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Field Programs Coordinator

North Cascades Institute

Sedro-Woolley, Washington

Job Type Permanent
Salary $22 per hour
Benefits Benefits include sick leave, holiday pay, vacation, and other paid time off; medical/dental; long and short-term disability insurance; tax-deferred annuity and contribution retirement plan

Summary of Position

This position coordinates educational programs in the field in the North Cascades Bioregion and occasionally at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. The Field Programs Coordinator provides leadership for Institute programs, oversees contract instructors, and offers instructional support as necessary. The Coordinator is part of the Adult & Family Programs department, and specifically works to support: Adult Seminars, Field Courses, and Virtual Courses. Field programs is a growth area for the Institute, and the right candidate will be ready to grow with the position.

Since 1986, North Cascades Institute has been providing hands-on learning adventures for adult learners. Classes and field excursions explore a wide variety of topics including wildlife biology, art, geology, poetry, botany, photography, forest ecology and recreational activities. These programs range in length from 75-minute virtual classes to multi-day excursions.

The work location for the Field Programs Coordinator is the Sedro-Woolley Administrative Office. A number of Field Seminars take place in locations around the North Cascades Bioregion, from the Methow Valley, through the heart of the North Cascades, all the way to Whidbey Island and the Salish Sea.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

  • Professional experience with program coordination
  • Experience with outdoor or backcountry program facilitation
  • Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ages
  • Ability to communicate kindly, clearly, and productively through email, in person, and over the phone
  • Excellent public speaking, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills with strong attention to detail
  • Strong customer service skills
  • Ability to accommodate a varied work schedule including evenings, nights, and weekends
  • Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, or ability to become certified before starting the position

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working at outdoor learning centers, public lands, camps, schools or similar facilities
  • Experience working with contracted instructors/vendors
  • Experience with Adult Education
  • Experience using G Suite, Salesforce, Square, and Zoom
  • Washington Food Handlers Card

Other Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s license and driving record check must have no more than one moving violation in the past three years, no DUI, reckless driving, or serious moving violations, etc.
  • Final offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check that may include employment history, national criminal background check, national sex offender registry search and a driving history check.

Responsibilities

Administration for Field Programs (60%)

  • Coordinate Adult Seminars, Field Courses, and Virtual Courses including communication with contract instructors, creating basic program details, reservations, permit tracking and compliance, logistics, program administration in Salesforce, program scheduling in Google Calendar, preparing educational resources
  • Generate risk management plans for all Adult Seminars and Field Courses
  • Steward relationships with 75+ contract instructors
  • Collaborate with the Adult and Family Program Manager annually to generate the slate of Adult Seminars, Field Courses, and Virtual Courses using participant feedback, enrollment data, and budget targets
  • Update Standard Operating Procedures and supporting documents for Adult Seminars, Field Courses, and Virtual Courses
  • Collaborate with other Program Coordinators, Specialists, and Managers
  • Assist with hiring of Program Instructors
  • Collaborate with registration staff to communicate with program participants before and after each program
  • Support marketing and registration activities that promote enrollment

Program Facilitation, Support, and Logistics (20%)

  • Host Adult Seminars and Field Courses including delivering orientations, facilitating discrete educational components, managing risk in remote environments, executing logistics, addressing participant concerns, and delivering a conclusion or reflection.
  • Host Virtual Courses including managing Zoom technology, introducing the speaker, managing the chat, and facilitating question and answer.
  • Serve as instructor for Adult Seminars, Field Courses, Virtual Courses when needed
  • Conduct performance assessments of Contract Instructors
  • Maintain and manage inventory of program educational materials and field gear
  • Drive Institute vehicles with program participants, including vans and 14-passenger busses
  • Provide leadership in risk management before, during and after programs
  • Take program photography

Support of Marketing and Outreach Tasks (15%)

  • Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team on various projects
  • Collaborate with the Outreach & Event Coordinator to support outreach activities

General (5%)

  • Provide occasional assistance in other Learning Center program areas as needed including, but not limited to: Mountain School, Family Getaways, and Conferences & Retreats
  • Provide occasional assistance with delivery of onboarding training for program staff, including program instructors
  • Other duties as assigned

Compensation

This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt position subject to a winter furlough (unpaid) of 2-4 weeks. The wage is $22.26 per hour.

Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package. Benefits include the following: 

  • Sick Leave – accrued at the rate of 0.04615 per hour. 
  • Vacation Leave – accrued at the rate of 0.0385 per hour in the first year (about 10 days), with increasing accrual in successive years. Positions with furloughs may accrue less than 10 days. 
  • Holiday Leave – 12 days maximum per year. 
  • Service Days – 2 days per year. 
  • Other paid time-off such as family leave, pregnancy leave, bereavement leave, etc. 
  • Medical/dental insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, tax-deferred annuity, and contribution retirement plan. 
  • Ability to participate in Institute pro deals 
  • Yearly stipend to participate in Institute programs. 

Benefits are prorated for employees working less than 40 hours per week. Rental housing may be available.

Start Date

September 22, 2025; or as soon as possible after that date

Equal Opportunity Employer

Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at North Cascades Institute. The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.

About North Cascades Institute

North Cascades Institute's mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Since 1986, we have helped connect people, nature and community through science, art, literature and the hands-on study of natural and cultural history. Our goal is to help people of all ages and backgrounds experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest – so all will care for and protect this special place.

North Cascades Institute is a respected leader among U.S. environmental education organizations, and we believe that sustainable communities are built on healthy environments, vibrant economies and social equity. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $4 million budget and strong reserves, and 22 four-star ratings with Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

HOW TO APPLY

Review of applications will begin immediately. Position will remain open until filled. Please apply online on our website at: https://ncascades.org/jobs, Complete the online application and upload a cover letter and resume.

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.

Category Admin & Leadership, Outdoor Recreation
Tags Nature Center, Outreach