Overview
Wild Whatcom is an outdoor education non-profit organization based in Bellingham, Washington, serving people of all ages throughout Whatcom County with a focus on school-aged youth. Programs are offered year round, including school day and after school programs, weekend outings, summer camps, community outings, and much more! Visit our website to learn more about all of our program offerings: www.wildwhatcom.org.
The School Programs Manager oversees and leads our school based programs: EdVentures, SEED, in-school field trips, and Neighborhood Nature. This role is primarily responsible for the development, tracking, evaluation, and quality of all school programs. Applicants are encouraged to review these programs on the Wild Whatcom website and speak to the experience and skills they bring to those individual programs in their cover letter and resume.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Program and Staff Management
*Work with the Program Director and Management team to build schedules for in-school programs; collaborate with existing staff and assist in hiring new staff to ensure all programs are staffed as consistently as possible.
*Supervise and support two school programs coordinators in successful coordination, development, and delivery of all school programs.
*During the academic year, participate in the manager on-call system 3-4 days a week, answering phone calls pertaining to issues arising in the field, weather concerns and staff call-outs.
*Participate in organizational team meetings as needed to communicate program successes and learnings; work with other program managers and coordinators to ensure consistency for field staff.
*Provide direct program support as needed including subbing or additional support (e.g. during new programs, outings with high attendance), making cancellation decisions in tandem with the Program Director, and supporting program coordinators with time sensitive family/parent communication
*Sustain positive staff morale and support a team of field mentors through trainings, staff evaluations, and ongoing feedback.
Program Development
*Continue to develop curriculum based on research-based best practices in alignment with the Next Gen Science Standards, the Environmental Literacy Standards, & the Schools Out Washington Standards.
*Continue to build, nurture, & expand relationships with local school districts & community partners
*Work with the Program Director & Executive Director to financially manage school programs through creating annual budgets, developing outreach & promotion plans, & supporting partnership development.
*Work with the Executive Director & Operations Director to draft partnership contracts as needed.
*Collaborate with the Executive Director on grant applications as requested & support in the tracking of metrics, feedback, etc. for grant reports.
This is a permanent, full-time, non-exempt position with a salary range of $44,000-$48,000 (dependent on experience).
See full description on website
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
*Experience in youth development & outdoor/environmental education
*2+ years experience in a leadership role within the environmental/outdoor education field
*Experience working & communicating with families, teachers, & community partners
*Experience effectively prioritizing & handling multiple projects & deadlines simultaneously
*Experience developing & managing program schedules for multiple staff members
Required Skills:
*Understanding of current schools-based standards and/or best practices for inclusionary instructional strategies
*Experience expanding equity and inclusion to ensure broader program access to diverse populations for example English language learners, students with disabilities, students of color.
*Effective interpersonal & written communication skills
*Evidence of professional work habits (punctuality, responsiveness, organization, and attention to detail)
Preferred Skills:
*Multilingual, strong preference for Spanish fluency
*Familiarity with Since Time Immemorial curriculum
*Experience with risk management in outdoor programs. WFA certification, or willingness to acquire certification within the first 6 months of employment (subsidized by Wild Whatcom)
*Naturalist Skills: plant & tree ID, local history and placemaking, local geology, bird ID, seasonal adaptations, & basic tracking
*Knowledge in trauma informed care & familiarity with best practices in behavior mgmt
About Wild Whatcom
Wild Whatcom is dedicated to connecting people of all ages to nature and developing positive character traits through outdoor exploration and discovery. We provide experiential learning opportunities that inspire participants to explore, connect, and serve, while building healthy relationships with nature, community, and self.
