Summary of Position

North Cascades Institute seeks a skilled logistics coordinator, supervisor 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 (YLA) program. In the spring, this position will help with overall student recruitment and enrollment, course planning, curriculum design, staff training and mentorship, and coordinate field support. In the fall, this position implements the Youth for the Environment and People program as well as continual mentorship and support of alumni. The YLA Coordinator 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 oversee 9-day introductory camping, backpacking, stewardship, leadership development, and climate change courses for students ages 14-18 for the Youth Leadership Adventures Program. The Coordinator will lead instructor training and serve as a supervisor and mentor to field staff, as well as offer logistical and risk management 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. It is essential that the coordinator is able to create a safe learning environment for all identities and model culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices. This position reports to the Youth Leadership Manager.

In 2023, the YLA program will undertake a revisioning process. We will run a smaller version of our typical summer while conducting community outreach, researching relevant trends in backcountry programming, and working with other staff internally to assess how the program might evolve and change with an updated model for 2024. The Coordinator will support the Manager in this work.

Position Location

The work location for the Youth Leadership Coordinator is based out of our Sedro Woolley office in the fall, winter and spring (largely remote due to the pandemic) and in-person at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center for the summer. The Learning Center is located in the heart of the North Cascades National Park near Diablo, WA. The Learning Center is approximately 20 miles from the nearest gas station and post office, and 60 miles from towns with full amenities.

Required Qualifications

• One or more seasons of experience as a supervisor or peer mentor with demonstrated skill in mentorship or coaching.
• One or more seasons of experience leading trips in wilderness, canoe-based, service, and residential/field programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice in the education and environmental field.
• Knowledge of the climate crisis and interest in teaching youth about climate change.
• Experience teaching or mentoring teens.
• 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.
• Experience providing on call support for groups in the field.
• Comfortable working in both office and remote environments that require traveling long distances.
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification (or ability to obtain before June 2023).
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. occasionally, carry at least a 50-lb. backpack, and hike over uneven terrain.

Successful candidates must also be willing and prepared to reside and sleep in a remote area. This position will require driving institute vehicles. A valid driver’s license and driving record check must have no more than one moving violation in the past three years, no DUI, reckless driving or serious moving violations, etc. Final offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check that may include employment history, national criminal background check, national sex offender registry search and a driving history check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience living in and working with communities who are historically underrepresented in the outdoors.
• One or more seasons managing logistics and field support of backcountry programs or operations.
• Experience training and mentoring staff 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.
• 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).

Responsibilities

Administration of Youth Leadership Programs (40%)

• Assist with high school student recruitment and enrollment, including coordinating and developing relationships with teachers, giving presentations, conducting interviews, and processing applications and paperwork.
• Coordinate with marketing staff to ensure timely dissemination of youth leadership materials.
• Research, develop, implement, and document lessons to supplement program curricula.
• Assist Program Manager in developing 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 staff to support grants and individual program donations, including gear and materials donations to the program.
• Coordinate transportation and logistics of students and crews. Drive Institute vehicles with program participants, including 15-passenger vans.
• Manage inventory, maintenance, and storage of program equipment and supplies.
• Coordinate food planning, ordering and packing.
• Provide leadership in risk management before and after programs, including prompt review and follow-up of incident reports.
• Implement safety and emergency response procedures and attend risk management trainings.

Program Supervision & Instruction (40%)

• Supervise and mentor program instruction staff.
• Create a safe learning environment for youth and adults with positive reinforcement, role-modeling and cultural sensitivity.
• Participate in hiring program staff.
• Develop and facilitate YLA staff training, including field-based training and ELC based training.
• Provide leadership and support to program staff in areas of outreach, recruitment, program logistics, student mentorship and instructor oversight.
• Provide on-call risk management support while groups are out in the field, manage incidents and conduct or organize evacuations from remote, backcountry locations as necessary.
• Lead backcountry field training, perform field visits and teach in an outdoor setting.

Program Revisioning (10%)

• Conduct community interviews or surveys as necessary to gain feedback on the program.
• Research relevant trends in backcountry programming models and best practices.
• Meet with partner organizations to build relationships and look for synergy between programs.

General (10%)

• Play an active role in welcoming and hosting visitors to the Center.
• 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.
• Support equity initiatives at North Cascades Institute and actively contribute to NCI as a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone. Develop a personal equity, diversity, and inclusion related goal(s) and track progress towards your goal(s) with your supervisor.

Start Date

Preferred start date is January 16, 2023 with some flexibility based on applicant availability.

Job Duration

Position runs from start date - December 15, 2023. The position has a regular furlough from December 16-31, 2023 and begins again January 1, 2024. Winter, spring work and fall work are typically Monday-Friday during office hours. Summer work is much more varied and may require working early mornings, late nights and weekends while groups are in the field.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is a regular, nonexempt (meaning hourly), full-time position at $17/ hour. The Youth Leadership Coordinator will be full time (40 hours/ week) from the start date through October and move to 32 hours/ week November 1- December 15. This position will likely earn overtime pay in the summer months.

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

Shared rental housing is available in Marblemount or at the Diablo Learning Center June-August for this position at no cost. Shared rental housing may be available the rest of the year at $300/month or staff can provide their own housing. Smoking is not allowed in housing, during programs, or on the Institute’s campus. Pets are not allowed on the Institute’s campus.

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 requires all employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and to provide proof of inoculation unless a reasonable accommodation is approved. All new hires are expected to comply with these requirements upon employment.

North Cascades Institute's mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning 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.

North Cascades Institute is a respected leader among U.S. environmental education organizations, and we believe that sustainable communities are built on healthy environments, vibrant economies and social equity. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $4 million budget and strong reserves, and 15 four-star ratings with Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.