Program Director

Founded in 2007, Vashon Wilderness Program (VWP) provides transformative nature immersion experiences that cultivate a deep relationship between, self, community and the natural world. Our all outdoor, experiential programs engender a powerful set of nature, wilderness, and community-building skills that help students live, learn, and lead with joy, vitality, peace, passion, and care. At the heart of our work, we support a deep connection with the wonder and awe of nature for healthy individuals, communities and the planet. VWP believes that nature connection is a birthright and that all humans deserve access to the healing and wholing benefits of a nature-rooted childhood nested within a nature-rooted culture. 

VWP is hiring a new Program Director to help co-evolve and steward our growing programs, centering our values of decolonization, equity, justice, accessibility, and shared leadership. 

Job Summary

The Program Director will join the Director’s Circle with the Executive and Operations Directors to be a guiding voice for VWP’s transformative programs as well as internal and external community members. They will be responsible for program communication, safety protocols, and field staff training and support for our summer camps and school-year programs. They will also oversee our school-based partnerships and work closely with the Executive Director to develop additional community-based partnerships and programs. 

Collaboration

VWP is actively restructuring towards a shared-leadership organizational model. The Program Director will collaborate with the Executive Director, Operations Director and field staff to co-create this new evolving model of leadership. Accountability within the organization will be shared among the Director’s Circle in collaboration with members of the Board of Directors, the Elder Circle, the Equity Council, and the Staff Circle.

Job Responsibilities

Responsibilities may be adapted to align with VWP mission and community needs while utilizing consent-based decision-making with the Director’s Circle.

Program Leadership

• Maintain high-quality nature mentoring programs with integrity to VWP’s approach to deep nature connection mentoring while incorporating decolonization and liberation practices
• Collaborate with and support the Field Director in their duties to train, mentor and support field staff to provide high quality, emotionally and physically safe deep nature connection programs
• Provide excellent communication with families regarding program-related topics, questions, and concerns
• Continually strengthen and expand VWP’s programs and community and school partnerships
• Collaborate with the staff to coordinate ongoing professional development opportunities including decolonization, equity, and inclusion, accessibility, trauma informed practices, compassionate communication, child development, Nature Connection Network offerings, and more 
• Provide site visits to maintain connection with program families and to mentor staff 

Program Administration

• Plan annual program calendar of events and schedule of activities
• Maintain and communicate Covid-19 guidelines for all programming
• Maintain Employee Handbook with updated protocols and policies
• Collaborate and communicate with staff to facilitate program enrollment, including enrollment forms and website updates
• Manage program waitlists and communication with families on waitlists
• Attend to phone and email correspondence in a timely and effective manner
• Maintain program budgets, ensuring fiscal transparency and collaborative budgeting with Executive Director, Operations Director and Board of Directors
• Purchase program supplies and equipment as needed

Program Communications

• Observe in the field and offer clear, constructive feedback to staff and volunteers regularly 
• Role model positive conduct for staff and volunteers including enthusiasm, unity & creative problem solving 
• Conduct mid- and end-of-year reviews with all field staff and co-directors
• Uphold strong VWP culture through actions and words

Program Attendance

• Attend all evening potlucks, overnights, special community events; conduct visits to weekly and monthly programs; and maintain daily presence at summer camps

Outreach

• Collaborate with staff to manage consistent and clear messaging/marketing to the communities we serve
• Manage all program recruitment efforts, including recruitment of campers, students, mentors and assistant mentors
• Support VWP’s Field Director to oversee VWP’s Young Mentor program
• Provide excellent communications with VWP’s constituents including schools, businesses, and the community
• Support the Executive and Operations Directors activities with regard to outreach for programs, including writing articles and blog posts for VWP’s newsletter and website

 Program Development

• Stay informed and collaborate in implementing decolonization, equity, justice, and accessibility practices in all program development efforts
• Engage and lead the staff team in exploring, developing and implementing new programs

Meetings

• Attend monthly Program Committee meetings
• Attend monthly meetings with Director’s Circle
• Convene and attend monthly all-staff meetings
• Attend other meetings as needed

Qualifications

Required

• A passion for children, nature, community and nature connection mentoring
• 5 years of demonstrated experience as a professional in the field of nature education and community building, or other related fields, with previous Nature Connection Network affiliation
• Willingness to experiment with a shared-leadership model 
• An enthusiastic self-starter with the ability to see the big picture and prioritize tasks in service to organizational well-being
• Experience with facilitation and supporting other staff
• Outstanding interpersonal communications skills and partnership building abilities
• Commitment to the principles and practices of decolonization, racial justice and accessibility, and a willingness to learn and integrate these practices into your work at VWP
• Ability to be with discomfort, failure and conflict
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and be self-motivated and organized
• Creativity, initiative, sense of humor, flexibility and team spirit
• Proficiency in Google Suite
• Experience communicating with diverse groups of people, including donors, partners, foundations, coworkers, community members and collaborators
• Fiscal, personnel, and program management skills
• Comfort with public relations, public speaking and social media marketing
• Some administrative and supervisory experience
• Reliable access to a private vehicle, and valid driverʼs license

Preferred

• An intention to live in this community and be with VWP long-term
• Training in decolonization, equity, trauma-informed learning, child development, compassionate communication, and social justice
• Previous experience facilitating deep nature connection programs for youth (the Program Director may be called upon to sub occasionally)

Physical Requirements

• Willingness and ability to spend significant time outdoors in all weather conditions, mentoring/supporting field staff, interacting with children and families
• Willingness and ability to spend significant time in an office setting to collaborate with leadership team and carry out administrative job responsibilities
• Willing to be regularly exposed to fire, smoke, water, and outdoor risks and hazards 

Salary/Benefit Information

The Program Director position is part-time. The salary is $24,125 (.5 FTE) and equates to $25 per hour for approximately 18 hours per week. The work effort will vary by season. 

For candidates with field mentoring experience, additional positions may be available including substitute and lead mentoring positions in programs that do not require on-site Program Director supervision and support.

Benefits include: 

• 4 weeks paid time off during program closure periods
• Worker’s Compensation
• Ferry costs are reimbursed for employees commuting from off-island
• Meritorious bonuses
• Be a part of a community that values earth-based wisdom
• Support others in their journey of deep nature connection
• Receive support for your own learning and growth

How to apply:

To apply, please complete our online application, including uploading your resume, cover letter and contact information for three references.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. This position will start July 1st.

Anti-discrimination Statement

VWP welcomes all children, families and staff members and works to create an emotionally and physically safe space for every member of our community. We work to dismantle systemic racism and the effects of oppression which exist within all facets of our organization - within our bodies, minds and hearts, in our policies and practices, and in our wider VWP community and beyond. More information on VWP’s Commitment to Justice is found HERE. 

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, including people of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, languages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and ages.