Position Overview:
Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF) is selecting an Independent Contractor to act as the Change Management & Advocacy Consultant for the Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education (WCEE) to begin in September 2026.
The Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education (WCEE) is at an intentional inflection point. After six years of building a place-based, equity-centered coalition across Whatcom County, WCEE is navigating a leadership transition while facing a dramatically changed state funding landscape. In response, WCEE's Advisory Committee has chosen to bring on a short-term Interim Change Management & Advocacy Consultant to help the coalition navigate this transition thoughtfully. This is not a caretaker role — it is a strategic one. The right person will help WCEE clarify its direction, strengthen its advocacy presence, and lay the groundwork for a reimagined, more sustainability-focused program leadership model going forward.
This role is well-suited to someone with backbone facilitation, coalition and grassroots organizing, consulting, or environmental education policy experience who is energized by organizational transitions and systems-level thinking.
For more information on the requirements to be considered an independent contractor: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee
Application Deadline: July 30, 2026. Application review will be on a rolling basis. The role will remain open until filled.
Target Start Date: September 1, 2026
Duration: 3-6 months
Location: Whatcom County, Washington - Hybrid (in-person and remote work flexibility)
Who We Are:
The Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education (WCEE), a program of the Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF), is a dynamic collaboration of nonprofits, businesses, tribal institutions, and agencies united by a shared vision:
“Every young person across Whatcom County experiences equitable, inclusive and culturally responsive outdoor and sustainability education. Place-based learning is integrated with educational outcomes across grades. Educators inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation, and connect experiences with the head and heart. Empowered youth have the knowledge and skills to be responsible stewards of our communities and our planet.”
Since 2019, WCEE has exemplified the strength of networks during times of disruption and catalyzed a movement of passionate teams of educators and leaders, working in partnership with community stakeholders to build an equitable model of outdoor and sustainability education in Whatcom County.
The Whatcom Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity with the mission to amplify the force of philanthropy – by connecting people, ideas and resources – so that communities flourish.
Primary Responsibilities:
Change Management & Coalition Support
- Develop and facilitate a process for reimagining the WCEE Program Lead role, including a stakeholder engagement process, job description revision, and hiring support for a successor long-term hire.
- Serve as a trusted thought partner to the Advisory Committee and Whatcom Community Foundation during a critical organizational transition, helping the coalition navigate uncertainty with clarity and relational integrity.
- Support the coalition in assessing current program commitments, partnership health, and infrastructure needs — and identifying what to carry forward, pause, or sunset.
- Facilitate key coalition convenings, including quarterly Community of Practice meetings and relevant workgroup meetings, with attention to participatory design and shared decision-making.
- Document institutional knowledge and coalition history to support continuity and future leadership onboarding.
Advocacy & Field-Building
- Assess the potential and desire for the revised lead role to incorporate explicit advocacy work and experience including identifying equitable boundaries and processes for shared priorities amongst coalition members.
- Support coalition partners in building shared advocacy narratives and coordinating engagement with legislative champions and agency stakeholders.
- Maintain and strengthen WCEE's presence in regional and national environmental education networks (e.g., NAAEE, NWESD, OSPI, Open Pathways Project, etc.) during the transition period.
- Identify and communicate emerging policy opportunities relevant to coalition programs and partner organizations.
Fundraising Support, Storytelling Strategy, & Resource Development
- In coordination with Whatcom Community Foundation and the Advisory Committee, support grant prospecting and relationship maintenance with current and potential funders to sustain coalition programs through the transition.
- Help the coalition develop a clearer resource development strategy — including a more sustainable funding model for future program leadership — as part of the job reimagination process.
- Assess and clarify equitable fundraising capacity of the program lead role as it pertains to active programs as well as the collective needs of coalition members.
- Assist partners in identifying funding opportunities relevant to active programs (e.g., Snow to Sea, Connections, Seed to STEM) in the context of state funding losses.
Partnership Coordination
- Maintain key coalition relationships during transition, including with school district partners, tribal institutions, and community organizations.
- Support ongoing partnership clarifications (e.g., Mt. Baker Ski Area and Snow to Sea partnership) as needed and as capacity allows.
- Coordinate with Whatcom Community Foundation staff on grant tracking, financial reporting, and contract compliance for active collaborative programs.
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience in organizational transitions, change management consulting, or backbone facilitation in coalition or nonprofit contexts.
- Familiarity with environmental education, outdoor learning, or related fields in the Pacific Northwest region.
- Strong facilitation skills, including experience with participatory and equity-centered process design.
- Ability to build trust quickly with diverse stakeholders — educators, community organizations, tribal partners, funders, and policymakers.
- Comfort operating in ambiguity and naming uncertainty honestly with partners and committees.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to adapt voice and framing across audiences.
- Commitment to equity and culturally responsive practice.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in outdoor learning, environmental education, or education policy advocacy at the state or regional level.
- Familiarity with Washington State legislative processes and relevant agencies (OSPI, RCO, ESSB/HB outdoor learning funding landscape).
- Prior experience with Collective Impact or coalition backbone facilitation models.
- Experience with resource development, grant writing, or funder relations.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace and collaborative tools.
What this role is and isn’t:
This is a bounded, time-limited engagement. The Consultant is not expected to sustain all current WCEE program activities at full capacity. The primary mandate is strategic: helping the coalition make good decisions during change, strengthening advocacy momentum, and setting up the next phase of leadership for success.
The Advisory Committee and Whatcom Community Foundation will provide onboarding support, institutional context, and ongoing guidance. The outgoing Program Lead will be available in a defined support capacity through the early transition.
WCF / WCEE Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
Whatcom Community Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Community Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees, contractors and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces. This policy extends to contractors.
Independent Contractor Relationship:
As an independent contractor it is to be understood that WCEE is interested primarily in the results to be achieved by the Contractor, and the conduct and control of the services and the methods utilized will rest solely with the Contractor. The Contractor will agree to perform such services to the best of its abilities and to the satisfaction of WCEE. It is to be understood that any relationship created will not require Contractor to work exclusively for WCEE, and the Contractor is free to contract for similar performance of services with other entities. Contractor shall utilize its own materials, equipment, tools and supplies to perform the work. Contractor will be required to represent that it has complied with all legal requirements, if any, to practice as an independent contractor in the State of Washington and confirms that it has an independent business license, maintains independent business records (including income and expenses), and has an active account with the Department of Revenue. In no event shall the parties be deemed to be a partnership or joint venture, or have an employment relationship.
Compensation: $5,000 - $6,000 / month, commensurate with experience and scope. Estimated Hours: 55-65 hours per month. Hours may vary based on facilitation calendar and advocacy activities, some months (during legislative session or hiring processes) may require more.
To Apply : Please send your resume and a cover letter indicating your interest and relevant experiences to [email protected] by 7/30/26.
Pay: $5,000.00 - $6,000.00 per month
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bellingham, WA 98225
