Field Programs Manager

Summary of Position

The Field Programs Manager provides leadership and program oversight for field-based educational programs throughout the North Cascades bioregion, virtual courses, and seminar courses at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center (ELC). Key responsibilities include developing and managing the program budget; cultivating relationships with contract instructors; evaluating course outcomes and demand; supervising the Field Programs Coordinator; and collaborating closely with other Institute departments and programs. The Manager will also play a central role in the development of a volunteer engagement program for the Institute.

A key member of the Institute’s Program Team, this position works closely with other managers, the Development & Engagement Team, and contract instructors to ensure high quality instruction, provide logistical support, and implement effective risk management.

The work location for the Field Programs Manager is the Sedro-Woolley 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.

Specific Programs

Adult Seminars, Field Courses, & Virtual Courses

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.

Qualifications

Competencies: 

• Awareness of privilege and personal bias and how it influences one’s own leadership practice
• Proactive, results-oriented management
• Ability to initiate and prioritize tasks with exemplary time management and problem-solving skills
• Adaptable, flexible, adapts to change, solution-oriented mindset to opportunities and challenges
• Program development, evaluation, and assessment
• Budget management
• Strong writing and presentation skills
• Collaborative style

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to coach and motivate staff and foster a positive, inclusive workplace environment
• At least two years of experience in environmental or place-based education
• At least two years of experience supervising adults
• At least two years of experience leading programs in outdoor and/or backcountry settings
• Experience in a program that uses volunteers to accomplish goals
• Ability to accommodate a varied work schedule including evenings, nights, and weekends
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification or higher; or ability to become certified before beginning the position
• Other relevant experience will be considered

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

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Program Development, Management, and Oversight:

• With the Program Director, provides leadership, guidance, design, revision, and management of Field Programs and their curricula
• Creates and nurtures programming that is welcoming to and supportive of a diverse audience
• Develops and manages program assessments and evaluations for Field Programs
• Tracks emerging programmatic issues, and develops solutions and strategies as needed in collaboration with the Program Director and the Leadership Team
• Regularly reports on programming to the Program Director and program team
• Prepares materials, as requested, to keep board and staff informed and engaged
• Develops and manages the budget for Field Programs
• Develops the annual slate of Field Courses, Virtual Courses, and ELC Seminars
• Identifies new audiences and develops strategies and practices to cultivate increased engagement in Field programs

Leadership and Supervision:

• Directly supervises the Field Programs Coordinator
• Steward relationships with 75+ contract instructors (external to the Institute)
• Develop and manage system for training and supervision of volunteer instructors
• Works collaboratively with other program managers and departments to maximize use of program staff and facilities to achieve goals related to program, enrollment, and finances
• Provides support to Institute development staff in grant writing, donor cultivation, and reporting as requested
• Participates in strategic planning, inter-office communications, and special projects
• Support equity initiatives at North Cascades Institute and actively contribute to NCI as a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone

Program Facilitation, Support, and Logistics:

• Hosts ELC 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.
• Hosts Virtual Courses including managing Zoom technology, introducing the speaker, managing the chat, and facilitating question and answer.
• Development of a volunteer engagement program
• Serves as instructor for ELC Seminars, Field Courses, and Virtual Courses when needed
• Conducts performance assessments of Contract Instructors
• Drives Institute vehicles with program participants, including vans and 14-passenger busses
• Provides leadership in risk management before, during and after programs
• Takes program photography

Support of Development & Engagement Team:

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

General:

• 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 of 2-4 unpaid weeks. The pay rate is $27.98. The work location for the Field Programs Manager is the Sedro-Woolley 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.

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

January 1, 2026; or as soon as possible thereafter

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.