Director of School Partnerships & Programs

Director of School Partnerships & Programs

Organization: Hearty Roots
Location: Midcoast Maine (In-Person)
Type: Full-Time, Salaried, Year-Round
Salary: $62,000–$65,000 commensurate with experience
Start Date: August 1st
Application Deadline: July 10th

About Hearty Roots

We believe young people grow through meaningful experiences that challenge, connect, and embrace them. Partnering with schools, communities, and families, we cultivate resilience, belonging, and joy through outdoor adventure and social-emotional mentoring. Some days look like paddling canoes, building shelters, and hiking trails; others look like navigating conflict, practicing leadership, and building trust with an adult who truly believes in you.

Grounded in four core pillars—Adventure, Connection, Reflection, and Ritual—we create experiences where young people feel capable and known. As we scale, we are seeking a School Program Director to lead our school-based partnerships and help shape the future of youth development in Midcoast Maine.

Position Overview

The position is a newly created leadership role responsible for the growth, quality, financial sustainability, and operational excellence of Hearty Roots’ school-based partnerships.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director and working in close collaboration with the Community Programs Director, this position oversees school partnerships, program operations, staff leadership, budgeting, and evaluation across all school-based programming.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the systems, structures, and strategic direction of a growing organization. The Director will play a central role in building the infrastructure needed to support high-quality programming, strong school partnerships, and sustainable growth for years to come.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating order from complexity, building systems from the ground up, leading people, and developing strong partnerships. Success requires balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution, ensuring that programs remain mission-aligned, financially sustainable, and impactful for the young people we serve.

While primarily an administrative and leadership role, this position maintains a meaningful connection to the field through staff coaching, program observation, and occasional direct program support. Approximately 80% of time is spent on administration, systems management, partnerships, and leadership, with 20% spent in the field supporting staff and maintaining a direct connection to program delivery.

Core Responsibilities1. School Partnerships

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for school administrators across Midcoast Maine. Position school programs as a critical entry point where youth first engage with Hearty Roots, building partnerships that deepen student engagement and strengthen pathways into our broader community-based programming.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities to expand Hearty Roots’ reach into new schools and communities. Prioritize deep, high-quality partnerships that support sustainable growth and long-term impact.
• Serve as the organizational lead for school partnership compliance, ensuring school-based programs adhere to applicable school requirements, organizational policies, and safety standards.
• Collaborate with school leaders to evaluate partnership effectiveness, address challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

2. Operational Infrastructure

• Author, refine, and systematize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for school-based operations. Translate field realities into clear, repeatable systems that support consistency and quality.
• Oversee scheduling, logistics, staffing coordination, and multi-school program calendars to ensure efficient program delivery across sites.
• Develop and optimize operational systems including Google Workspace, CRM databases, scheduling software, and data management tools. Streamline administrative workflows, improve information sharing, and strengthen organizational efficiency.
• Work collaboratively across departments to ensure operational systems support both school-based and community-based programming.

3. Financial Management

• Manage and monitor the school programs budget, ensuring expenditures align with program goals, contract obligations, and organizational priorities.
• Develop annual budget projections, staffing plans, and program forecasts in partnership with organizational leadership.
• Review program costs and contract structures regularly to ensure school-based partnerships remain financially sustainable and appropriately resourced.
• Work with the finance team to develop pricing models, partnership agreements, and growth strategies that support both program quality and the long-term health of the organization.
• Identify operational efficiencies and resource-sharing opportunities that strengthen sustainability while maintaining an exceptional participant experience.

4. Team Leadership

• Supervise, mentor, and support a team of school-based Field Instructors. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, communication, and continuous learning.
• Build and implement structured staff evaluation systems that include regular field observations, goal setting, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Support onboarding, professional development, and retention efforts for new and returning staff members.
• Design communication systems that keep a field-based team connected, informed, and aligned with organizational priorities and values.

5. Program Quality & Impact

• Lead school-based curriculum refinement alongside the Community Programs Director to ensure alignment with positive youth development best practices and organizational values.
• Establish quality benchmarks and feedback systems that support consistent, high-impact participant experiences across all school sites.
• Design and manage practical evaluation frameworks that track participant outcomes, social-emotional development, attendance, and program effectiveness.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, inform decision-making, and measure program impact over time.
• Translate evaluation findings into recommendations that drive program improvement and organizational learning. Prepare impact reports for stakeholders and funders in collaboration with the development team.

Qualifications

• Nonprofit & Growth Experience: Demonstrated experience working within a growing nonprofit, youth development organization, educational program, or mission-driven startup environment.
• School Partnerships & Relationship Management: Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with schools, community partners, families, or other institutional stakeholders.
• People Leadership & Evaluation: Experience supervising staff, facilitating performance conversations, supporting professional growth, and building healthy team culture.
• Financial Literacy & Resource Management: Proficient with managing budgets, tracking expenses, forecasting costs, and ensuring resources are allocated effectively.
• Systems Creation & Writing: Demonstrated experience developing SOPs, operational systems, safety protocols, or organizational infrastructure that improves consistency and efficiency.
• Tech Competency: Proficiency with Google Workspace, CRM systems, scheduling platforms, spreadsheets, and practical data management tools.
• Collaborative Leadership Style: A leadership approach grounded in humility, adaptability, strong communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Mission Alignment: A genuine commitment to youth development, experiential learning, social-emotional growth, and nature-based programming.

Equivalent combinations of professional experience, lived experience, and education will be considered. We recognize that leadership and expertise are developed through many pathways and encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first year, the Program Director will:

• Maintain strong relationships with existing school partners and achieve high partner satisfaction and retention.
• Ensure all school-based programs operate safely, consistently, and in compliance with organizational and school requirements.
• Establish clear operational systems, SOPs, and staff accountability structures that improve efficiency and reduce administrative bottlenecks.
• Successfully supervise, support, and evaluate school-based staff, resulting in strong team cohesion and professional growth.
• Maintain school program budgets within approved targets and contribute to the financial sustainability of the division.
• Strengthen data collection and evaluation systems that demonstrate participant outcomes and program impact.
• Contribute to thoughtful, mission-aligned growth into new schools and communities when organizational capacity supports expansion.

A Note on Where We Are & Who This Role Is For

Hearty Roots is entering an exciting period of growth. Over the past nine years, we have evolved from a small, seasonal grassroots organization into a year-round nonprofit serving more than 1,500 young people annually through nature-based and relationship-centered programming.

As we grow, many systems are still being built and refined. The successful candidate will be energized by creating structure, improving processes, and helping guide an organization through meaningful growth.

This role is best suited for someone who is comfortable navigating ambiguity, leading through change, and moving fluidly between strategic leadership and hands-on problem solving. While primarily an administrative leadership role, we value leaders who remain connected to the realities of program delivery and are willing to step into the field when needed.

Our Commitment

At Hearty Roots, we believe young people thrive when they experience belonging, connection, and authentic relationships. We are committed to creating a workplace where staff, participants, and community partners feel welcomed, respected, and valued. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, including those who have been historically underrepresented in nonprofit leadership, outdoor education, and youth development fields.  Hearty Roots is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and to fostering a culture of curiosity, respect, and continuous learning.