Job Openings: Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation
The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation is looking for enthusiastic individuals to fill two year-round coaching and leadership roles within the organization.
The Methow Valley Nordic Team (MVNT) Head Coach and Program Director is a year-round, full-time position charged with setting the overall tone for the program and leading a team of 140 athletes and 20-plus coaches. Tasks include overseeing the development and implementation of program philosophy and training programs for all ages, coaching team athletes and MVN masters groups, organizing training, race trips and camps, communicating with parents and skiers, overseeing registration and equipment, recruitment and training of coaches, and representing the program locally, regionally and nationally at races and within sport governing bodies. The ideal candidate has a record of excellence in coaching skiers ages 5 to 18, a strong background in cross-country skiing, strong communication skills, and US Ski and Snowboard Level 100 or 200 (or equivalent) certification. Salary range is $50-70,000 and benefits include paid vacation and paid time off. A full job description is available here.
The Methow Valley Biathlon (MVB) Program Director is a year-round position (part time April-September, full time October – March) with a similar role to the MVNT Director, yet for the biathlon program. All MVB athletes are also members of the Methow Valley Nordic Team, and this position will be active as a coach in both programs as well as coaching masters during the fall and winter. This position will work with the Nordic Team coach(es) to develop a cooperative training program for athletes while working to instill a common development philosophy. Tasks include organization and execution of training, race trips and camps, communication with parents and skiers, oversight of registration, recruitment and training of assistant coaches, and representing the program locally, regionally and nationally at races and within the sport governing bodies. The ideal candidate has a record of excellence in coaching biathletes ages 9 to 18, a strong background in biathlon and cross-country skiing, strong communication skills, as well as coaching certification from US Ski and Snowboard and/or US Biathlon or equivalent. Salary range is $30-50,000 and benefits include paid vacation and paid time off. A full job description is available here.
MVNT was established by the owner of a local ski shop in the early 1990s, and since then has grown to involve almost 140 kids in this small community. MVB was established in the early 2000s and has since grown to almost 40 kids. While the programs and the valley are noted as the home of several recent Olympians and National Team athletes, in conjunction with a supportive community, they have served to help hundreds of young people grow into healthy, happy, thoughtful, disciplined, hard-working, resilient adults through the lessons they have learned through their team experiences. All programs in MVNSEF strive to engage, challenge, develop and inspire all individuals in the community through exceptional Nordic ski programming and events.
At the Eastern edge of Washington’s North Cascades, the Methow Valley is a magnet for outdoor recreationists. The clear waters of the Methow River snake through a valley floor checkered with agricultural fields, all of it easy to take in from a perch atop the steep wooded slopes and rocky crags carved out by glaciers in the last ice age. Bounded by public lands on all sides, including two wilderness areas, the Methow Valley boasts more than 200 kilometers of interconnected groomed ski trails, hundreds of miles of singletrack for running, hiking, and biking, countless backroads for gravel riding and exploring, world class backcountry skiing, multiple locations for rock climbing, plus the Methow river and several lakes for fishing and water sports or a quick dip on a hot summer day. Several small towns spaced about ten miles apart are the hubs of the valley’s population, each boasting a variety of locally owned businesses. The valley’s tight-knit community connects through a vibrant collection of formal and informal groups and one of the state’s top-ranked school districts.
Inquiries are welcome and interested applicants are asked to send a resume, cover letter and contact information for three references to MVNSEF Executive Director Pete Leonard at ED@MVNSEF.org. Initial review of applications will begin the last week of March, and the positions will remain open until filled.
