Steal This Job: Director of VA Branch of Overland Experts, Garrett Porterfield

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» Name: Garrett Porterfield

» Job: Director of Virginia's branch of Overland Experts

» Salary: $75,000 to $85,000

» Education: A bachelor's degree in architecture from Penn State University

» What he does: Porterfield coordinates off-road driver training for military personnel and trains recreational groups, from corporate staffs seeking team-building exercises to travelers wanting to beef up their Land Rover skills.

» Would you want this job? A mellow personality — and higher-than-average tolerance for danger — is crucial. Time flexibility is also a must.

» How he got this job: After a few years in a "very sterile" architecture firm/cubicle farm, he decided to transform his weekend hobby — Land Rover off-roading — into a new career. He sent query letters to CEOs, and Marriott International took the bait, hiring him to lead adventure activities at the Marriott Ranch in Hume, Va. Porterfield then earned trainer certification from the International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers' Association. This summer, Overland Experts bought Team Rover Adventures; now Porterfield is director of operations for its Virginia outpost.

» How you can get this job: Anyone skilled in driving off-road vehicles has a serious advantage. Recreational drivers might join the Rover Owners' Association of Virginia to gain experience. When hiring instructors, Porterfield seeks conscientious land stewards. "We look not just for weekend warriors but people who have a real, vested interest in the outdoors," he says.

Written by Express contributor Katie Knorovsky
Photo by Kevin Dietsch for Express