Director of Education

Nature Forward seeks a Director of Education to supervise and support a diverse portfolio of environmental education departments including a nature-based preschool, a popular summer camp, school field trips to our Woodend Nature Sanctuary, our GreenKids systemic partnership for school-based environmental literacy, classes and field trips for adults, and an international nature travel program. These programs that reach over 17,000 people annually are fundamental to our mission to build a larger and more diverse community of people who treasure the natural world and work to preserve it. The successful candidate will be an experienced supervisor who uses an asset-based approach to guide successful teams. They will have the skills and acumen to build, resource and evaluate programs in alignment with strategic plan goals. Located at the beautiful, 40-acre Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD, the Nature Forward work atmosphere is friendly and flexible.

Job Title: Director of Education
Standard Hours: Full Time
Salary Range: $78,000 - $90,000
For best consideration apply by: 2/8/2025

To Apply: Send a resume and cover letter by email to eesearch@natureforward.org with the subject line “Application for Director of Education”

Position Summary: The Director of Education oversees all aspects of Nature Forward education operations, supporting departmental directors to build and sustain high quality programs that advance environmental literacy with youth and adult audiences, achieve strategic plan goals, and meet revenue and expense targets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Lead strategic planning for environmental education objectives and oversee work plan development to achieve strategic plan goals

Directly supervise Education Directors (Preschool, Youth Programs, Adult Programs and GreenKids) and support them to plan and implement their own staffing structures

Set and implement education program standards across the organization

Establish evaluation tools and feedback response strategies to ensure programming offerings remain relevant, innovative, and attractive to diverse audiences

Oversee preparation of and adherence to budgets for all education departments with attention to opportunities for growth in net revenue

Serve as staff liaison to the Programs Committee of the Board

Participate in stewardship of major donors who support education programs

Collaborate with development staff and education department directors to seek grant funding, as well as track and report on grants received

Collaborate with the Communications Department to effectively promote programs

Communicate professionally with program participants, volunteers and other clients, model top-level customer service, and champion Nature Forward membership in the wider community

Serve as Nature Forward’s Education spokesperson, regularly updating stakeholders (staff, Board, funders, members, volunteers, program participants) on noteworthy information

Create and manage partnerships strategically and participate in integrated management of cross-departmental partnerships

Qualifications/Requirements 

M.A. or equivalent experience in education, natural resource management, nonprofit management or a related field 

7 years of professional experience in program management, preferably in environmental education

5 years of supervisory and budgeting experience

5 years of experience with grant proposal preparation and grant management

Dynamic leader with an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to create innovative strategies and programs without existing models

Ability to establish, manage and complete multiple projects on time and on budget

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively build strong relationships both internally and externally

Excellent verbal and written communication skills and experience serving as an organizational spokesperson 

Good judgment, honesty, and integrity

Sense of humor, candor and flexibility

Strong organizational skills

Non-profit and environmental organization experience preferred 

Physical Requirements 

Ability to climb stairs to access offices

Ability to work on a computer and to complete general office tasks

Strength to lift and carry files weighing up to 10 pounds

Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen

Benefits  

Health care

Life insurance

Accidental death & dismemberment insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Medical & dependent care flexible spending accounts

403(b) retirement plan

Approximately 15 organizational holidays annually

Vacation and sick leave based on length of service