Position Summary
The Program Director ensures that Living Earth School's mission and values are not just articulated, but lived - consistently and with care - through every program and every staff interaction. This role builds the people, systems, and operational practices that allow Living Earth School to consistently deliver safe, high-quality, mission-aligned programs while growing sustainably.
Serving as the bridge between vision and practice, the Program Director designs, coordinates, and stewards programs so they are safe, meaningful, financially responsible, and operationally sound. By anticipating risks, strengthening systems, developing staff, and translating on-the-ground realities into clear insights for leadership, this role helps the organization grow without losing its integrity, its people, or its purpose.
What Success Looks Like
When the Program Director is successful:
- Programs run safely, smoothly, and consistently across seasons, sites, and formats
- Staff feel prepared, supported, fairly treated, and accountable to high standards
- Families experience responsive communication, professionalism, trust, and belonging
- Policies and safety procedures are consistently implemented
- Operational challenges are anticipated and addressed before they become crises whenever possible
- Program budgets, staffing, and resources are managed responsibly
- Strong systems make programs easier to operate each season
- Living Earth School grows without compromising its values, culture, staff wellbeing, or program quality
Core Responsibilities
Program Design & Stewardship
- Design and oversee the annual program calendar in alignment with organizational mission, strategic priorities, staffing capacity, and budget.
- Ensure all programs reflect Living Earth School's educational philosophy, curriculum, and values, incorporating 8 Shields, Coyote Mentoring and other core nature connection principals
- Oversee implementation of year-round youth, homeschool, summer camps and expeditions, and custom school programs
- Steward program budgets in partnership with organizational leadership
- Maintain relationships and agreements with landowners and program partners
- Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvements based on participant and parent feedback, staff input, and organizational goals
Program Operations & Systems
- Lead day-to-day operational coordination of all programs
- Ensure programs are appropriately staffed, supplied, equipped, and scheduled
- Oversee inventory systems, equipment maintenance, purchasing, transportation, and logistical planning
- Develop and improve operational systems that increase consistency, efficiency, and quality across programs
- Monitor weather, environmental conditions, staffing, and logistics, making operational decisions as needed
Safety & Risk Management
- Ensure consistent implementation of organizational safety policies, Emergency Action Plans, and risk management practices
- Make timely operational decisions regarding participant safety, weather, environmental hazards, staffing concerns, and emergency situations
- Respond to and document incidents, injuries, and safety concerns
- Ensure first aid supplies, emergency equipment, and safety documentation remain current
- Promote a proactive culture of safety, preparedness, and sound judgment
Staff Leadership & Development
- Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, develop, and retain instructors, seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers
- Facilitate staff training, coaching, performance feedback, and professional development
- Create equitable staffing plans, schedules, and workload distribution
- Foster healthy communication, collaboration, and a positive team culture
- Hold staff accountable to organizational expectations, policies, performance standards, and Living Earth School values through coaching, documentation, and corrective action when necessary
Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a key operational partner to the Associate Director by identifying emerging risks, capacity constraints, opportunities, and organizational needs
- Develop, implement, and improve operational policies, procedures, and documentation.
- Support scholarship administration, participant communications, and organizational planning
- Collaborate across departments to support fundraising, marketing, communications, and community engagement
- Actively support and contribute to strategic and organizational initiatives that strengthen Living Earth School over time
Community & Partnership Development
- Build strong relationships with families, participants, volunteers, landowners, suppliers, and community partners
- Represent Living Earth School professionally in the community
- Support a welcoming, responsive experience for all participants and stakeholders
Decision Authority
The Program Director has primary responsibility for day-to-day program operations, instructor supervision, staffing, scheduling, logistics, implementation of approved budgets, and operational decision-making during active programs.
Strategic organizational priorities, compensation philosophy, major budget decisions, and significant policy changes are the responsibility of the Executive Director.
How This Role Works
This role is both inward- and outward-facing and requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership.
The work combines planning, systems development, staff leadership, relationship building, and regular presence in the field. Success requires sound judgment, comfort with complexity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions under changing conditions.
Workload varies seasonally. Evening, weekend, overnight, and on-call responsibilities are expected during active programming periods, especially the 8-week summer season, with greater flexibility during slower seasons whenever operationally possible.
What We're Looking For
We're less concerned with credentials than with how you think, lead, and care for people.
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Strong systems thinking paired with genuine care for people
- Experience leading teams in dynamic, fast-changing environments
- Excellent organizational and project management skills
- Sound judgment and the ability to balance competing priorities
- Comfort making decisions with incomplete information
- Ability to communicate clearly, directly, and compassionately
- Commitment to accountability, continuous learning, and collaborative leadership
- Alignment with Living Earth School's mission and values; experience in or willingness to learn 8 Shields, Coyote mentoring and earth skills practices
- Personal nature connection practice
Minimum Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience in program management, outdoor education, experiential education, or related field
- Experience supervising staff or teams in a dynamic operational environment.
- Strong organizational, logistical, and communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple programs and competing priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to work in outdoor environments in variable weather conditions
- Experience with safety management and risk assessment in outdoor or youth program settings
- Current First Aid/CPR certification required (WFA or WFR preferred)
- Valid driver's license and ability to pass required background checks
Physical & Work Requirements
This role includes regular work outdoors in varying weather conditions and terrain. The position may require hiking, lifting and carrying program equipment, setting up outdoor learning spaces, driving organizational vehicles, and participating in overnight programs and extended outdoor workdays.
Work Schedule & Conditions
- Standard expectation: approximately 40 hours per week, averaged annually
- Work hours will vary significantly by season and program demand
- Evening, weekend, and overnight work is required during active program periods, particularly the summer season
- The role includes on-call responsibilities during active programming periods for emergencies, staffing issues, and weather-related decisions
- Overnight programs may require extended shifts considered part of scheduled work hours
- Workload balance is maintained through reduced hours during off-peak periods when possible
Compensation & Benefits
- Annual salary: $48,900
- Paid bi-weekly over 52 weeks
- Health stipend: $170/month (pre-tax)
- Paid sick leave: 5 days annually
- Paid time off: 4 scheduled weeks annually (typically aligned with program calendar)
- Retirement plan: 403(b) with employer match up to 3% of salary
- Professional development stipend: $500 annually
- Access to industry pro-deals (Outdoor Prolink or equivalent)
- Additional compensation may be approved in advance by Associate Director for approved additional roles or responsibilities
Travel & Expense Reimbursement
- Organizational vehicles should be used when available for work-related travel.
- Personal vehicle use may be required and may be eligible for mileage reimbursement when pre-approved
- Mileage reimbursement does not apply to travel within 25 miles one-way of the LES office
- All expenses require receipts and must follow organizational reimbursement policies
- Purchases over $100 require pre-approval unless included in an approved program budget
- Expense documentation must be submitted within the month incurred unless otherwise specified
Our Commitment
Living Earth School is committed to integrity, equity, and care for people and land. We believe sustainable organizations are built through healthy relationships, thoughtful systems, and shared responsibility.
We seek leaders who share that belief and who are excited to help build an organization where both people and programs can thrive.
To Apply
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to Kathryn Abbott, Associate Director.
Pay: $48,900.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b) matching
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
