Summary of Position

North Cascades Institute seeks a skilled educator, community-builder, and student recruitment specialist to join our Youth Leadership Adventures (YLA) team. YLA provides outdoor experiences for local high school students, including multi-day canoeing and backpacking trips in the summer, and outdoor day programming in the spring and fall. This position is the primary student liaison within the YLA team, providing year round support and information to enrolled students and their families. In the fall, winter, and spring, this position leads our recruitment and enrollment efforts, as well as coordinates and facilitates day programs in local communities. In the summer, this position provides logistical and risk management support for our backcountry trips, and ensures a smooth flow of information between students, staff, and families. It is essential that the Recruitment Coordinator is able to uphold a safe learning environment for all identities and model culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices. This position reports to the Youth Leadership Manager.

Job Location

The job location for this position is the Sedro-Woolley Administrative Office, and is in-person at least one day per week.

Qualifications

Required

• Strong ability to build relationships and trust with teens, families, and community members
• Spanish language proficiency
• Experience living in and working with communities who are historically underrepresented in the outdoors
• Experience participating in backpacking and/or canoe camping trips in a backcountry environment
• Experience teaching or mentoring teens
• Demonstrated commitment to increasing equitable access to outdoor engagement
• Excellent communication, public speaking, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize effectively and handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Competency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, spreadsheet management, data entry, and social media platforms
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pound pack, perform physically demanding work for multiple days in a row, backpack, and hike over uneven terrain
• 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.

If you do not meet all of our required qualifications but do meet many of the preferred qualifications, please still submit an application. We value a broad range of experiences on our team and will consider your application.

Preferred

• Lived experience in Skagit and/or Whatcom counties and school districts
• One or more seasons of experience leading backcountry and/or canoe-based trips
• Familiar with backcountry risk management practices
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification
• Knowledge of the climate crisis and enthusiasm for teaching youth about climate solutions, the natural world, and/or North Cascades natural and cultural history

Successful candidates must also be willing and prepared to reside and sleep in a remote area. 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

Recruitment

• Recruit high school students for Youth Leadership Adventures trips and programs
• Give presentations to high school classes in Skagit and Whatcom counties
• Maintain relationships with teachers and other high school staff
• Provide support and information to students & families from the time they apply until their trip

Enrollment

• Process applications and registration paperwork, verifying accuracy and completeness
• Conduct student and family orientations
• Coordinate student travel arrangements
• Prepare instructors with organized student information
• Fill dropped spots from the waitlist
• Serve as contact person for students and families to ensure preparedness

Program Facilitation and Support

• Facilitate programming at the start and end of summer trips, providing student support and engagement
• Coordinate and facilitate day programs in spring and fall seasons
• Research, develop, and implement program curriculum
• Assist as necessary with on-call risk management while groups are in the field, including non-emergency evacuations from remote, backcountry locations
• Assist as necessary with logistics of the summer backcountry trips, including food, gear, curriculum, itineraries and supervision tasks
• Drive Institute vehicles with program participants, including 15-passenger vans

General

• Participate in full staff meetings
• Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned by the Youth Leadership Manager
• Actively contribute to NCI as a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone

Compensation and Benefits

This is a regular, full-time (32-40 hours/week), non-exempt (hourly) position subject to a winter furlough (unpaid) of 4-6 weeks. The pay rate is $24.12 per hour.

Work schedules will vary, and may require working early mornings, late nights, and overnights when programs are occurring. Overtime will likely be required in the summer (1.5x base pay). In 2026, whenever this position is required to work overnight at the Environmental Learning Center, housing will be available at no charge.

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.

Start Date

Preferred start date is early May 2026

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 21 four-star ratings with Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.