Director of Education

Job Description

The Director of Education is a senior position that manages and directs Hawk Mountain education programs and activities. This position requires the regular exercise of discretion and independent judgment and reports directly to the President. Primary duties include leadership in Sanctuary education, team development, hiring, training, directing, and supervising staff, volunteers, trainees, and interns who work in education. Plays a leadership role in developing our calendar of events, forming partnerships with partner organizations, coordinating education marketing, overseeing captive raptors, working collaboratively with departments, and serving on the education committee as a liaison to the board of directors. 

Competencies and Attributes

• Leadership: Is a highly skilled and inspirational leader.
• Educator: A skilled classroom and field educator. 
• Naturalist: Demonstrated ability as a field naturalist that shares a high level of enthusiasm for natural history with staff and volunteers. 
• Communication: Is a highly effective communicator both verbally and in writing with excellent interpersonal and listening skills.
• Flexibility: Demonstrates professional flexibility, personally and interpersonally.
• Motivation: Motivates others with a genuine sense of enthusiasm for raptors and natural history education and promotes education excellence for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary both internally and externally. 
• Solution-oriented: Projects a positive attitude and is solution oriented. 
• Teamwork: Creates synergy across Hawk Mountain by fostering a supportive and collaborative environment around education.
• Attendance: Regular and predictable attendance.   

Qualifications and Experience

• A passion for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s mission and education, science, and teaching.
• Master’s preferred with a minimum of six years of experience in natural sciences education or similar.
• Demonstrated ability to develop highly engaging programs including science-based programs in formal and/or non-formal settings.
• A strong background in pedagogy, curriculum development, and developmentally appropriate programming.
• Natural history experience in ornithology, raptor migration, Appalachian Forest ecology, and the use of live animals and raptors in education. 
• Experience in conveying research results through age-appropriate learning activities along with experience using appropriate technology to advance educational goals.
• Ability to establish a collaborative tone and team environment through exceptional interpersonal skills with people from diverse backgrounds. 
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Fundraising experience and major donor cultivation.  

Individual must be physically able to hike one mile over rocky terrain several times per day. Job requires occasional heavy lifting associated with transport and handling of live birds, models, and their containers that weigh up to 50 pounds. 

Primary Duties

• Develop, direct, manage, and implement Hawk Mountain education programs including our annual calendar of events, and programming as outlined in our education plan.
• Focus on earned income and provide substantial input and direction to the President, development staff, board, and donors to build revenue for education programming and participate in Sanctuary fundraising activities.
• Form partnerships with sister organizations locally and globally to strategically expand our programming and global conservation work.
• Teacher training from local to international with a focus on teaching excellence and skills development so teachers can effectively engage their communities in important migratory corridors. Bi-lingual preferred.
• Collaborate with Sanctuary scientists and other professionals to strengthen education programs, identify best practices, and create and implement new curriculum that meets or exceeds national and statewide standards, and supports regional school-district curriculum requirements.
• Integrate technology as appropriate to achieve goals and reach new audiences.
• Work strategically to grow the Hawk Mountain education brand from local to global as a leader in raptor education.
• Excellent administrative and organizational capability with electronic calendars, online registration, systems, and trainings.
• Coordinate school and other group use of Hawk Mountain facilities and Sanctuary grounds with the leadership team.
• Market programs and evaluate our programming mix annually to keep programming fresh.
• Maintain high standards and ensure the raptor and animal ambassador programs are utilized to engage our various audiences and integrated into our leadership trainee program.  
• Represent Hawk Mountain at relevant regional, national, and international education meetings to promote the Sanctuary mission.
• Determine appropriate professional development opportunities for educators to attend annually. 
• Develop training materials for staff, trainees, and councilors as required.