School Programs Coordinator

Wild Whatcom is an outdoor education non-profit organization based in Bellingham, Washington, serving people of all ages throughout Whatcom County, with a focus on school-aged youth. Programs are offered year round, including school day and after school programs, weekend outings, summer camps, community outings, and much more! Visit our website to learn more about all of our program offerings: www.wildwhatcom.org

Wild Whatcom seeks two enthusiastic and collaborative School Programs Coordinators to support the School Programs Manager in the planning and delivery of Wild Whatcom School Programs, including our Neighborhood Nature, SEED, EDVentures, and ClimeTime programs. Applicants are encouraged to review these programs on the Wild Whatcom website and speak to the experience and skills they bring to those individual programs in their cover letter and resume. School programs coordinator positions require flexibility to balance 50% field work in our suite of programs and 50% coordination work of programs at the Wild Whatcom office.

Position Description

The start date for both positions is August 19th, with the possibility to start sooner depending on applicant availability. After initial onboarding in August (hourly-approximately 35 hr/wk), these positions become a 40-week contract position Sept 2, 2024 through June 8, 2025. Coordinators work a 35 hour average fluctuating schedule, not to exceed 40 hours/week. Depending on the candidate, this position could include weekend work. Staff working school year contracts will also be offered summer contracts for our summer programs. The salary range for the 40 week contract is $28,140-$29,547 (hourly equivalent $20-21.00/hr); salary and hours will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements. 

Wild Whatcom does not currently offer traditional health care benefits for this contract position (though we are working toward that). However, there are a variety of other benefits offered to staff, such as paid time off, sick leave, mental health stipends, paid professional development opportunities, subsidized wilderness medicine certifications, gear stipends, and Discover passes. 

Responsibilities 

• Work in the field on scheduled programs, including in a subbing capacity or to provide additional support
• Assist School Programs Manager with program scheduling, including program cancellations and rescheduling with teachers, families, and Wild Whatcom staff
• Be knowledgeable on program curriculum and update as needed in conjunction with Program Manager
• Support staff with logistical planning including, but not limited to: coordinating transportation, completing permission slips and other documentation, gathering gear, etc.
• Participate in organizational team meetings as needed to support school programs and communicate program successes and learnings
• Support the logistics and coordination of projects with community partners (i.e. Parks and Recreation, community gardens, etc)
• Maintain day-to-day communications with community partnerships such as PTO, teachers, and families regarding scheduling and pre-outing information, including distribution of emails and program letters
• Assist School Programs Manager with the registration and invoicing process for applicable programs
• When applicable coordinate with Registrar and Program Manager to ensure necessary field documents are up to date and provided to staff
• Support program manager in metrics tracking/reporting and collection of feedback from program staff
• Participate in partnership collaborations and program development opportunities as recommended by program manager and implement recommendations into applicable programs as possible

Preferred Qualifications: 

This list includes some of the qualifications we think will set an individual up for success in this role. If you have a combination of them, similar experience, or believe you fulfill this role well, please apply!

• Experience in youth development or outdoor education
• 2+ years experience in a leadership role, preferably within the environmental/outdoor education field
• Experience communicating with families, teachers and community members via email, in person or over the phone
• Experience expanding equity and inclusion to ensure broader program access to diverse populations
• Experience effectively prioritizing and handling multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Experience coordinating program schedules for multiple staff members
• Effective interpersonal and written communications skills
• Evidence of professional work habits (punctuality, responsiveness, organization, and attention to detail)
• Experience working with diverse student populations
• Understanding of current schools-based standards and/or best practices for inclusionary instructional strategies
• Multilingual preferred, strong preference for Spanish fluency
• Competency with Google systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and social media