Summary of Position

North Cascades Institute seeks a skilled logistics coordinator and educator to join our Youth Leadership team. The Youth Leadership Coordinator’s role is to support the Youth Leadership Manager in implementing the Youth Leadership Adventures program. In the spring, this position will help with overall student recruitment and enrollment, course planning, curriculum design, staff training and student mentorship. This includes implementation of the Youth Leadership Ambassador program as well as continual mentorship of students year-round. Coordinators will collaborate with an array of partners, including schools and public land management agencies to plan trip itineraries and recruit participants.

During the summer, this position will coordinate 12-day introductory camping, backpacking, stewardship, leadership development, and field science courses for students ages 14-18 for the Youth Leadership Adventures Program (YLA). The Coordinator will lead instructor training and serve as a supervisor and mentor to field staff, graduate students and interns, as well as offer logistical support to crews while they are in the field. YLA participants are high school aged youth from the surrounding area, representing a diverse array of identities. Due to the training and mentorship role that the coordinator takes on, it is essential that they are able to create a safe learning environment for all identities and model culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices.

Position Location

The work location for the Youth Leadership Coordinator is at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. The Learning Center is located in the heart of the North Cascades National Park near Diablo, WA, and serves as a hub for a small network of trails along the shores of Diablo Lake. This region of North America has been visited by native tribes for over 9,000 years and continues to be a meaningful location for thousands of visitors each year. Opened in 2005, the Learning Center is a collaboration between North Cascades Institute, the National Park Service, and Seattle City Light, the public utility that owns and operates the hydroelectric project that includes Diablo Lake, and provides electricity to the residents of Seattle. The Learning Center is approximately 20 miles from the nearest gas station and post office, and 60 miles from towns with full amenities. When available, Institute vehicles can be used for work-related meetings for staff members who successfully complete Institute vehicle training. This position reports to the Youth Leadership Manager.

Responsibilities

Administration of Youth Leadership Programs (50%)

• Coordinate Youth Leadership Adventures program (YLA)
• Assist with high school student recruitment and enrollment, including coordinating and developing relationships with teachers, giving presentations, conducting interviews, and processing applications and paperwork.
• Assist with Youth Leadership Adventures Family Orientation Meetings
• Coordinate with marketing staff to ensure timely dissemination of youth leadership materials.
• Research, develop, implement, and document lessons to supplement program curricula.
• Manage inventory, maintenance, and storage of program equipment and supplies.
• Develop and manage course itineraries in coordination with National Park and Forest Service partners, including managing service projects and coordinating with visiting instructors and personnel as needed.
• Collaborate with development and marketing staff to plan and implement Visitor Day field visits  during summer season and coordinate gear donations
• Lead backcountry field training, perform field visits and conduct evacuations from remote, backcountry locations as necessary, as well as teach in an outdoor setting.
• Coordinate transportation of students and crews. Drive Institute vehicles with program participants, including vans and 14-passenger buses.
• Plan program menus, coordinate food ordering, and supervise food packing.
• Provide leadership in risk management before and after programs, including prompt review and follow-up of incident reports.
• Implement and evaluate safety and emergency response procedures and attend risk management trainings

Program Supervision & Instruction (40%)

• Supervise and mentor program instruction staff, including interns and graduate students.
• Participate in hiring program staff and interns.
• Develop and facilitate YLA staff and intern training, including field-based training and recruitment training in spring.
• Provide leadership and support to program staff in areas of outreach, recruitment, program logistics, student mentorship and instructor oversight.

General (10%)

• Support and actively contribute to the Institute’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives.
• Play an active role in welcoming and hosting visitors to the Center.
• Play an active role in risk management including shared responsibility for daytime and overnight campus supervision (on average of 1-2 nights/week).
• Participate in Learning Center staff meetings and hands to work.
• Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned by the Program Director and YLA Program Manager

Commitment to Mission and Values

Successful candidates will have a commitment to the mission of North Cascades Institute and the organization’s effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the Institute’s culture, work and partnering relationships to ensure that the Institute and its programs are welcoming, relevant and accessible.

Required Qualifications

• Commitment to equity and social justice in education and the environmental field
• Experience teaching or mentoring teens
• Strong mentorship and coaching skills in supervisory or peer leadership role(s)
• One or more seasons managing logistics and field support of backcountry programs or operations
• One or more seasons of experience leading trips in wilderness, canoe-based, service, and residential/field programs
• Excellent communication, public speaking, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to monitor and model safe work habits on overnight backcountry trips. Familiar with backcountry and risk management practices
• Comfortable working in both office and remote environments that require traveling long distances
• Bachelor’s degree in education, conservation, environmental science, or closely related field
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification (or ability to obtain before June, 2019)
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. occasionally, carry at least a 50 lb. backpack, and hike over uneven terrain

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience living in and working with communities who are historically underrepresented in the outdoors
• Experience training and mentoring staff or graduate students in backcountry leadership, risk management, teaching, and curriculum development
• Experience leading service projects in the backcountry and/or trail and campground maintenance and field science projects
• Enthusiasm for learning and teaching about the natural world and knowledge of North Cascades natural and cultural history
• Ability to prioritize effectively and handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Knowledge of basic scientific principles and ability to teach them
• Bilingual or multilingual. Spanish language proficiency is preferred.
• Ability to teach canoeing and water safety skills
• Competency in Microsoft Office and Google Docs, spreadsheet management, data entry, presentation software (Prezi), and social media tools (or similar)

Successful candidates will also be willing to live in a remote area, able to instruct and lead others while traveling in the backcountry, have a current driver’s license with acceptable driving record, and will need to complete a criminal history disclosure and background check. This position requires a Wilderness First Responder certification.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a regular, full-time, exempt position located at our Environmental Learning Center in North Cascades National Park with a salary range of $2,625 – $2688 per month based on experience. The position is regularly 8 months with a 4-month furlough (unpaid) from September 1 to December 31 (will be less than 8 months in 2019 due to later start date). We offer a competitive compensation package; benefits include paid time-off, medical/dental insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, tax-deferred annuity and contribution retirement plan, and a yearly stipend to participate in Institute programs. Meals are provided when programs are in session; otherwise, staff are responsible for providing their own food.

Housing

Institute housing may be available for rent. Pets and smoking are not allowed in on-site housing or during programs. Nearest towns to the Environmental Learning Center: Diablo and Newhalem (8 miles), Marblemount (20 miles), Rockport (31 miles).

Start Date

Preferred start date is January 22, 2019 with some flexibility based on applicant need.

Job Duration

Position runs January 1 (starts January 22 in 2019) through August 30 with a 4-month furlough from September 1-December 31, 2019.

Application Deadline

Position open until filled. Priority review of applications received by January 1, 2019. Expected interview dates January 7-18, 2019.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at North Cascades Institute. The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.

About North Cascades Institute

The Institute’s mission is to inspire and empower environmental stewardship for all through transformative educational experiences in nature. Since 1986 we have helped connect people, nature and community through science, art, literature and the hands-on study of natural and cultural history. Our goal is to help people of all ages and backgrounds experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest – so all will care for and protect this special place. The Institute is committed to innovation and excellence in environmental learning and leadership in the nonprofit community. We believe that sustainable communities are built on healthy environments, vibrant economies and social equity.

North Cascades Institute, www.ncascades.org(link is external), is a respected, national leader among U.S. environmental education organizations. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $3 million budget and strong reserves, and more than a decade of Four-Star ratings with Charity Navigator. The Institute was also voted “Best Place to Work” in the 2013 Bellingham Alive – Best in the Northwest annual readers’ poll. This is a wonderful opportunity to join North Cascades Institute at a time of exciting growth.

See this video of our special place: https://youtu.be/al4_nuFsHGk(link is external)