Director of Youth Education

Who We Are

Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary is a nonprofit conservation education center rooted in 600 acres of Vermont wilderness on the edge of Groton State Forest. Founded in 1987 by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, Sage Mountain has been a living classroom for generations of young people, families, and communities. Our Afterschool in Nature program – now in its fourth  year – serves youth in grades 3–8 Monday through Friday through the academic year, complemented by a six-week Summer Camp in Nature. These programs are built on seasonal rhythms, trauma-informed care, youth-led learning, and deep relationship with the land.

We are seeking a Director of Youth Education who is as comfortable navigating Vermont childcare licensing requirements as they are leading a group of kids through a winter forest. This is a role for someone who is as energized by an afternoon in the forest as a morning of curriculum planning and compliance work – who can hold a vision while managing a spreadsheet, mentoring a staff team and filing a BFIS report.

The Role

The Director of Youth Education is a full-time, in-person leadership position based at Sage Mountain’s 600-acre sanctuary in Orange, Vermont. Working in close collaboration with the Executive Director, you will serve as the operational and pedagogical heart of our youth programs – ensuring that every child in our care is safe, seen, and thriving, and that every staff member is supported, trained, and inspired.

This is a collaborative leadership role that brings both vision and accountability: developing curriculum, overseeing compliance with Vermont Child Development Division regulations, managing staff, and serving as a warm, professional presence for the families and communities we serve.

Schedule: Weekdays on-site, 10:30 am–6:30 pm during Afterschool in Nature; 8:00 am–4:00 pm during Summer Camp in Nature, with schedule adjustments or additional availability as needed.

Compensation: $57,500 annually (exempt), commensurate with experience, paid biweekly. Benefits include paid vacation, paid holidays, two weeks of paid training, HSA contribution, and tuition discounts for children – available after 90 days.

What You’ll Do

Education Leadership

• Hold and advance the vision for Sage Mountain’s nature-based, trauma-informed, specialized-care, youth-led curriculum across all program seasons
• Mentor and supervise field staff with a management style that is empowering, consistent, and grounded in Sage Mountain’s values
• Manage staff Individualized Professional Development Plans (IPDPs), coordinate ongoing PD trainings, and ensure staff are current with all required certifications
• Lead professional development for program staff, with emphasis on trauma-informed practice, land relationship, equity, and inclusion
• Serve as a warm, responsive communicator for families – addressing questions, celebrating milestones, and navigating challenges with care

Program Administration & Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with Vermont Child Development Division licensing requirements, STARS criteria, and Specialized Care standards – including oversight of daily and monthly compliance checklists, recordkeeping, reporting, and renewal processes
• Manage and implement the program-wide Continual Quality Improvement (CQI) plan in collaboration with the Executive Director
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on grant implementation and reporting, including ongoing data collection, outcome tracking, and documentation in support of funded youth education programs
• Coordinate enrollment, attendance, transportation, and CCFAP/BFIS reporting with accuracy and efficiency
• Serve as liaison with the Family Center for CCFAP applications and eligibility support
• Maintain up-to-date administrative records: student files, attendance, gear inventory, student observation forms, incident reports, supply inventory, and nutrition records
• Manage program bookkeeping functions including determining program rates, billing self-pay families, and processing CCFAP billing
• Manage program budget adherence, timely expense processing, and equipment and materials procurement
• Coordinate and oversee gear and supply management, including inventory tracking, restocking, and seasonal preparation
• Review and update the Program Handbook, staff protocols, and program policies on an ongoing basis

Safety & Emergency Management

• Develop, maintain, and practice emergency procedures for all program settings, including on-site weather response, evacuation, fire drills, and transportation emergencies
• Maintain emergency kits across all program locations; conduct regular inventory and restocking
• Monitor facility and grounds in collaboration with organizational staff to ensure ongoing safety and program readiness
• Oversee facility maintenance responsibilities including cleaning, pest management, seasonal snow removal, and wood preparation for the stove

Transportation

• Develop and maintain student transportation routes in collaboration with the program driver
• Ensure transportation procedures and emergency protocols are current, documented, and followed
• Coordinate transportation logistics for families, including route communication and schedule changes

Curriculum & Program Development

• Develop and maintain a seasonal curriculum calendar that addresses afterschool, early release, full-day, school break, and summer programming
• Make curriculum and schedules accessible and well-communicated to all staff and families
• Lead the team in integrating inclusion into all program development
• Explore and develop expanded programming: increased capacity, teen overnight camps, high school volunteer and mentorship opportunities, and seasonal family events

Outreach & Community Partnerships

• Serve as Sage Mountain’s primary liaison with partner schools, school administrators and staff, Parent Teacher Organizations, and community agencies
• Recruit and interview prospective staff, staff-in-training, campers, and students
• Represent Sage Mountain’s programs in the broader community with clear, consistent, and values-aligned language
• Maintain regular communication with partner schools, agencies, and community organizations
• Send weekly parent newsletters, coordinate pre- and post-program surveys, and facilitate behavior conferences and incident reporting as needed

Who You Are

Required:

• Minimum two years of demonstrated experience in nature education, youth programming, community building, or a closely related field
• Strong working knowledge of – or demonstrated readiness to master – Vermont childcare licensing requirements, STARS/SPARQ standards, Specialized Care designation criteria, and Child Development Division regulations
• Experience supervising staff and working within shared leadership structures, including IPDP management and PD coordination
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with family-facing communication, agency correspondence, and professional reporting
• Ability to develop curriculum that is developmentally appropriate, nature-immersive, and responsive to the needs of diverse youth
• Commitment to trauma-informed, equity-centered, and decolonized approaches to education
• Comfort with program bookkeeping functions including billing, rate-setting, and subsidy program coordination
• Comfort with data collection and outcome tracking in support of program evaluation and grant reporting
• A strong sense of personal initiative and the ability to work independently, alongside a genuine enjoyment of collaborative teamwork and openness to direction and guidance from organizational leadership
• Exceptional attention to detail, clear follow-through on responsibilities, and the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively across a dynamic and multifaceted workload
• Proficiency with Airtable, Google Suite, and social media platforms; willingness to learn new tools
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for unpaved roads through all Vermont seasons
• Physical ability and enthusiasm to spend significant time outdoors in all Vermont seasons and weather conditions, including hands-on program, facility and grounds responsibilities

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent demonstrated life experience in education, nature-based learning, wilderness therapy, or related fields
• Familiarity with BFIS and CCFAP reporting systems
• Previous experience in a licensed childcare or nature-based education setting
• Long-term intention to root into the Central Vermont community and grow with Sage Mountain

Our Commitment

Sage Mountain provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, military status, political affiliation, or disability.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive background check and fingerprinting as required by Vermont Child Care Licensing Regulations.

To Apply:

Submit your application at this link. Additional materials including letters of recommendation may be emailed to info@sagemountain.com.