Logistics Coordinator & Field Instructor

About Cottonwood Institute
Cottonwood Institute (CI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Denver, CO dedicated to connecting middle and high school students to nature and inspiring them to protect it. CI partners with schools and youth organizations to offer programs that integrate environmental education, outdoor adventure, leadership development, and service learning. Programs take place in Boulder, Denver, Aurora, and throughout the Colorado Front Range.

position Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Logistics Coordinator and Field Instructor to lead our field program logistics, field instruction, and Changemakers Outdoor Leadership Corps. This position is varied, with responsibilities shifting throughout the year based on organizational needs and candidate interests.

• Location: Office and gear room in Louisville, CO, field programs in the Front Range, and remote work
• Start Date: As soon as January 12, 2026
• Status: Full-time, non-exempt, 40 hours/week
• Compensation: This is an hourly position at $26.20 per hour and is eligible for overtime at $39.30 per hour. See more information below.
• To Apply: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please submit your Application here including a resume and cover letter to Maeve O’Meara, Director of People and Operations: maeve@cottonwoodinstitute.org

Position Responsibilities

Logistics Coordination

This position plans and executes logistics for our field programs, supporting the Director of People and Operations with program logistics, field instructor hiring and staffing, risk management, onboarding, and training. The Logistics Coordinator is responsible for the maintenance and organization of all program supplies, equipment, and 15-passenger van. 

Program Logistics

• Plan logistics for field programs including site booking, permitting, and transportation
• Manage distributing and collecting program waivers and information packets for programs
• Coordinate program gear and transportation, including packing out and de-issuing each field program
• Plan culturally appropriate menus, shop for, and effectively organize food for each field program
• Create and distribute essential course documents with all pertinent site and student information including course summaries, trip plans, gear requests, and van confirmations.
• Communicate relevant pre-program course details and post-program action items to instructor teams
• Manage the completion of post-program logistics, including blog posts, debriefs, evaluations, and data entry

Gear Management & Maintenance

• Maintain program gear, including cleaning and repair, and manage organization of the gear room
• Manage gear room budget and inventory, including purchase requests for new gear as needed
• Perform basic maintenance on 15-passenger van, including regular oil changes, tire rotations, and washing
• Develop relationships with land partners and potential gear donors

HR, Hiring, & Staffing

• Support hiring and staffing for field programs, including contracting, addendums, and securing backup instructors
• Support Director of People and Operations in training new and returning instructors in logistics and risk management

Risk Management 

• Complete student registration and medical screenings, flag concerns, and follow up with relevant parties
• Support with risk management onboarding, adherence, and continual training
• Serve as on-call for field programs when not in the field
• Support annual risk management committee and incident review

Other Duties

• Attend weekly staff meetings, quarterly trainings, and major CI events, including some evening/weekend events
• Attend monthly 1:1s with the Director or People and Operations to review progress
• Other duties as assigned

Program Instruction 

This position includes acting as a field instructor on a variety of field days and overnight programs as well as acting as a primary instructor for Cottonwood Institute’s year-long alumni program, Changemakers. Changemakers Outdoor Leadership Corps (COLC) is a transformational experience for high school alumni of our in-school programs. This advanced program deepens students’ outdoor skills, leadership capacity, and civic engagement, equipping them to become powerful advocates for their communities and the environment– all at no cost to students and families. We are looking to hire a co-instructor who is ready to play a significant role in the long-term development of this program and build meaningful relationships with students and alumni. 

Changemakers Program Instruction

• Support student recruitment, outreach and ongoing communication
• Plan and co-lead bi-weekly student meetings and assistant instructor meetings
• Plan and co-lead field days, overnights, and service projects

Field Program Instruction

• Plan and co-lead field days and overnights year-round for in-school CAP programs and out-of-school programs as schedule allows

Schedule and Hours

• Field program hours are variable week to week and season to season. During an overnight trip, instructors can expect to work around 10-15 hours per day and field days are usually 8-10 hours.

• This position can expect to average around 40 hours per week with some weeks flexing up or down in hours.

• The Logistics Coordinator will have flexibility and guidance to balance their field program schedule with ongoing work duties.

Candidate Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 21 years or older
• Able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds and pack gear in vans
• Current certification in Wilderness First Aid and in CPR (Wilderness First Responder preferred)
• Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and personal transportation
• Must pass a criminal background check and not be a registered sex offender

What we are looking for

• Strong interpersonal skills, including clear communication and teamwork
• Ability to build authentic relationships with adults and youth from a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds
• Experience leading outdoor trips, managing field logistics, and ensuring participant safety
• Experience planning, organizing, and communicating complex details between multiple parties
• Expertise in repairing and maintaining outdoor equipment
• Willingness to be flexible and jump in as needed with timing, changing conditions, and program demands
• Understanding of and experience applying justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion best practices
• Knowledge of environmental education, outdoor skills, and service-learning methodologies
• Experience managing logistics professionally, including coordinating people, transportation, food, and gear

Compensation & Benefits 

This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position. We are committed to providing a thrive-able wage for our staff and reevaluate our compensation structure regularly. CI pays for all time directly working with students during field programs. This is an hourly position at $26.20 per hour and is eligible for overtime at $39.30 per hour. Employees are eligible for overtime at time and a half for more than 12 consecutive hours in a work day and for more than 40 hours in a work week. The hourly rate for full-time coordinators is calculated from an annualized rate of $54,500 per year / 2,080 hours per year.

Employee Benefits

• Full-time employees are eligible for a pay increase of $500 per year at employment anniversary
• Eligible for 5% company performance bonus
• CI matches up to 3% of gross salary in SIMPLE IRA retirement contributions
• Full-time employees working 40 hours/week are eligible for insurance benefits. CI covers 75% of health, dental, and vision insurance and 100% of group life and long-term disability insurance.
• Monthly reimbursements for business use of personal cell phone ($50/month)
• Parking/travel reimbursement for business use of personal transportation ($50/month)
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) + 15 paid holidays + 6 sick days
• Mileage reimbursement for qualified travel expenses
• Industry pro deals and free access to CI gear
• Paid professional development opportunities and ongoing trainings
• CI will pay for a Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder course. The hours during the course will be paid and considered part of their work week, including overtime if eligible.