Mountain School Program Manager

Summary of Position

North Cascades Institute (NCI) is seeking a dynamic, energetic leader to be its new Mountain School Manager. Working from the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park, the Mountain School Manager is responsible for managing NCI’s overnight school programs. We expect the Mountain School Manager to build upon our strong reputation as a leading place-based educational institution with broad regional and national reach.

Candidates must have a strong connection to, and passion for, the Institute’s mission to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. The ideal candidate is a creative, energetic, professional, and cooperative team player. They must possess a strong work ethic with motivation to grow professionally as a key staff member of a mission-driven organization.

Supervised by the Program Director, this position works closely with Institute staff, partners, and contractors to support a wide array of youth, family, and adult 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.

Position Location

The work location for the Mountain School Manager is at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center located in the heart of the North Cascades National Park near Diablo, WA. This region of North America has been inhabited by indigenous peoples for over 9,000 years and continues to be a meaningful location for thousands of visitors each year. Opened in 2005, the Learning Center is a collaboration between North Cascades Institute, the National Park Service, and Seattle City Light - the public utility that owns and operates the hydroelectric project that includes Diablo Lake and provides electricity to the residents of Seattle. The Learning Center is approximately 24 miles from the nearest gas station or private housing and 40 miles from the nearest grocery store.

Qualifications

Commitment to Mission and Values

Successful candidates will have a commitment to the mission of North Cascades Institute and the organization’s effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the Institute’s culture, work and partnering relationships to ensure that the Institute and its programs are welcoming, relevant and accessible.

Competencies:

• Awareness of privilege and personal bias and how it influences one's own leadership practice.
• Proactive, results-oriented management.
• Ability to initiate and prioritize tasks with exemplary time management and problem-solving skills.
• Adaptable, flexible, adapts to change, solution-oriented mindset to opportunities and challenges.
• Program development.
• Program evaluation and assessment.
• Ability to develop and implement process improvements.
• Budget development and management.
• An understanding of non-profit organizations and governance.
• Strong writing and presentation skills.
• Collaborative style.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to coach and motivate staff and foster a positive, inclusive workplace environment.
• At least two years of experience in environmental or place-based education.
• At least two years of experience supervising adults.
• At least two years of experience working with school-aged children.
• Ability to accommodate a varied work schedule including evenings, nights, and weekends.
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification or higher.
• Other relevant experience will be considered.
• 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.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education, Education, Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology or related field.
• Experience working at residential learning centers, camps, schools, or similar facilities.
• Teaching interdisciplinary natural and cultural history.
• 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. Working or living in communities that are historically marginalized or underrepresented in the field of environmental education or with a social justice component.
• Fluency in multiple languages, Spanish preference.

Responsibilities

Program Development, Management, and Oversight (40%):

• With the Program Director, provides leadership, guidance, design, revision, and management of the Mountain School programs and their curricula, including the integration of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and other key principles.
• Responsible for communicating with and scheduling schools and developing the Mountain School schedule.
• Develops and manages program assessments and evaluations for Mountain School.
• Develops and manages the Mountain School budget.
• Recruits culturally competent staff and contract instructors who will provide participants meaningful engagement with the natural and cultural resources of the North Cascades ecosystem and Skagit River watershed.
• Creates and nurtures programming that is welcoming to and supportive of a diverse audience.
• Identifies new audiences and develops strategies and practices to cultivate increased engagement in youth programs.
• Plans and leads the hiring of program instructors. Seeks to hire and support a diverse workforce.
• Organizes and facilitates end-of-season debriefs.
• Researches peer organizations and programs for field-wide trends.

Leadership and Supervision (30%):

• Works collaboratively with the Program Director, Learning Center Director, and other program managers to provide leadership to the Learning Center community.
• Works collaboratively with and supports other program managers and departments to maximize use of Learning Center program staff and facilities to achieve goals related to program, enrollment, and finances.
• Directly supervises the Mountain School coordinators.
• Regularly reports on programming to the Program Director and program team. Prepares materials, as requested, to keep board and staff informed and engaged.
• Tracks emerging programmatic issues, and develop solutions and strategies as needed in collaboration with the Program Director and the Leadership Team.
• Provides support to Institute development staff in grant writing, donor cultivation, and reporting as requested.
• Participates in strategic planning, inter-office communications, special projects, and other duties as assigned.
• 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.

Learning Center Operations (15%):

• Works with the Learning Center Director to create, implement, and uphold Risk Management and Institute policies and procedures.
• Provides guidance and oversight of the development and implementation of risk management plans for Mountain School.
• Serves as one of the designated daytime Incident Commanders at the Environmental Learning Center.
• Assists in coordinating other adult/family/conference/retreat programs during the summer.
• Plays an active role in welcoming and hosting visitors and customers.
• Participates in Learning Center staff meetings, hands to work, and other duties as assigned.

Partnership Development (10%):

• Works closely with the Program Director and other program managers to support and strengthen cooperative relationships with the National Park Service, Seattle City Light, US Forest Service, local tribes, and other partners.
• Develops new partnerships and programs as directed by the Institute’s strategic plan, annual operational goals, and the Program Director.
• Represents North Cascades Institute at local and regional meetings and conferences.

Instruction (5%):

• Provides instructional support to programs when needed.
• Develops and leads segments of programs, classes, and training for staff and public.

Housing

Good quality housing is available through the Institute at $350/month including utilities, considerably below market rates. Private rooms in shared houses are sometimes available, but not guaranteed. In some cases, roommates in shared rooms may be required, at $175/month. Smoking is not allowed in housing, during programs, or on the Institute’s campus. Pets are not allowed in the Institute’s campus housing.

Given the remote location, personal transportation is required.

Start Date

The preferred start date is June 20, 2023 - or as soon as possible.

Application Deadline

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

To Apply

Please apply online on our website at: https://ncascades.org/jobs

Complete the online application and upload a cover letter and resume.

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.