American Hiking Society Seeks Programs Support Coordinator (Part-Time)

(12/2/24 Update): Application Deadline is now closed. All applicants will receive notification if selected for further review.

(Part-Time/20 Hours per week)

Founded in 1976 and serving as the only national voice of the hiking community, American Hiking Society (AHS) lives out its mission of Empowering all to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience through grassroots and grasstops advocacy and trail stewardship. We envision a world where everyone feels welcome in the American hiking community and has permanent access to meaningful hiking, including urban, frontcountry, and backcountry opportunities. We will achieve this vision by advocating for the protection and expansion of hiking spaces, fostering trail stewardship, and collaborating with partners whose strengths are complementary. We provide an exciting, creative, and professional yet relaxed nonprofit atmosphere with a strong outdoor and conservation ethic. 

Our trail service programs include week-long and long-weekend trips based all over the country including Alternative Break (for students) and Volunteer Vacations (all ages) for all trail service experience levels; and American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®,a national day of advocacy and trail service on the 1st Saturday in June, involving hundreds of  events and tens of thousands of participants. Our advocacy programs include the year-long NextGen Trail Leaders program that engages 18-40 year old rising leaders in conservation and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion who participate in advocacy campaigns, and Hike the Hill®, an annual advocacy fly-in in Washington, D.C., organized in collaboration with the Partnership for the National Trail System that brings together 150+ trail organizations and advocates.   

Position Overview

The Programs Support Coordinator’s primary responsibilities support volunteer and event recruitment for AHS Volunteer Vacations, Alternative Break, and National Trails DayⓇ. This position will build and maintain strong collaborations and relationships with volunteers, schools, partner organizations, and land managers that host AHS volunteers and events. The Programs Support Coordinator not only has great attention to detail in volunteer recruitment and event logistics, but exhibits empathy and excellent interpersonal skills in relationship building.  

The Programs Support Coordinator is a part-time, salaried, non-exempt position working 20 hours per week. This is a remote position and we are accepting candidates from CO, IN, MD, NC, UT, VA, and WY. If candidates are geographically located near the Silver Spring, MD corporate office, there is an option of partial in-office work as well. The Programs Support Coordinator reports to the Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy, while working in partnership with and receiving projects  from the Programs Manager of volunteer programs and the Communications Manager for National Trails DayⓇ-related tasks. 

Volunteer Programs Support (Includes Volunteer Vacations and Alternative Breaks) 

  • Lead volunteer recruitment efforts for Volunteer Vacations and Alternative Break trips.
  • Support various aspects of project logistics among volunteer participants, including phone and email communications with volunteers, responding to volunteer inquiries, and post-trip evaluations. 
  • Coordinate aspects of the participant registration process, including creating confirmation documents, ensuring complete volunteer registration forms, database entry, and creating, updating, and finalizing trip rosters.
  • Track and report all volunteer hours and other program statistics for use in organizational reports and funding opportunities.
  • Support Programs Manager in development of a web-based trip schedule each year, managing online registration, and responding to registration inquiries.  
  • Assist Communications and Programs Managers with the creation of content for all VV/AB-related webpages. 
  • Work with the Communications Manager and Programs Manager to develop content ideas and timelines for all VV/AB related social media posts.

National Trails Day® Event Support

  • Lead event host recruitment for National Trails Day® (NTD) 
  • Oversee the logistics of NTD event registration, coordination, and communication with event hosts.
  • Work with other AHS staff to ensure in-kind donations are distributed to NTD hosts in a timely manner.
  • Work with the Development Coordinator and Communications Manager to secure products and gear for volunteers. Support coordination and distribution of gear to volunteers, collect photos and testimonials, and provide all gear sponsors and partners with usable content from NTD events.
  • Assist the Communications Manager with NTD webinars, signature events, and grants event support.

Qualifications

  • Commitment to follow AHS Values and AHS’s Commitment to the Hiking Community a must
  • 1+ years professional work experience, volunteer experience, or education that contributes to the knowledge needed to ably fulfill the duties listed above.
  • Experience in volunteer or other recruitment, especially online recruitment, is strongly desired.
  • Experience in Nationwide Event Management and Recruitment is a plus. 
  • Strong computer skills are a must and experience or strong desire to learn database/CRM data entry preferred
  • Tremendous attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy
  • Ability to work independently and ensure completion of projects and to-do lists
  • A collegial attitude with strong communication and teamwork skills
  • Customer service mindset 
  • If local to corporate office: ability to occasionally lift and move 15 lbs.

Salary and Benefits

  • The starting salary range for this position is $23,895 – $25,555. To ensure equity, the salary is determined by a formula based on experience within set salary ranges for each position level and is non-negotiable.
  • Paid holidays if regularly scheduled to work them.
  • Generous vacation and sick leave within the first year of hire. 
  • Two Hike Days, a day off annually to volunteer, and enjoy your birthday off. 
  • Discounts on outdoor gear.
  • Flexible work hours within time ranges agreed upon with the Senior Director of Programs and Advocacy.
  • Strong culture of work-life balance and valuing mental and physical health of employees.

To Apply

Please send the following items to jobs@americanhiking.org with Programs Support Coordinator and your first and last name in the subject line:

  1. Email of interest
  2. Resume
  3. Weekly Hours Availability; and
  4. How you heard about this position 

Resumes will be accepted until December 1 or until filled. 

American Hiking Society is an equal opportunity employer and provides an equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law. 

JOB TYPE: Part-Time, Salaried, Nonexempt

LOCATION: Fully Remote with option for partial in-office for candidates geographically near the Silver Spring, MD corporate office. Accepting candidates from CO, IN, MD, NC, UT, VA, and WY.

HOURS: 20 hours per week, Flexible between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST during the Monday – Friday work week.