Employment at Backpacking Light
We help people thrive outdoors (our purpose) because we believe connectedness to nature makes humans better (our core belief).
Learning about outdoor gear and mastering outdoor skills online is difficult because so much information is created with commercial bias or by people who lack expertise or experience. Backpacking Light Membership provides access to trusted expertise so outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the backcountry with confidence.
Backpacking Light offers both W2 (payrolled) and 1099 (independent contractor) opportunities to people who can help us accomplish our purpose, believe in our core belief, and want to help our customers access information and education they can trust.
We are looking for employees who are:
- Critical thinkers
- Creative educators
- Driven to execute
- Growth-minded
Employment Benefits
Backpacking Light offers W2 (payrolled employees) the following benefits to both full-time and part-time employees:
- Minimum starting wages commensurate with local living wage guidelines
- Guaranteed annual cost of living wage increases
- Remote work opportunities with flexible work schedules
- Flexible paid time off to include 2-3 weeks of mandatory PTO + Extended PTO as agreed upon by employee and manager
- Performance compensation opportunities related to both output (work) and revenue sharing
- Health insurance benefits to Colorado employees and health insurance reimbursements to out-of-state employees
- Matching retirement contribution benefits
Available Positions
Research Assistant
We are looking for a Research Assistant to join our team at Backpacking Light. As a Research Assistant, you will work closely with the Publisher and Managing Editor to discover and communicate fact-based, scientific, objective information about outdoor gear and skills. Projects will include gear and apparel design, materials, and performance; human behavior and physiology; wilderness best practices, and more.
The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical, presentation, and writing skills, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to a lay audience with clarity and objectivity.
This is a part-time position (5-8 hrs/week) with additional hours available (up to 0.4 FTE) after a 120-day trial period and performance assessment to evaluate candidate deliverable quality.
- Location: Colorado* (remote considered)
- Pay: $25 to $30 DOE/DOQ, 5-8 hrs/week.
* Ability to travel to company HQ in Estes Park for day meetings 1X/month required.
Outdoor Skills Educator
We are looking for an Outdoor Skills Educator to join our team at Backpacking Light. As an Outdoor Skills Educator, you will work closely with the education team to develop the most trusted, objective, and authoritative outdoor skills education available in the outdoor industry. The Outdoor Skills Educator will deliver content in both pre-recorded and live (online) formats (some in-person education delivery may be required).
The ideal candidate will possess strong verbal and visual communication, demonstration, and presentation skills; a deep understanding of outdoor gear and wilderness skills practices; and awareness of the challenges faced by backcountry users and how to overcome them.
This is a part-time position (5-10 hrs/week) with additional hours available (up to 0.5 FTE) after a 120-day trial period and performance assessment to evaluate candidate deliverable quality.
- Location: Colorado* (remote considered)
- Pay: $18 to $25 DOE/DOQ, 5-10 hrs/week
* Ability to travel to company HQ in Estes Park for day meetings 1X/month required.
How To Apply
Send an email to [email protected] and include the following information:
- Contact Info: First and Last Name, Email, Phone, City and State of Residence, and Links to Social Media Profiles
- Cover Letter (as email body)
- CV/Resume (PDF attachment preferred)
- Your pay requirements.
- Answers to the following questions:
- Why do you want to work for Backpacking Light?
- What is your backpacking experience?
- What are your personal core values?
