Education Director

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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite programs. You will lead the Yosemite Education Team and represent the Education Department in cross-departmental work on campus, as well as in nation-wide organizational initiatives. 

This job requires regular attendance on campus in El Portal or Yosemite Valley, and cannot be performed remotely.

Your primary job will be to:

• Provide leadership to the campus education team and collaborate with other departments. This includes regular communication, strategic planning, project management, and fostering alignment across teams.
• Provide culturally-relevant supervision and coaching of Educators and Education Managers. You will supervise 4 Education Managers and manage a department of 40 educators.
• Collaborate with Operations and Sales Teams on program logistics to ensure smooth and effective environmental science programming.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work community culture, and establish supportive relationships with staff, volunteers, and participants. Cultivate and model an inclusive, culturally responsive professional learning community.
• 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, diversity and equity, and responsible environmental behavior.
• Maintain a regular presence at our Yosemite Valley Base of Operations during mornings and evenings to provide direct support, coaching, and guidance to education team members at least three days per week.
• Support emerging programming at the newly-opened National Environmental Science Center. 
• Direct the growth and continuous improvement of the Yosemite campus curriculum, programs, and education staff. Regularly monitor, evaluate, and synthesize feedback and quality metrics to identify areas for development.
• Use the lens of our Equity, Inclusion & Diversity framework to drive personal, professional, and departmental goals.
• Assist with emergency response and serve as a rotating Manager on Call
• Assist in the creation, monitoring, and reporting of budgets, ensuring financial alignment with program and organizational priorities, including associated grant development, monitoring and reporting functions.
• 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.

Compensation:

• $68,000 - $73,000 annual salary
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Option for a 403b retirement plan with employer match after six months
• Generous paid vacation, training days and sick leave
• Other benefits include Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and more
• NatureBridge-provided housing is negotiable

Who You Are

We are looking for candidates with: 

• Minimum four years of experience in nonprofit management or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Expertise in experiential and inquiry-based learning, social emotional learning, inclusive education practices and phenomena-based curricula; extensive experience teaching youth, adults and professional educators
• A growth mindset, and proven success in leading large, successful, and collaborative teams; strong coaching and mentoring skills
• 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) 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.
• Ability to collaborate across departments that have conflicting priorities and needs
• Strong skills and proven success in leading proactive change management 
• Ability to implement effective risk management procedures and protocols to mitigate risk and support staff in responding to incidents; current Wilderness First Responder certification or willingness to acquire upon hire
• Ability to manage a complex budget, including grant funding
• Strong project-management skills
• Ability to develop and implement innovative programs, curricula, and training 
• A strategic and systems-focused approach to management
• Exceptional writing, editing and public speaking skills
• Commitment to NatureBridge’s mission and the development of environmental literacy through environmental science and nature education.
• Ability and willingness to commute to various campus sites and maintain a regular onsite presence. 

If you are interested in the role and do not meet every requirement listed, please still apply! We are interested in applicants with unique lived experience and skill sets.

*All NatureBridge Employees are required to complete a background check in order to be eligible for employment.

Why should you join the NatureBridge team at Yosemite?

• 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 Yosemite National Park 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.

NatureBridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate based on any protected category, including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, gender expression (including transgender expression or pregnancy), political affiliation, age, immigration status or disability. We encourage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Please let us know if you require any accommodation. 

How To Apply: 

Submit your application to our Online Career Portal. Please respond to the application questions instead of writing a cover letter. The deadline for applications is March 3, 2025