Directors of toughness will face extreme conditions

Are you willing to quit your job and spend the next nine months on a global quest to test outdoor gear in some of the world’s toughest conditions?

Top brand Columbia is searching for two new directors of toughness and, for the first time, is looking for UK applicants.

The company said: “Columbia has a history of putting its gear to the test in the most inclement weather and harshest terrain and last year surprised the industry by creating two unique full-time positions within the company, entitled ‘director of toughness’.

“Proudly standing by its promise to deliver products that are #TestedTough, directors of toughness serve as full-time beta testers, brand ambassadors and social-media gurus. They work to ensure that Columbia apparel and gear keep people warm, dry, cool and protected in any weather or geographic situation.”

It said the vacancies are open to European applicants for the first time, with initial interviews taking place on a Hebridean island. “The two candidates awarded the position will embark on a nine-month adventure around the world to test Columbia’s range of performance products in the most extreme conditions, so those who don’t get a thrill from pushing their minds and bodies to the limit need not apply,” it said.

Columbia’s inaugural directors of toughness, Lauren Steele and Zach Doleac, selected from thousands of applicants, spent six months travelling the globe, from the summit of Ecuador’s Cayambe volcano to the Arctic coast of Manitoba, putting Columbia’s gear through some of the harshest conditions imaginable.

Directors of toughness test Columbia gear in Ecuador

Now Columbia said it has upped the ante for this year’s recruits. In addition to job perks that include a full-time salary and benefits, the brand is extending the job duration from six to nine months to allow for an even greater range of extreme adventures.

Columbia Sportswear Company’s senior vice-president and chief human resources officer Richelle Luther said: “The directors of toughness have become integral employees, not only testing our products but also sharing compelling stories.

“We are excited to identify and hire two new outdoor enthusiasts, and to put a spotlight on the effort our employees go through to ensure our products keep people comfortable, regardless of the conditions.”

Candidates eligible for employment in the UK will be able to register to interview online on the company’s website. To be considered, interested candidates must face ‘the toughest interview’ with the final two applicants picked from four casting calls, two in the USA, one in Canada and one in the UK.

The Portland, Oregon-based company said: “If you think you’ve got what it takes to make the grade, act quickly for a shot at applying for the position.”

Players from Manchester United will launch the recruitment drive on Tuesday by delivering a video message to the team’s 70-plus million social media fans whilst wearing the Columbia Sportswear Manchester United debut outdoor clothing line.

Columbia said: “Hopeful candidates will then be challenged to interview in-person at one of the UK’s most remote locations: the Isle of Skye, making this ‘the toughest interview (to get to)’.”