ABOUT US
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers world-class horticulture, art & nature-based exhibitions and educational programs. The 13-acre indoor and outdoor facility—situated two miles from downtown Columbus—features glasshouses including the historic John F. Wolfe Palm House; botanical gardens including the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden and Scotts Miracle Gro-Foundation Community Garden Campus; and event venues. The Conservatory is home to the largest collection of Chihuly glass in a botanical garden and Light Raiment II by internationally renowned artist James Turrell. Committed to the community, the Conservatory strives to provide an accessible and welcoming experience to all.
MISSION
As a premier botanical garden destination, we connect people to nature and create life enhancing experiences.
VISION
Envision a world that celebrates nature as essential to the human experience.
JOB SUMMARY
The School Age Program Manager leads the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous
improvement of youth education programs that connect children and families to nature, science, art, and
horticulture through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.
This position oversees a diverse portfolio of programs serving Pre-K through Grade 12 audiences both at
Franklin Park Conservatory and throughout the community, including school programs, outreach initiatives,
summer camps, Homeschool Day events, and strategic partnerships with Columbus City Schools (CCS).
The position is responsible for supervising educational staff, managing program budgets and logistics,
evaluating program effectiveness, and expanding access to educational opportunities for youth and families.
For the application, submitting a cover letter is strongly encouraged.
Additional Information: This is a full-time, exempt position. This position is eligible for the Conservatory's benefit package offered to full-time employees, which includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid Life/AD&D/Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance, participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement Program (OPERS), optional 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan, generous Paid Time Off (PTO), and complimentary membership to the Conservatory.
Compensation: $46,000 annual salary.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direction of the Associate Director of Youth Programs:
- Direct the planning, implementation, evaluation, and lead creation of curriculum of onsite educational programs serving Pre-K through Grade 12 audiences, including Homeschool.
- Lead the development and delivery of outreach school programs that extend the Conservatory's educational impact throughout the community.
- Manage the Conservatory's summer camp program, including curriculum development, staff supervision, budget oversight, registration coordination, risk management, program evaluation, and the delivery of engaging, high-quality experiences for campers and families.
- Lead the creation and implementation of curriculum for Columbus City Schools partnerships, such as grant funded programming, after-school programs, professional development opportunities, and field trip scholarship initiatives.
- Hire, train, and supervise full-time, on-call, and seasonal staff.
- Assist with accounting tasks, such as tracking expenses, check requests, invoices, and reconciliation.
- Direct the planning and delivery of quarterly Homeschool Day educational events.
- Works collaboratively with Community Outreach and Education staff and other Conservatory Departments to ensure successful delivery and marketing of programs and meeting the overall goals of the Conservatory.
- Assist in and/or leads volunteer training related to youth programming.
- Provides excellent customer service to teachers, students and general admission guests of the Conservatory.
- Participates as an active member of the COE team to help envision future educational programming and projects as they relate to overall Conservatory growth.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Bachelor's degree in Education, Natural Sciences, Environmental Education, Biology, Horticulture, Art Education, Food Science, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience teaching or facilitating educational programs for youth in formal or informal learning environments.
- Minimum of 2 years of supervisory, coaching, or team leadership experience.
- Experience in designing curriculum, educational programming, or learning experiences for youth audiences.
- Demonstrated knowledge of environmental education, STEM education, natural resources, horticulture, plant science, art education, or related disciplines.
- Experience with program evaluation and outcome measurement.
- Familiarity with Tessitura or similar registration/ticketing systems is a plus.
- Familiarity with informal learning environments such as museums, botanical gardens, nature centers, zoos, or cultural institutions is a plus.
SKILLS REQUIRED AND RESULTS TYPICALLY ACHIEVED
- Strong leadership, coaching, and staff development skills.
- Excellent organizational, project management, and prioritization abilities.
- Outstanding verbal, written, and public speaking skills.
- Ability to build effective relationships with students, educators, parents, community partners, and colleagues.
- Experience with complex customer service interactions and the use of deescalation techniques.
- Demonstrated ability to engage diverse groups of learners through dynamic educational experiences.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience using data to inform decisions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in educational programming and service delivery.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule (including occasional nights and/or weekends).
- Ability to provide transportation for occasional offsite work.
EEO Statement: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Conservatory does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, lactation status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other protected status. The Conservatory values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
