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Director of Youth Education

Venture Outdoors
Remote
Title:Director of Youth EducationReports to:President/CEOLocation:Pittsburgh, PA Hours:Full-time, exempt Salary:$60,000 annually

Inspire. Educate. Equip.
We remove barriers and create access to outdoor experiences.

Applications will be accepted until 8:00 AM on Friday, June 21, 2024. Interviews will be offered after this date. No calls or emails please.

ABOUt Venture outdoors

Recently awarded one of the 2023 Best Places to Work by Pittsburgh Business Times, Venture Outdoors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers and creating access to outdoor experiences. We believe that Western Pennsylvania is a community where people of all backgrounds and abilities can discover wellness and its benefits from engaging in the outdoors. We provide a variety of experiences that inspire an active lifestyle, promote the region’s unique amenities, highlight its excellent quality of life, and foster a greater appreciation for the environment.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Youth Education reports to the President/CEO and supports the organization by managing all programming aimed at ages 0-18 years, ensuring quality programming that not only encourages outdoor experiences but physical, mental, and educational impact. The Director will lead all hiring activities within the youth department, which consists of three full-time employees and up to 40 part-time/seasonal employees. The youth department executes 500+ trips annually, serving over 10,000 youth. The director will be responsible for managing $100K-$200K in grant programs and over $200K in contract/fee-for-service revenue every year.

The following are responsibilities that have been initially defined; however, flexibility, positivity and a willingness to participate in the development of the department is needed to succeed in this position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead development of a 5-year business plan for youth programming, examining market opportunity locally, regionally and nationally.
  • Lead the implementation of the youth program business plan.
  • Lead all hiring activities under the youth department.
  • Manage youth programming staff including three full-time staff members and up to 40 part-time/seasonal Outdoor Educators, ensuring quality implementation of youth programming and associated trips.
  • Manage partner relationships.
  • Manage the implementation of the Outdoor Learning Lab, a $150K+ grant funded program that has connected youth to outdoor learning for 10 years.
  • Oversee the daily Environmental Charter School (ECS) aftercare program.
  • Define a framework for measuring community impact as it relates to physical, mental, and educational improvements for participants. Design the systems and tools needed to support measurement (e.g. scorecards, dashboards, etc.).
  • Assist the President & CEO in developing an accountability strategy to drive organizational ownership and individual leadership goals.
  • Grant writing, management and reporting.
  • Fundraising and pursuing new avenues of revenue generation, including grants, contracts, and fee-for-service initiatives.
  • Establish networks and educational assets for board and staff development.
  • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Demonstrated experience in outdoor education and leadership
  • Experience in facilitation
  • Grant and budget management experience
  • Strong administrative and organizational skills
  • Ability to work on diverse teams or with a diverse range of people
  • Ability to troubleshoot on the job problems finding creative solutions
  • Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work while managing multiple deadlines in a continually changing work environment
  • Ability to work well independently and be a part of a team
  • Ability to take initiative and produce results
  • Dedicated and committed to the mission of Venture Outdoors

REQUIREMENTS

  • Current CPR and First Aid certifications (can acquire upon hiring)
  • PA State Act 151 Child Abuse, PA State Act 34 Criminal Background Check and FBI Background check must be obtained and submitted prior to the first day of employment
    • Note: a finding on the criminal background clearances is not an automatic disqualification, but rather a conversation starter
  • Valid Pennsylvania State driver’s license and clean driving record
  • Experience working with online reservation systems, staff scheduling software, Microsoft Office Suite, and Microsoft 365 products (preferred)
  • Flexibility to work where necessary on the weekend, evening and holiday hours
    • Locations include home office, Venture Outdoors office, community hubs, and various parks/rivers/lakes throughout the greater Pittsburgh region

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurances
  • 15 days paid vacation annually; 15 days paid sick time annually
  • 10 paid holidays annually
    • These days are not prescribed by Venture Outdoors but provided to employees to use as they wish to best fit their values and beliefs
  • 8 hours of paid volunteer time per month to be used as employees see fit
  • All primary and general election days are paid time off
  • Parental Leave program
  • Paid winter shutdown between December 26-January 1
  • Paid pre- and post- season mandatory mental health wellness shut down
  • Simple IRA retirement plan
  • Free subscription to the Calm meditation & mindfulness app
  • Paid professional development
  • Flexible work environment
  • Free kayaking!

Staff Equity Statement


We commit to the equitable treatment of our colleagues, participants, and community members by valuing their rights, dignity, voice, and expression.
We welcome and respect the diversity of individuality such as race, sex, gender identity, ability, culture, and religion.
We recognize the human right for all individuals to be respected and accepted without bias.
We commit to an organizational responsibility to build individual and community respect, dignity, fairness, care, and equality.
We strive to understand the role our system plays in perpetuating exclusion, and to address the dynamics that support it.
We understand that accountability is mutual and reciprocal in order to continually learn and improve.
We believe that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion extends beyond the workplace and encourage all to continue personal development alongside the organization.
We require organizational staff and participants to encourage a culture of belonging and consider the entire experience and the ecosystem that supports.
We will not tolerate explicit and implicit forms of racism, sexism, classism, xenophobia, ageism, and/or ableism.
We will not accept the use of racial or gender biases and require staff to implement inclusionary practices within their duties and program design.

How to apply

Applications will be accepted until 8:00 AM on Friday, June 21, 2024. Submit a resume, cover letter, and list of references via the job posting found at www.ventureoutdoors.org/about/employment-opportunities.

Venture Outdoors is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This job is closed.