NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas.

As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers.

NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.

The ideal candidate for the Trails Technician Program Director and Lead Faculty of our Trail Construction and Maintenance Program is a highly experienced and motivated individual. In this role, the Director will be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of our program, providing hands-on training and education in sustainable trail design, construction, and maintenance, facilitating program operational and accreditation requirements, finding additional methods of funding, overseeing the trails apprenticeship program, and networking with the inter/national trails community. The Director will work closely with the Trails Trade School, Construction Technology, Trades, and Bicycle Technician teams to develop and implement curriculum, recruit and train faculty, and promote the program to a diverse range of students and stakeholders.

Under the collaborative direction of the Executive Director of the Trails Trade School and Construction Technology, along with the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the Trail Technician Program Director will teach full-time (3-3 load) as well as lead the administrative, budgetary, operational, and student success functions of the program. The Director will serve as an NWACC representative and community liaison by developing industry partnerships regionally and nationally, including with construction technology, heavy equipment operation, community planning and design, municipalities, trail advocates and non-profits, state and federal land managers, as well as with career and technology education centers, area high schools, universities, and government offices. This position will oversee creation, implementation, and assessment of the trail-building technician program curriculum as well as NWACC’s continuing education, professional development, and accelerated skills training trails course offerings, including evening classes and summer workshops. This position will be fully or partially grant funded for 5 years, after which tuition, fees, and auxiliary revenue must cover.

The Director will

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive trail construction and maintenance program, including curriculum development, course scheduling, and faculty recruitment and training.
• Serve as the lead faculty for the program, teaching both credit and accelerated skills training classes and leading hands-on training sessions in the following, but not limited to, content areas: construction, maintenance, and mechanized building of trails; project preparation, planning, and design; project and crew management, program administration and leadership, and working with private/public partnerships.
• Oversee, teach, assess, and continuously improve the following credit classes:

TRAILS

TRAL 1003

Introduction to Trails

TRAL 1013

Trail Planning and Design

TRAL 1023

Trail Construction

TRAL 1033

Trail Maintenance and Management

TRAL 2003

Trail Operations and Regulations

TRAL 2711

Heavy Equipment Operations for Trails

TRAL 2811

Welding for Trails

TRAL 2911

Small Engine Repair for Trails

• Develop and maintain an inventory system for all program equipment, storage, and building use.
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including community groups, user groups, and government agencies, to promote collaboration and communication on trail-related issues.
• Coordinate with partners and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and permits.
• Work closely with Construction Technology and Bicycle Technician programs to share space, students, and training opportunities.
• Oversee implementation, administration, training, completion, and data retention of industry credentials such as: NCCER, Sawyer certification, First Aid/EMTA, OSHA, etc.
• Develop and implement a system for tracking and reporting on program activities, including student enrollment, program evaluation, and outcomes assessment.
• Develop and implement a system for tracking, coordinating, and reporting on volunteer efforts.
• Recruit and train a team of faculty and instructors, ensuring that all faculty have the necessary knowledge, skills, and expertise to teach and lead hands-on training sessions.
• Develop and implement a marketing and outreach strategy to promote the program to a diverse range of students and stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a budget for the program, ensuring that all expenditures are within budgetary constraints.
• Develop partnerships and processes for additional revenue streams outside of tuition upon conclusion of WFCSF grant.
• Teach in afternoon/evenings and participate in off-campus outreach and industry events.

This position will also provide direction for K16 partnerships and continuing education offerings, including any ECE, Secondary Career Center, and service-learning curriculum components, and will assist with acquiring and maintaining MOUs and 2+2s with partner schools. Finally, this position will lead student completion and placement efforts.

Essential Duties:

1. Provide oversight for the development, maintenance, expansion and administration of the Trail Technician programs and grant(s).

2. Manage the operational functions including recruitment, scheduling, enrollment, and financial performance and learning assessment of programs, students, staff and faculty as appropriate.

3. Collaborate with internal NWACC departments, external workforce development entities, and industry representatives to address current and emerging workforce education needs.

4. Collaborate with external partners, including land lease partners and alternative training sites

4. Oversee the development of course offerings/schedules for each semester – both credit and Non-Credit.

5. Teach an instructional load of up to 9 credit hours per semester.

6. Facilitate relationships with industry partners and coordinate industry visits.

7. Collaborate with Trails, Trades, Cycling, and Construction peers and supervisor in developing strategic planning, program implementation, marketing efforts, and process improvements.

8. Develop and manages the Trail-building Technician Program budget.

9. Direct the National Accreditation process.

10. Advise students and track retention, completion, and placement data.

11. Understand and supervise the Trails Apprenticeship Program RTI and OJT, in partnership with Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program (WAAP), and ensure the occupational KSAs are met.

Salary Range $67000-$77000 annually

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of and demonstrated success with sustainable trail design, construction, and maintenance practices.
• Demonstrable supervisory acumen.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, including the ability to plan, organize and schedule work in an efficient and productive manner, focusing on key priorities and meeting deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and permits related to trail construction and maintenance.
• Experience working with volunteers and community groups on trail-related projects.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passion for trails and the outdoors.
• Must possess the ability to communicate with others in a clear, understandable and professional manner on the phone and in person, and the demonstrated use of good written and verbal communication skills.
• Must possess an understanding of and appreciation for the community college and its socioeconomic role in access to higher education, as well as the varied student types served by NWACC.
• Must possess the ability to work with multiple student types and learning styles.
• Must possess the desire to see students succeed and to implement strategies accordingly.
• Must possess the ability to rise above challenges and setbacks and work with a team to achieve desired results.
• Must possess the ability to teach online, in-person, and hybrid courses.
• Must be able to use web-based learning management systems (Canvas).
• Must possess the ability to work on multiple tasks and projects and to prioritize.
• Must possess effective organizational skills and attention to detail; effective follow-through, and commitment to excellence.
• Must possess the ability to maintain regular, reliable and punctual attendance.
• Must possess the ability to learn and apply new information, knowledge and experiences in a timely manner.
• Must possess the ability to be flexible and adaptable to change.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Adjunct faculty (both college and ECE)

Trail Technician Program and Program Credentials

Trail Technician classroom, lab, and equipment

Trail Technician Budget

Trail Technician Program MOU’s and 2+2s

Outdoor Trail

Physical Demands

The following physical activities are associated with the position and will be performed with or without an accommodation. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

Occasionally
Feeling
Grasping
Reaching
Standing
Stooping
Walking

Lifting

Sitting

Standing

Frequently
Driving
Hearing
Repetitive motion
Sitting

Standing

Constantly
Manipulating items with fingers, hands including keyboarding

Hearing

Repetitive motion

Talking

The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: working with tools and equipment, preparing and analyzing data and figures; viewing a computer terminal; reading and grading; and/or visual inspection at distances close to the eyes.

Hours may vary and may require evenings and weekends.

Environmental Conditions

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Minimum Qualifications:

-A completed college degree at the Associate’s level or higher; a bachelor’s degree is preferred.

-Minimum of 5 years of progressive expertise and experience in trail design, construction, and maintenance, including experience training others in these skills.

-5+ years of supervisory experience or some equivalent thereof.

-5+ years of training experience (L&D will be considered equivalent to teaching experience in a traditional classroom) *

*a teaching demonstration of some kind will be an expected component of the interview process

NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.