Career Guides

Outdoor Program Managers

Outdoor program managers design, plan, and coordinate the delivery of outdoor educational and recreational programs.

Where You Might Work

Program managers should expect to work in many locations, including: 

  • Campgrounds
  • Youth centres 
  • Community centres such as PCYCs, YMCAs, etc. 
  • Tourism businesses 
  • Regional or city councils
  • Recreation centres or parks
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Key Responsibilities

  • Designing, promoting, implementing, and managing a range of high-quality outdoor education programs. 
  • Collaborating with clients (such as parents, schools, or youth centres) to ensure programs meet their goals and needs.
  • Ensuring all program operations are compliant with legal requirements. 
  • Managing activity planning for the programs that the organisation offers, including factors like staffing and equipment requirements.
  • Managing budgets.
  • Ensuring client’s accommodation, venue hire, and transport needs are appropriately addressed. 
  • Reporting to a board or governing body to address performance and budgeting. 
  • Promoting high safety standards in your workplace (always being sun safe, using equipment correctly etc.).

The Attributes and Skills You Will Need

  • Effective communication skills, both in-person and digitally.
  • An in-depth knowledge of the outdoor space you plan to manage. 
  • Enjoy working outdoors.
  • Able to work flexible hours such as early mornings and late nights.
  • Organisations may require you to have a car and/or bus licence.
  • Prior training or experience in a management position, including incident management.
  • Experience with applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharePoint. 
  • A passion for the outdoors and preservation of natural environments. 
  • Wilderness First Aid Qualifications may be desirable by employers.

Salary: The average full-time salary for a recreation officer ranges between $65,000 and $75,000, according to seek.com.au. 

Qualifications

The education pathways listed encompass the most common entry-level courses that can be undergone to become an outdoor program manager.

Course/sPotential Career Outcomes Further QualificationsDuration and/or Number of Units
Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership (SIS40621)Provides a pathway to work for any type of organisation that delivers outdoor recreation activities including commercial, not-for-profit, and commercial organisationsTertiary education qualifications in fields such as Teaching, Business, Psychology, or Social Work are highly desirable27 units recognised by the Australian Qualification Framework.
Bachelor’s degrees in Teaching, Business, Psychology, and Social WorkThese qualifications allow you to work in many different fields. They also give you a higher level of qualification compared to entry-level requirements for program management.n/a3-4 years full-time.
Diploma of Outdoor Leadership (SIS50421)Same pathway as above.n/a28 units recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework.

 

Already qualified? Head to the Outdoors Queensland jobs board for the best selection of positions currently available in the industry.

AQIA is here to support you in your career goals. Download this printable resource to plan your career path.

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