Education Director (NatureBridge at Golden Gate)

Who We Are:

NatureBridge provides environmental science education experiences for more than 30,000 students and their teachers every year in the world’s best classrooms: our National Parks. Our mission is to connect young people to the science and wonder of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of the planet.

What You Will Do:

As the Education Director of our Golden Gate Campus, you will report to the National Director of Education and be responsible for overseeing the quality and consistency of educational programming for students who attend our Golden Gate programs. You will lead the Golden Gate Education Team and represent the Education Department in cross-departmental work on campus, as well as in nation-wide organizational initiatives and with local and regional partners. This job requires regular attendance on campus in Sausalito at Fort Cronkhite.

Your primary job will be to:

• Oversee educational programming as NatureBridge re-emerges and expands from COVID dormancy, including the addition of two lab spaces
• Provide leadership to the Golden Gate Education Team, including culturally-relevant supervision and coaching of Educators and Education Managers. You will supervise two Education Managers and up to three Educators.
• Work in concert with other campus Education Directors and the National Director of Education connecting Golden Gate educational programs and NatureBridge-wide program initiatives and partnerships
• Foster a positive and inclusive work community culture, and establish supportive relationships with staff, volunteers, and participants.
• Ensure high-quality educational programming and act as a resource on pedagogical theory and best practices, especially about Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and topics such as inquiry-based learning and responsible environmental behavior.
• Use the NatureBridge Equity, Inclusion & Diversity framework to drive personal, professional, and departmental goals.
• Direct the growth and continuous improvement of the Golden Gate campus curriculum, programs, and education staff.
• Can access and understand education trends, education research and pushes our program towards excellence and joy in the pursuit of strong teaching
• Work with our National Park partners and represent NatureBridge in our local and regional communities.
• Support development efforts, including cultivating potential donors, attending development functions, and monitoring grant budgets and reporting.

Who You Are:

• Flexible, creative, and strategic.
• Have a growth mindset, and 4+ years of experience leading successful and collaborative teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in education, and creating positive community work culture. We especially encourage you to apply if you have lived experience as a member of (or extensive experience working with people from) any communities that are impacted by the historic and current system of oppression that has limited access to environmental education, or the outdoors in general.
• Strong pedagogical foundations and understanding of current research in experiential and inquiry-based learning, social emotional learning, inclusive education practices and science and phenomena-based curricula
• Effectively able to balance priorities while managing multiple staff, projects, and deliverables; you can make the hard call when necessary and communicate your reasoning clearly. 
• Experience in managing and maintaining a departmental budget
• Inspired by NatureBridge’s mission and value the development of environmental literacy through environmental science and nature education.
• Current Wilderness First Responder and CPR, AED or willingness to acquire upon hire
• Master’s Degree in education, natural sciences, or related field or combination of Bachelor’s Degree and equivalent experience

Why should you join the NatureBridge team at Golden Gate?

• You want to work for a mission-driven organization that values your contributions and supports you in making a positive impact on youth and the environment.
• You will work in a beautiful setting in Golden Gate National Recreation Area with dedicated, passionate team members.
• You want to be part of an organization that is invested in creating equitable and inclusive environments for staff and participants.

Compensation:

Salary: $67,000; includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan, and generous vacation and paid sick leave policy. This position is considered Exempt. 

How to apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter addressed to National Education Director, Meg Jakubowski (Ms.) to our online Career Portal (link). In your cover letter, please tell us why you want to work for NatureBridge and how your work experience sets you up for success in the Education Director role. Applications are due March 31, 2022 by midnight.