Education and Stewardship Programs Manager

As one of the first tribal land conservancies in California, the Native American Land Conservancy (NALC, the “Conservancy”) plays an important statewide and regional role as a model for tribal land management for healthy lands and peoples. The mission of the Conservancy is to acquire, preserve, and protect Native American sacred lands through protective land management, educational programs, and scientific study. This is an exciting time for the Conservancy, as it seeks to expand its educational programming and land stewardship and acquisition initiatives. To build, design, and implement existing and new educational programming, the Conservancy seeks an Education and Stewardship Programs Manager who is passionate about and experienced in leading outdoor education programming. The Education and Stewardship Programs Manager must be committed to the Conservancy’s values of tribal sovereignty, protecting sacred sites, and environmental stewardship, and must also recognize and value the unique role that tribes play in stewarding and managing natural resources to protect against climate change and environmental degradation.

Job Overview

Position Summary

The Education and Stewardship Programs Manager is the primary person working on the Conservancy’s public programming. In conjunction with the Executive Director, the incumbent will plan, grow, coordinate, manage, and implement the Conservancy’s educational programs. These include Learning Landscapes events for youth and families, Healing Landscapes events for special groups, day programs such as hikes, school field trips in Joshua Tree National Park and other places, and tabling and presenting at events. The Education and Stewardship Programs Manager also oversees the volunteer program for the Conservancy, recruiting and cultivating volunteers and holding volunteer events. The incumbent will also work with staff to identify funding sources and build out partnerships with external entities including the outdoor industry, nonprofits, tribes, schools, etc. to grow the Program Division.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

The Education and Stewardship Programs Manager for the Conservancy will perform the following tasks, based on experience:

• Collaborate with NALC partners to build, from the ground up, the Conservancy’s Program Division.
• Design, coordinate, and execute the Conservancy’s programs and events, including the Learning Landscapes, Healing Landscapes docent lead trips, volunteer workdays, virtual and in-person tours, donor events, field trips, online programs, and general events.
• With NALC staff, maintain a management plan for all NALC programs, including project budgets, timelines, resource needs, and deliverables.
• Build out programming directed at tribal communities.
• Represent NALC at community events.
• Support communications with staff, to the donors, volunteers, and the community about event and volunteer opportunities and activities, including promoting NALC events through email blasts, social media channels, and NALC website.
• Support NALC’s senior leadership and Board of Directors in donor engagement and cultivation.
• Build and manage a robust volunteer program for the NALC, including managing volunteer and docent cultivation, stewardship, and training.
• Work with the Executive Director and staff to locate and secure program funding and partnerships.
• Establish and/or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of local communities, tribes, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, etc.
• Outdoor events may be hosted in hot and dry conditions. Candidates should be comfortable with working outdoors and in ensuring the safety of volunteers and docents in these conditions.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position. All employees may have other duties assigned at any time.

Workload

Remote. Full-time, exempt position. Occasional weekend or evening work and travel required. Candidates geographically located in Southern California are ideal, as incumbent will be required to travel to the Joshua Tree region for events and meetings at least twice a month.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. Applications are considered for positions without regard to veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. The Conservancy is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected].

At Will Employer

This organization is an at-will employer as allowed by applicable state law.

Background Check & Drug Testing

All offers of employment at the Conservancy are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates; candidates will be notified prior to undergoing background checks. In addition, while drug testing will not be required prior to offer of employment, the Conservancy reserves the right to request drug testing of employees.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references (candidates will be notified in advance of any outreach to your references) to [email protected]. Use the subject line: NALC – Education and Stewardship Programs Manager. Submit files in one combined PDF.

Priority will be given to applications submitted on or before 5:00 PM PT on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Resume review will begin immediately.

Special Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is commensurate with qualifications and experience and starts at $60,000. Benefits package includes 3 weeks of paid time off, 2 weeks of sick leave, generous employer matching program for retirement, and health, dental, and vision insurance with low employee contribution.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

Long-term employment is contingent upon successful completion a 90-day probationary period.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science or Native American Studies desired.
• Experience with outdoor education or leadership can be substituted for educational experience.

Required Technical / Other Skills and Abilities

• Minimum of two years of experience successfully managing multiple complex outdoor education land leadership programs.
• Demonstrated success developing, implementing, and evaluating outdoor education program models.
• The ability and willingness to travel locally and throughout the state.
• The ability and willingness to work remotely and independently.
• Computer literacy and familiarity with webinar hosting, remote work apps and programs, and social media platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, presentation, and oral communication skills, delivered in a manner appropriate to the audience.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and ability to communicate across cultural lines.
• Ability to establish priorities, organize, schedule, and complete tasks independently.
• Positive attitude and commitment to goals and values of Conservancy.
• An entrepreneurial approach in supporting the growth of the Conservancy.
• Innovative problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable and safe source of transportation.
• Valid and current First Aid and CPR certification must be held upon starting employment. If not currently held, the Conservancy will work with the incoming Education and Stewardship Programs Manager to obtain this certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with researching and applying to grants.
• Ability to communicate in another language frequently used in Southern California, such as Spanish or American Sign Language.
• California Class C commercial driver’s license with passenger endorsement.
• Valid and current Wilderness First Aid certification.
• Experience hiring, recruiting, coaching, and retaining team members for an Educational Programs team.
• Experience with tribal communities and tribal education.
• Qualified Native American applicants strongly encouraged to apply.