Director of Program Growth and Innovation

Job Title: Director of Program Growth, and Innovation

Department: Program Growth & Innovation

Reports To: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Location: Asheville, NC

Supervision: Education Program Director, Partnership Director, Partnership Manager,
Charlotte Program Manager, Outward Bound Professional Program Director

Anticipated Start Date: June 2, 2025

Summary:
Since 1967, North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) has delivered challenging
wilderness adventures that teach more than outdoor skills. Our wilderness courses, from
the mountains of North Carolina to the shores of South Florida to the peaks of South
America, deliver on our mission to change lives through challenge and discovery. The
Director of Sales, Program Growth, and Innovation is a dynamic and strategic leader
responsible for driving revenue growth through high-impact sales strategies while
expanding and enhancing program offerings through innovation. This role sits at the
intersection of business development, strategic partnerships, and program innovation-
helping the organization scale its impact, diversify revenue, and stay ahead of market
trends. The Director of Program Sales, Growth, and Innovation is a member of the
Leadership Team and multiple cross functional Teams at North Carolina Outward Bound
School and Outward Bound USA. Success in this position will be defined by robust growth
in leads, applications and conversion to student enrollment, maintaining a market(s)
focus and providing effective and inspiring team leadership and supervision.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Leadership
• Lead a cross functional team to develop and execute comprehensive sales
strategies to meet or exceed North Carolina Outward Bound School $4.4M tuition
revenue targets.
• Develop and manage department budget to lead business development efforts for
new and existing products, services, or programs.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Build and manage a high-performing team, setting clear sales goals and KPIs.

Program Growth Strategy
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for program expansion and market entry.
• Conduct market analysis to understand client and program needs, industry trends,
and competitive landscapes.
• Collaborate with NCOBS Program team and Outward Bound USA to shape offerings
that drive growth and deliver measurable impact.
• Develop pricing models, go-to-market strategies, and scalable delivery approaches.
Innovation & New Initiatives
• Lead the design, testing, and scaling of innovative programs and services.
• Foster a culture of experimentation and creative problem-solving across cross
functional teams.
• Leverage NCOBS & OBUSA data, industry research, and feedback to iterate and
improve offerings.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies, tools, and methodologies to
improve program delivery and outcomes.

Cross-functional Collaboration
• Work closely with NCOBS Marketing, Advancement, Finance, and Program teams to
ensure alignment across initiatives.
• Support fundraising, proposal development, or investment efforts related to new
offerings.
• Represent Outward Bound in high-level client meetings, industry events, and
strategic partnerships.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Public Administration, or related field.
• 8-10+ years of experience in sales, business development, or program innovation.
• Demonstrated success in building and closing high-value partnerships or contracts.
• Proven track record of managing high performing teams, launching and scaling
programs or services.
• Strong strategic thinking and project management skills.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, communication, and negotiation abilities.
• Passion for mission-driven work, social impact, and innovation.
• Ability to lead through influence in a cross-functional, collaborative environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort navigating ambiguity and complexity.
• Budget and P&L management, proforma builds, and experience working with an
Advancement Team to strategize case statements for program funding needs.

Preferred Experience
• Experience in the outdoor and/ or adventure travel sector.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), project management tools, and
analytics platforms.
• Understanding of design thinking, lean startup, or agile methodologies.

Working Conditions
• Frequent travel and irregular hours are expected and may be required.
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds.
• Must live in the Asheville, or surrounding, area.
• Hybrid working environment; 2-3 days p/week in Asheville office; dog-friendly building.

Compensation and Benefits
• Full-time starting salary is $85,000
• Eligible for full-time benefits that includes Medical, Dental and Vision benefits
• Eligibility in our 403(b) Retirement plan
• Company paid Long Term Disability and Group Term Life Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off: including vacation time, sick time, comp time and 13 paid
holiday per year
• Cell phone stipend
• Company paid Employee Assistance Program
• Incredible work culture within a mission driven organization

North Carolina Outward Bound School prohibits discrimination against, and harassment of, any employee or
applicant for employment because of race, color, age, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information,
ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status,
qualified individuals with a disability based on the disability, or any other category which may be protected
under applicable local, state, or federal law. NCOBS promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate
harassment based on any of these characteristics nor on differences based on gender identity or
expression.