sition Summary: The Community Programs department fosters a sense of belonging and a positive connection with nature by providing fun, safe and educational outdoor experiences. The primary responsibility of the department manager is to develop, sell and oversee outdoor recreation and education programs that engage children, teens, adults and families from our three immediate neighborhoods during out of the school- or work-day hours. Successful department oversight includes staff development, customer cultivation, program management, and data-driven program improvements. Staff development includes providing training, oversight and guidance to educators and providing effective on-boarding for seasonal staff each Spring. Customer cultivation with youth-serving agencies involves contract negotiations, program sales, and program design aligned with customer priorities and the UEC mission. Program management includes scheduling logistics, program communications, meeting state licensing requirements for summer camps, and ensuring high program quality. This position uses Microsoft office and two event management systems, ServiceU and ActiveWorks, to plan, communicate and facilitate scheduling, summer camp programs, constituent and internal communications. The Community Programs Manager works closely with the Environmental Education Manager to plan summer camps, and builds strategies in partnership with Branch Managers for year-round outdoor programming at each branch. This position is part of the “Planeteers” team of managers. Start Date: August 29th.
Duties and Responsibilities:
After School Programs
Attract and retain youth serving agency partnerships (Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouts, Milwaukee Public Schools, Community Learning Centers, for example) through sales skills, contract negotiations and strong customer service approach
Build and support a strong relationship with partner organizations, working closely with Branch Managers to develop strategies that engage youth living near each branch
In coordination with the Center’s evaluator, report key indicators of program impact to Senior Director of Education and Strategic Planning
Develop and manage the after school schedule for all branches
Train and support educators offering the Center’s Young Scientist Club and Nature Rangers programs
Hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate education staff
Build a professional development strategy for educators
Work closely with the Senior Director of Education and Strategic Planning to provide professional development for all education staff
Assign education staff to the Preschool Environmental Education Program occasionally, as in coordination with the Early Childhood Education Specialist
Summer and Year Round Outdoor Programming
Schedule and develop summer camps to complement camp schedule offered through the environmental education department
Serve as one of the Center’s summer camp directors during summer camp programs
Follow State of Wisconsin rules to ensure that all Summer Camps are in compliance with licensing requirements, working closely with the Environmental Education Manager
Schedule outdoor recreation (urban adventures) programs for all ages, year-round for youth serving agencies, UEC members and the general public (the vast majority of programs happen in the warm months)
Plans and leads as least one large community event per year for each of the three branches, working in partnership with the Branch Managers and Volunteer Program Manager
Responsible for certification of the climbing wall and climbing instructors at Riverside Park
General Management
Embrace and demonstrate Urban Ecology Center’s teaching philosophy, the logic behind the Center’s approach, and continuous learning
Work with Sr. Director of Education and Strategic Planning to ensure that organizational vision and direction is shared with environmental education staff, and the feedback from the department staff is shared with leadership
Work closely with Branch Managers to ensure that community programs strategies support branch community engagement goals
Develop and implement program sales plans
Develop engagement strategies that grow the impact of the department
Recruit, train and oversee volunteers and interns
Develop, track and manage the department’s annual budget
Reports indicators of success to Senior Director of Education and Strategic Planning, including fill rates, sale performance, attendance and program metrics
Support Development Department in reviewing and writing grants and reports
General Responsibilities
Attends and contributes to annual staff retreat
Works with equipment lending staff to ensure that all program equipment is well maintained
Assists with publicity for the Urban Ecology Center programs
Assists with Center operations and other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
Education/Training: BS or BA in education, outdoor recreation, natural sciences, environmental education or related area is required;
Experience: Minimum of five years of experience in a related field; minimum 3 years of management experience in an informal or formal education setting; strong track record of sales performance
Skills and Abilities:
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Sales skills
Ability to manage complex schedules
Database management, MS office experience, ability to learn how to use event management systems
Supervision and management experience
Coaching and training skills
Experience and competency in working with a culturally diverse team and audiences
Experience leading outdoor recreation activities for youth, adults and/or families
Strong analytical skills
Attention to detail, highly organized
Ability to meet driving requirements, including clean driving record, safe driver
Ability to speak Spanish preferred
For more information and to apply: https://urbanecologycenter.bamboohr.com/jobs/