Program Manager

DREAM Adaptive Recreation; Whitefish (MT); On-site; USD 54,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Season ski pass

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

HRA

Simple IRA with company match

Cell phone stipend

Wellness stipend

Professional development access

Education reimbursement

Job summary

DREAM Adaptive Recreation seeks a Program Manager to lead year-round outdoor programs, ensuring safe, high-quality experiences for participants and volunteers. You will supervise coordinators and seasonal staff, recruit and train a large volunteer instructor team, and manage equipment, logistics, and safety.

The role blends field operations with office planning, requiring strong leadership, organization, and communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years in outdoor recreation, program management, or related field with leadership experience.
• Experience coordinating outdoor recreation programs and working in outdoor settings.
• Experience with individuals with disabilities preferred.
• Strong coaching and staffing abilities.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple programs, schedules, and resources.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day planning and operations of DREAM programs with strong staffing, scheduling, and logistics.
• Lead volunteer program of over 200 individuals annually including recruitment and training.
• Supervise Program Coordinators and seasonal staff; coach and develop team.
• Ensure high-quality experiences for participants, families, and volunteers.
• Oversee equipment, vehicles, and program resources for readiness and safety.
• Manage safety, incident response, and risk within policies.
• Develop systems to improve program quality, efficiency, and sustainability.

Skills

Program mgmt

Leadership

Volunteer mgmt

Staff supervision

Operations

Risk mgmt

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Outdoor recreation

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

CampBrain

MyImpact

Registration systems

Job description

Job Title: Program Manager

Status: Full-time; year-round; 40 hours/week; exempt

Reports To: Program Director

Direct Staff Reports: Program Coordinator(s), Seasonal Staff as assigned

Compensation: $54,080 - $70,300

Hours: Dependent on program schedule; includes weekend and evening work throughout the year

Start Date: Start date negotiable

Organization Mission: The mission of DREAM Adaptive Recreation is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities by providing year-round outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities.

Job Summary

The Program Manager provides day-to-day operational leadership for DREAM’s year-round programs, ensuring the people, systems, resources, and logistics are in place to deliver safe, high-quality experiences for participants and volunteers. Working closely with the Program Director, the Program Manager translates program goals and priorities into effective operations. This position directly supervises Program Coordinators and seasonal program staff, as assigned, and manages DREAM’s volunteer instructor team, including recruitment, onboarding, training, communication, scheduling, and ongoing engagement.

The Program Manager maintains an active role in program delivery while providing leadership and oversight across program planning, staffing, volunteer capacity, participant scheduling, equipment and logistics, safety and risk management, and operational systems. This position requires strong people leadership, organization, judgment, and communication, along with the ability to balance immediate program needs with the continued development and effectiveness of DREAM’s programs.

The program manager will spend most of their winter running programs at Whitefish Mountain Resort and at Glacier Nordic Club. In the summer, the manager’s time will be split between office-based work and programs in the field.

Areas of Responsibility

• Program Operations: Manage day-to-day planning and operations of DREAM programs, ensuring effective staffing, scheduling, logistics, communication, and high-quality program delivery. Maintain an active role in program facilitation and instruction as needed.
• Volunteer Management: Lead DREAM’s volunteer program of over 200 individuals annually, including recruitment, onboarding, training, communication, scheduling, instructor assignments, engagement, and ongoing readiness.
• Staff Leadership: Supervise, coach, and support Program Coordinators and seasonal program staff, as assigned; establish expectations, delegate responsibilities, provide feedback, and support staff development.
• Program Quality & Experience: Ensure consistent, high-quality experiences for participants, families, and volunteers and address operational or constituent concerns as they arise.
• Equipment & Fleet: Oversee the readiness, maintenance, allocation, and responsible use of adaptive equipment, vehicles, and other program resources.
• Safety & Risk Management: Manage program-level safety and risk-management practices, support incident response, and ensure established policies and procedures are consistently implemented.
• Systems & Continuous Improvement: Evaluate program workflows, data, capacity, and operational needs; with the support of the Program Director, develop and improve systems and processes that strengthen program quality, efficiency, and sustainability.

Essential Functions & Working Conditions

• Regular work in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions, including snow, cold, heat, water, and other changing conditions
• Ability to work in and navigate outdoor recreation environments, including snow-covered, wet, slippery, steep, and uneven terrain
• Ability to actively participate in and support adaptive recreation programs, which may include skiing/snowboarding, cycling, paddling, watersports, fishing, and other outdoor activities appropriate to the position
• Ability to lift, carry, load, unload, and transport adaptive recreation equipment and other program materials weighing up to 50 pounds
• Ability to safely operate DREAM vehicles and tow program equipment trailers, as required
• Regular travel to program sites throughout the region
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on program needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays
• Regular interaction and communication with participants, families, volunteers, staff, and community partners in both office and field environments
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of relevant experience in outdoor recreation, adaptive recreation, program management, or a related field including demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered
• Experience coordinating and delivering outdoor recreation programs and confidence working in an outdoor setting
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities preferred
• Strong interest and ability to teach lessons and providing coaching to staff and volunteer instructors
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and operational planning skills with the ability to manage multiple programs, schedules, people, resources, priorities, and deadlines
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, make sound operational decisions, solve problems, and manage risk within established authority
• Demonstrated ability to foster a collaborative, supportive, and accountable team environment
• Must possess a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and initiative
• Strong commitment to providing a welcoming, responsive, and high-quality experience for participants, families, volunteers, and other DREAM constituents
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, develop, and hold staff accountable while supporting strong individual and team performance
• PSIA/AASI L1 ski/snowboard instructor certification desired, or willingness to obtain within first year
• Ability to support adaptive equipment maintenance and repair, or willingness to learn
• Proficiency with workplace technology including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, databases/registration systems, and other relevant platforms; CampBrain and MyImpact experience a plus
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record; must verify personal auto insurance
• Current First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain within 90 days)
• Ability to successfully complete required background and driving-record checks

Benefits

• Season ski pass to Whitefish Mountain Resort and Glacier Nordic Club
• Access to industry/organizational pro-deals
• Generous Paid Time Off policy
• Flexible schedule
• Company contribution to Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or similar option
• Simple IRA w/ company match after first year of employment
• Monthly cell phone and wellness stipend
• Professional development opportunities
• Paid professional education, certifications, and professional maintenance fees

DREAM is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: DREAM is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at DREAM are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. DREAM will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

DREAM Adaptive Recreation provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process may contact DREAM to request one.