Lead Program Manager

Position Title: Lead Program Manager
Position Term: Full-time position with full benefits
Start Date: September 3, 2019
Application Deadline: June 10, 2019
Location: East San Francisco Bay Area, California, based in Berkeley

Organizational Information

KIDS for the BAY (KftB) is an environmental education organization now in our 27th year of operation. We deliver engaging, hands-on programs to our partner elementary schools throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Our programs connect school students with nature on Field Trips to creek, bay and ocean habitats, engage students in science learning that supports Next Generation Science Standards and inspire students to become active environmentalists. We provide professional development in environmental science education for our partner teachers. We also run an exciting Summer Camp for children ages 5 – 13 to explore in nature, learn hands-on science and become inspired environmentalists. For more information about our mission, impact and programs, please visit our website at www.kidsforthebay.org. KIDS for the BAY is a project of Earth Island Institute.

Our office is located in the Lorin District of Berkeley, walking distance from Ashby BART station and surrounded by popular coffee shops, restaurants and unique neighborhood stores, as well as a weekly Farmers Market. Several working days each week will be spent in the office and several days each week will be spent traveling to work at our partner school sites and our special Field Trip and Summer Camp locations. KftB offers a friendly, supportive working environment, with excellent professional development opportunities.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is passionate about teaching children and supporting their teachers and families. They are a positive leader and mentor who cares deeply about education, diversity, equity and inclusion, hands-on science learning and promoting positive solutions to environmental problems. This person has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, is highly organized, has excellent writing skills and can multi-task on a daily basis to meet the needs of working in a highly effective grassroots nonprofit organization that provides quality, community-based programs. This position has significant growth potential for a person committed to a career in the field of environmental education.

Responsibilities

Program Staff Team Lead:

  • Ensure the smooth running of all KftB Programs, including outreach to schools, communication with teachers and principals, Classroom Lessons, Action Projects, Field Trips, Blue Watershed Classrooms Teacher Follow Up Program, Summer Camp and program evaluations
  • Support program staff in their positions and develop teamwork
  • Lead weekly program staff meetings and provide orientations for new program staff
  • Program and curriculum development that supports Next Generation Science Standards
  • Represent program staff on the Advisory Board and work with the Education Committee of the Advisory Board to develop program staff trainings
  • Manage Academic Credit Program
  • Manage Teacher Follow Up programs
  • Manage Outreach Events
  • Manage permissions process for program photographs, videos etc.
  • Organize program equipment areas and equipment storage systems

Manage Watershed Action Program and Schoolwide Program:

  • Manage teacher/school outreach, recruitment, and communication plan
  • Organize teaching equipment, supplies, and curricula materials
  • Manage Teacher Follow Up and Teacher Academic Credit Programs
  • Manage government funder contracts and communications including: creating contract management plans; writing and submitting reports with deliverables; creating Annual Program Reports and Year In Review flyers; giving presentations to funders and assisting with coordinating funder site visits

Teach School-Based Programs:

  • Teach environmental science curricula to elementary school students in the classroom and in the field
  • Model environmental science lessons for elementary school teachers in their classrooms and in the field
  • Outreach to schools to recruit new teacher participants
  • Conduct orientation, planning, evaluation and follow up meetings with teachers
  • Liaise with project partners and coordinate service-learning Environmental Action Projects for students
  • Organize educational equipment
  • Perform administrative work, including collecting written and verbal evaluative feedback from teachers and students, filing teacher/school information, writing program reports, and preparing photo documents

Teach Summer Camp:

  • Lead hands-on nature, art, science, and play activities in the outdoors each week of camp
  • Manage the activities, materials, and equipment needed for each day of camp
  • Maintain a safe, respectful, positive camp environment for all campers and camp staff, while attending to the individual needs of the campers

Qualifications and Experience

Required Experience and Qualifications:

  • At least three years of classroom and outdoor teaching experience at the elementary school level to culturally and economically diverse populations
  • Program staff supervision and mentoring experience
  • Program management, contract management, and/or administrative experience
  • Bachelors degree in environmental education, education, environmental/biological sciences, or related field, master’s degree preferred
  • Working knowledge of environmental literacy, San Francisco Bay Area ecology, aquatic science, citizen science/water quality monitoring, environmental issues and Next Generation Science Standards

Desired Experience and Qualifications:

  • Bilingual in Spanish or other commonly spoken language in the San Francisco Bay Area preferred

Required Work Traits/Skills:

  • Positive and supportive leadership approach
  • Enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to carry out program management and teaching responsibilities
  • Ability to multi-task while maintaining attention to detail and high quality of work in order to meet deadlines in an efficient and timely manner
  • Excellent organizational skills, effective time management, and efficient planning to accommodate a busy schedule, which includes teaching and managing programs and supporting program staff
  • Upbeat, positive, mature attitude and professional communication approach
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Willingness to follow direction from supervisor, as well as self-direct/manage tasks independently
  • Desire and ability to work in the outdoors with youth, including walking and hiking along trails while carrying light equipment
  • Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Other Requirements:

  • A great deal of education and restoration equipment for programs must be transported from the office to each school or Field Trip site, therefore a reliable car is required for this position. Work-related travel is reimbursed at the federal mileage rate.
  • A few outreach events take place during weekend or evening hours. Compensation time is provided.

Compensation

Starting salary is $40,000 per year. This is a full-time position. Full benefits (medical, dental, vision) and paid vacation are provided.

Application Procedures

Application Deadline: June 10 by 5 p.m., Start date: September 3, 2019

The interview process will include a teaching demonstration and a writing exercise.

In your application, please include a list of at least two references with full name, title, place of work, relationship to you, and current contact information (phone and email) including at least one direct supervisor.

A background check by a Live Scan service provider will be required before the hiring process can be finalized.

Please submit applications by email to: jobs@kidsforthebay.org
Please write: Lead Program Manager Application in the subject line