About Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers (BCM) is committed to providing transformative experiences through nature that strengthen life skills and build community for youth from disinvested communities. BCM creates opportunities for 12 to 18 year-old students to connect with nature, themselves, community, and joy by providing free, fully outfitted, and professionally-led backcountry trips.

BCM programs occur on the ancestral territories of many of this nation’s first peoples. Our regional hubs are on the lands of the Ute, Araphaho, and Cheyenne (Denver), the Dakota and Anishinibawaki (Minneapolis), the Ohlone, Ramaytush, Chochenyo, and Muwekma (San Francisco Bay Area), the Duwamish and Muckleshoot (Seattle), the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Pawtucket (Boston) and Muscogee and Shawnee (Birmingham).

For 35 years, the BCM idea and organization has shown staying power, and has a stable operating budget to match. Headquartered in Denver, CO, BCM is a national organization with a dedicated team of full-time staff, seasonal trip instructors, and volunteers. For more information, you can visit our website, bigcitymountaineers.org 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Basecamp Coordinator is responsible for supporting the SF Bay Area Regional Program Manager (RPM) and Instructors with the essential tasks operating out of Richmond, CA, primarily occurring immediately before and after youth trips, and participating on adult team meeting phone calls.

The Basecamp Coordinator is expected to act with both a high level of independence as BCM’s on-the-ground staff in the SF Bay Area, and collaboration with colleagues based regionally and nationally. Once familiar with the program logistics and staging area, the Basecamp Coordinator should be able to accomplish tasks with minimal oversight or assistance from the RPM while working closely and communicating clearly with Instructors and volunteers. 

Essential duties

• Pre and Post-Season Base Camp Opening/Closing:
  • Storage unit cleaning, program season preparation, and post-season closing.
  • Pre-Season and Post-Season inventory.
  • Coordinating site needs with property management staff (parking, landscaping).
  • Other facilities-related duties as required.
• Program Preparation and Post-Trip Duties:
  • Support instructors with the purchasing and packing of program food and trip supplies.
  • Support instructors with organizing, packing, repairing, and restocking program gear and equipment.
  • Outfit participants with properly fitting clothing, footwear, and equipment.
  • Clean and tidy the staging area after groups depart.
  • Organize staging areas in preparation for the next program to either depart or return, depending on the regional schedule.
  • Coordinate volunteers who support the completion of pre- and post-trip duties
  • Transporting gear, participants, and instructors to and from program start and drop-off locations when needed.
  • Pick-up/return of rental vehicles.
• Administrative tasks:
  • Ensure pre-program and post-program survey completion.
  • Coordinate gear return, cleaning, and organization, which may include bringing clothing and equipment to a laundromat, ensuring full drying before storing, and transporting trash and recycling to the local dump.
  • Inventory new gear arrivals and identify gear that needs repairs or fixes after trips.
  • Update inventory of food, medications, first aid supplies, and gear.
  • Coordinate trip logistics and support with instructors, youth agency partners, and SF Bay Area RPM

The Basecamp Coordinator will be asked to provide any feedback they have as it pertains to the areas of programming that they’re involved with. Additional duties or responsibilities may be assigned by the SF Bay Area Regional Program Manager either before or after programs depending on specific regional and program needs.  Furthermore, the Basecamp Coordinator is expected to maintain regular and proactive communication with the SF Bay Area RPM.

Baseline Qualifications

• Maintain a positive, respectful attitude towards others and demonstrate a commitment to supporting and advancing the mission and vision of BCM.
• Provide professional and exceptional support to community partners.
• Experience maintaining a physical location such as a campsite, Basecamp, or similar.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with little in-person supervision, including proactive communication with remote supervisor or manager.
• Ability to carry loads of up to 60 pounds.
• Maintain a clean driving record and the ability to operate a vehicle to transport gear and materials.
• Ability to provide personal transportation to and around the Basecamp site (mileage reimbursement available when transporting gear).
• Ability to pass a background check.
• At least 21 years of age.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with youth from racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities, specifically those whose identities and lived experiences that are underrepresented in outdoor recreation spaces.
• Ability to cultivate interpersonal relationships with youth and adult participants, instructors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to speak Spanish.
• Hold a current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, or the ability to obtain it prior to the start of the position.
• Ability to respond to and manage physical, emotional, and situational risks inherent in youth outdoor programs.
• Familiar with the local communities that BCM works alongside and the outdoor spaces where participants engage.
• Familiarity with the local communities of SF Bay Area.

 

Compensation

This is a seasonal, part-time, hourly position with an anticipated start date of May 1st, 2025 and ending by September 1, 2025. This role will be expected to work an average of 20 hours per week, for a total maximum of 340 hours over the duration of the contract. The hourly pay rate is $25, dependent on qualifications and experience.  BCM is unable to offer health, dental, or vision benefits for this seasonal role.

Key Benefits

• Eligibility to gain access to outdoor brand pro deal access after completing 2 weeks of employment.
• Sick time is accrued throughout the employment period.
• Workers’ compensation coverage is provided.

 

How To Apply & Timeline

Please submit a current resume and thoughtful cover letter detailing why you believe your experience, capacity, and passions align with BCM’s needs to [email protected] 

In your cover letter, be sure to address the following: 

• Your professional experience and track record of success working in roles similar to this one 
• Your personal “Why”, both in terms of our mission and why this is the right moment and role for you in your professional path
• How do your identities and/or lived experiences play a role in your motivation and ability to do this work

Please send both documents in a PDF or Microsoft Word document in an email to [email protected] and use the subject heading format [Your Full Name] – CA Basecamp Coordinator Application. All applications must be received no later than March 15, 2025.