for employment and, further, authorize the prior employers and references I have listed to disclose to Rustic Pathways any and all letters, reports, and other information related to my work records, without giving me prior notice of such disclosure. In addition, I hereby release Rustic Pathways, my former employers, and all other persons, corporations, partnerships and associations from any and all claims, demands or liabilities arising out of or in any way related to such investigation or disclosure.*

Applicant Statement:

In the event of my employment with Rustic Pathways, I understand that I am required to comply with all rules and regulations of Rustic Pathways.

If hired, I understand and agree that my employment with Rustic Pathways is at-will, and that neither I, nor Rustic Pathways is required to continue the employment relationship for any specific term. I further understand that Rustic Pathways or I may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. I understand that the at-will status of my employment cannot be amended, modified, or altered in any way by any oral modifications.*

Applicant Statement:

I understand that the safety of students and staff is extremely important to Rustic Pathways and that Rustic Pathways is committed to ensuring a safe working environment. I understand that I, and every employee, have a responsibility to prevent accidents and injuries by observing all safety procedures and guidelines and following the directions of my site supervisor. I understand and agree to comply with federal, state, and local regulations related to on-the-job safety and health.

I hereby certify that the answers given by me are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I further certify that I, the undersigned applicant, have personally completed this application. I understand that any omission or misstatement of material fact on this application or on any document used to secure employment shall be grounds for rejection of this application or for immediate discharge if I am employed, regardless of the time elapsed before discovery.

I understand that if I am selected for hire with the Rustic Pathways USA company, it will be necessary for me to provide satisfactory evidence of my identity and legal authority to work in the United States, and that federal immigration laws require me to complete an I-9 Form in this regard. I understand that Rustic Pathways participates in E-Verify.

I understand that if any term, provision, or portion of this Agreement is declared void or unenforceable, it shall be severed and the remainder of this Agreement shall be enforceable.*

The following questions are entirely optional. To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more .