COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR LAUNCHES SEARCH FOR TWO NEW ‘DIRECTORS OF TOUGHNESS’

Outdoor lifestyle brand Columbia has begun its search for two new “Directors of Toughness,” a real job open to adventurers everywhere.

This year, hopeful candidates will be challenged to interview in-person at one of four remote locations (two in the United States, one in Canada and one in the United Kingdom), making this “The Toughest Interview (To Get To).” 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.

Candidates eligible for employment in the U.S., Canada and U.K. will be able to register to interview online at Columbia.com/ToughJob. To be considered, interested candidates must face “The Toughest Interview” at one of four remote locations around the globe to ensure that they are truly tough enough for the job. Registration for the first U.S. interview is now open and will take place in the Mt. Hood Wilderness, just outside of Columbia’s home city of Portland, Oregon. Additional interview locations will be revealed and will open for registration in the coming weeks.

Columbia’s inaugural Directors of Toughness, Lauren Steele and Zach Doleac, were selected from thousands of applicants and spent six months traveling the globe. From the summit of Ecuador’s Cayambe volcano to the Arctic coast of Manitoba, they put Columbia’s gear through the harshest conditions imaginable. Now Columbia 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.

“The Directors of Toughness have become integral employees, not only testing our products but also sharing compelling stories,” said Richelle Luther, SVP and chief human resources officer at Columbia Sportswear Company. “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.”