North Cascades Institute is seeking a dynamic, energetic leader to be its new Adult/Family Program Manager. 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. This is a wonderful opportunity to join North Cascades Institute at a time of exciting growth.

The Adult/Family Program Manager is responsible for overseeing five adult/family programs at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. We expect the Adult/Family Program Manager to build upon our strong reputation as a leading place-based educational institution, developing a world-class organization with broad regional and national reach. The Adult/Family Program Manager is a core member of the Institutes Program Team.

Working from the Institute’s field campus on Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park, this position oversees five education programs serving people of all ages throughout the year. Supervised by the Learning Center Program Director, this position works closely with Institute staff, partners and contractors to support a wide array of adult/family 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.

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.

Qualifications

Required Ability and Experience:

• Enthusiasm for the mission of the North Cascades Institute.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and motivate staff and foster a positive workplace environment. 
• Initiative/ability to prioritize tasks with exemplary time management and problem-solving skills.
• Strong writing and presentation skills.
• Professional experience in environmental or place-based education (minimum 2 years)
• Strong leadership skills (minimum 2 years supervisory experience)
• Ability to accommodate a varied work schedule including occasional evenings, nights,  and weekends.
• Masters or Bachelors degree in Environmental Education, Education, Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology or related field.
• Current Wilderness First Responder Certification. 

Preferred Ability and Experience:

• Residential learning centers, camps, schools or similar facilities
• Teaching interdisciplinary natural and cultural history
• Program evaluation and assessment
• 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
• 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.

Responsibilities

Leadership, Management and Supervision

1. Works collaboratively with Learning Center Program Director and Learning Center Director to provide leadership of the Learning Center community.
2. Works collaboratively with other program managers to maximize use of Learning Center program staff and facilities to achieve goals related to program, enrollment, and finances.
3. Actively collaborates with and supports all ELC program areas including Mountain School, Youth Leadership Adventures, Graduate Program, and Conferences and Retreats. 
4. Regularly reports on programming to the Learning Center Program Director and program team.  Prepares agendas, materials and reports, as requested, to keep board and staff informed and engaged in the evolution of Learning Center programs.
5. Plays an active role in welcoming and hosting visitors and customers to the Center.
6. Plays an active role in risk management including shared responsibility for overnight supervision.

Adult/Family Program Oversight

1. Manages the design, implementation, and evaluation of approximately twenty-five high quality Adult Seminars in collaboration with the Program Director.  Adult Seminars take place at the Learning Center and in the field.  This position works directly with staff instructors, grad students, and contractor instructors to insure high quality instruction, logistical support, and risk management. 
2. Manages the design, implementation, and evaluation of approximately six high quality Family Getaway programs in collaboration with the Program Director. This position works directly with staff instructors, grad students, and contractor instructors to insure high quality instruction, logistical support, and risk management. 
3. Manages the design, implementation, and evaluation of approximately 1000 high quality Basecamp learner days in collaboration with the Program Director. This position works directly with staff instructors, grad students, and contractor instructors to insure high quality instruction, logistical support, and risk management. 
4. Manages the design, implementation, and evaluation of high quality Skagit Tour programs in collaboration with the Program Director and Seattle City Light. This position works directly with staff tour guides, Seattle City Light staff, and National Park Service staff to insure high quality instruction, logistical support, and risk management. 
5. Manages the design, implementation, and evaluation of high quality Creative Residency programs in collaboration with the Program Director and the Creative Residency Team.

Partnerships

1. Works closely with Program Director and other program managers to develop and support cooperative relationships with National Park Service, Seattle City Light, US Forest Service, Western Washington University, and other partners to further Institute program initiatives.
2. Represents North Cascades Institute at local and national meetings and conferences as requested.
3. Develops new partnerships and programs as directed by the Institute’s strategic plan, annual operational goals, and the Program Director.

Budget and Finance

1. Develops and manages budgets for five Learning Center adult/family programs, monitors monthly reports, analyzes revenue and expenses and allocates resources.
2. Provides support to Institute development staff in grant writing, donor cultivation and reporting as requested.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

1. Seeks to hire and support a diverse workforce.
2. Create and support programs that are welcoming to and supportive of a diverse audience.
3. Supports and actively contributes to the Institute’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives.

General

1. Participates in Learning Center staff meetings and hands to work.
2. Participates in risk management, strategic planning, inter-office communications, special projects, and other duties as assigned by the Learning Center Director and Program Director.

Application Deadline

Review of applications will begin immediately. Position will remain open until filled. Start date negotiable.  

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

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 $3.5 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.

North Cascades Environmental Learning Center

Named a "Top Three Spots in the North Cascades" by The Seattle Times and "Top Ten Great Getaways" by ParentMap Magazine, the Environmental Learning Center is a hub of discovery for all ages in one of the wildest, most biologically diverse landscapes in North America. Operated by North Cascades Institute in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of Seattle, our award-winning residential campus is nestled on the shores of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. Activities include school and youth programs, a graduate program, classes for adults, teachers and families, and a wide array of conferences and retreats. Featuring earth-friendly design and operations, our tree-sheltered campus features 16 buildings:

• Multimedia classrooms, a research library and aquatic and terrestrial labs
• Overnight lodging for up to 92 participants, plus housing for graduate students and staff
• A lakeside dining hall with a recycling/composting center
• An amphitheater, outdoor learning shelters and trails leading into the surrounding wildlands
• A dock on Diablo Lake for paddling adventures
• ADA-accessible facilities and pathways