North Cascades Institute is seeking a dynamic, energetic leader to be its new Education Manager. Working from the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park, the Education Manager is responsible for managing five education programs serving people of all ages throughout the year. We expect the Education Manager to build upon our strong reputation as a leading place-based educational institution with broad regional and national reach.
Candidates must have a strong connection to, and passion for, the Institute’s mission to inspire and empower environmental stewardship for all through transformative educational experiences in nature. The ideal candidate is a creative, energetic, professional, cooperative team player. They possess a strong work ethic with motivation to grow professionally as a key staff member of a mission-driven organization.
Supervised by the Learning Center Program Director, this position works closely with Institute staff, partners and contractors to support a wide array of youth, family, and adult educational programs. The Institute strives to further our identity as an institution that welcomes and embraces diversity in community and curriculum, works to redress historical inequities, and seeks a diverse pool of candidates.
POSITION LOCATION
The work location for the Education Manager is at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center located in the heart of the North Cascades National Park near Diablo, WA. This region of North America has been inhabited 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.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Development, Management, and Oversight (40%):
- With the Program Director, provides leadership, guidance, design, revision, and management of five high-quality education programs and their curricula, including the integration of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and other key principles: Mountain School, adult classes, Family Getaways, Base Camp Learning and Lodging, and Skagit Tours.
- Develops and manages program assessments and evaluations for Learning Center education programs.
- Develops and manages budgets for Mountain School and Adult and Family programs.
- Recruits culturally competent staff and contract instructors who will provide participants meaningful engagement with the natural and cultural resources of the North Cascades ecosystem and Skagit River watershed.
- Creates and nurtures adult and family programming that is welcoming to and supportive of a diverse audience.
- Identifies new audiences and develops strategies and practices to cultivate increased engagement in adult and family programs.
- Works with marketing and registration staff to develop an annual suite of programs based on audience demographics, interests, and needs, and to develop strategies for engagement and outreach.
- Assists coordinators with hiring and acceptance of staff and interns. Seeks to hire and support a diverse workforce.
- Organizes and facilitates end-of-season debriefs.
- Tracks emerging programmatic issues, and develop solutions and strategies as needed in collaboration with the Program Director and the Leadership Team
- Researches peer organizations and programs for field-wide trends
Leadership and Supervision (30%):
- Works collaboratively with Learning Center Program Director and Learning Center Director to provide leadership of the Learning Center community.
- Works collaboratively with and supports other program managers and departments to maximize use of Learning Center program staff and facilities to achieve goals related to program, enrollment, and finances.
- Supports and actively contributes to the Institute’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives.
- Directly supervises three program coordinators who coordinate adult programs and Skagit Tours; Mountain School and Family Getaways; and Mountain School and Conferences and Retreats, respectively. Works closely with the Conferences and Retreats Manager in the supervision of the program coordinator working in Mountain School and Conferences and Retreats.
- Regularly reports on programming to the Program Director and program team. Prepares materials, as requested, to keep board and staff informed and engaged.
- Tracks emerging programmatic issues, and develop solutions and strategies as needed in collaboration with the Program Director and the Leadership Team
- Research peer organizations and programs for field-wide trends
- Provides support to Institute development staff in grant writing, donor cultivation, and reporting as requested.
- Participates in strategic planning, inter-office communications, special projects, and other duties as assigned.
Learning Center Operations (15%):
- Works with Learning Center Director to create, implement, and uphold Risk Management and Institute policies and procedures.
- Provides guidance and oversight of the development and implementation of risk management plans for Learning Center education programs.
- Serves as one of the designated Incident Commanders at the Environmental Learning Center, including shared responsibility of overnight supervision on average 1-2x/week.
- Plays an active role in welcoming and hosting visitors and customers.
- Participates in Learning Center staff meetings and hands to work.
Partnership Development (10%):
- Works closely with Program Director and other program managers to support and strengthen cooperative relationships with the National Park Service, Seattle City Light, US Forest Service, local tribes, and other partners.
- Develops new partnerships and programs as directed by the Institute’s strategic plan, annual operational goals, and the Program Director.
- Represents North Cascades Institute at local and regional meetings and conferences.
Instruction (5%):
- Develops and leads segments of programs, classes, and trainings for staff and public.
- Provides instructional support to programs when needed.
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.
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
Since 1986 the Institute has 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) is a respected, national leader among U.S. environmental education organizations. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $4 million budget, strong reserves, and more than a decade of Four-Star ratings from Charity Navigator. The Institute was voted “Best Place to Work” in the 2013 Bellingham Alive – Best in the Northwest annual readers’ poll. Our administrative office is co-located with the National Park Service and US Forest Service in Sedro-Woolley, WA. The North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is located on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park.
Experience and Skills:
COMPETENCIES:
- Awareness of privilege and personal bias and how it influences own leadership practice
- Proactive, results-oriented management
- Ability to initiate and prioritize tasks with exemplary time management and problem-solving skills
- Adaptable, solution-oriented mindset to opportunities and challenges
- Program development
- Program evaluation and assessment
- Ability to develop and implement process improvements
- Budget development and management
- An understanding of non-profit organizations and governance
- Strong writing and presentation skills
- Collaborative style
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to coach and motivate staff and foster a positive, inclusive workplace environment
- At least two years’ experience in environmental or place-based education
- At least two years of experience supervising adults
- Ability to accommodate a varied work schedule including some evenings, nights, and weekends
- Ability to work overnight supervision shifts, on average 1-2x a week
- Masters or Bachelors degree in Environmental Education, Education, Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology or related field.
- Current Wilderness First Responder certification or higher
Preferred Experience:
- Residential learning centers, camps, schools or similar facilities
- Teaching interdisciplinary natural and cultural history
- Partnerships, particularly agencies and/or higher education
- Leading and teaching in place-based, field and backcountry settings
- Environmental education with urban or tribal communities or in international settings
- Working or living in communities that are historically marginalized or underrepresented in the field of environmental education or with a social justice component
- Familiarity with Performance Coaching model of supervision
- Fluency in multiple languages, Spanish preference
Other Requirements
- Ability to comply with a smoke- and drug-free work environment
- Ability to travel over uneven terrain
- Possession of current driver’s license; acceptable driving record for past 3 years
- Criminal history disclosure form and background check will be required
Job Benefits:
Compensation, Benefits and Housing
Salary range is $41,000-$44,000 depending on experience. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position. We offer a competitive compensation package; benefits include paid time-off, medical/dental insurance, short and long-term disability, tax-deferred annuity and defined contribution retirement plans.
Institute housing may be available for rent. Pets and smoking are not allowed on-site, in NCI housing or on field programs. Nearest towns to the Environmental Learning Center: Diablo and Newhalem (8 miles), Marblemount (20 miles), Rockport (31 miles).
Application Deadline
Review of applications will begin immediately, with priority given to those received by Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Position will remain open until filled. Ideal start date is August 19, 2019 but can be negotiable.
To Apply
Please apply online on our website at:http://ncascades.atsondemand.com/
Complete the online application and upload a resume and a cover letter applicable for this positio