Program Manager, Nature-based Wellness Coach-This position is full-time, exempt, hybrid (remote, community, office), located at our Vicente campus in San Francisco. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
Mission Statement: We provide the people, place, and path for exceptional youth mental healthcare.
Vision Statement: We aim to redefine what youth mental healthcare can be by delivering transformable support that doesn't just treat symptoms but changes lives.
About Edgewood:
Each person who works at Edgewood Center for Children and Families shares a passion for making a difference in the lives of the children and families who we serve in the San Francisco Bay Area. Employees find themselves surrounded by a diverse and extraordinary group of dedicated professionals, in welcoming environments characterized by whole-person care, open communication, creative support and a commitment to growth, healing and improving each day. Edgewood’s successes come from our employees and the positive results they help create for children and families. When you join Edgewood, you join a culture of purpose and belonging, where your growth is a priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters.
Program Summary
Roots to Rise offers nature-based prevention and early intervention services that empower youth (ages 8–25) to build resilience and life skills. We incorporate psycho-emotional and neuro-developmental frameworks to connect youth to resilient outcomes through immersive experiences that leverage the restorative power of nature. Through trauma-informed 1:1 mentoring and small group experiences in parks, gardens, and natural spaces across the Bay Area, participants strengthen emotional regulation, self-esteem, stress management, and relational skills. Programs are facilitated by clinically supervised wellness coaches using evidence-based frameworks and nature immersion to promote access, engagement, and equity in youth mental and emotional wellness.
Position Description
The Program Manager/Nature-Based Wellness Coach is a member of the multidisciplinary Roots to Rise team serving youth ages 8–25 and their parents, caregivers, and other supportive adults. We are looking for a Program Manager to support the rollout of services, including providing direct service during the pilot phase. As the program grows, this position will transition to focus heavily on administrative and operational management over the next 9-12 months. This role is expected to evolve as we scale, with the opportunity to take ownership of new initiatives.
The Program Manager/Nature-Based Wellness Coach provides leadership and direct service for the Roots to Rise nature-based youth wellness program. In the Program Manager capacity, this role leads day-to-day operations, staff supervision, service coordination, compliance, and quality improvement to ensure youth receive safe, effective, and trauma-informed care. In the Nature-Based Wellness Coach capacity, this role delivers nature-based wellness services to youth in outdoor settings across the Bay Area, facilitating individual and small-group sessions aligned with the Roots to Rise curriculum and clinical guidance.
Essential Functions
Coaching (priority during pilot phase):
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Plan and facilitate individual and group nature-based wellness sessions in outdoor and community settings that support emotional regulation, resilience, and pro-social skills.
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Ensure the physical and emotional safety of participants during all program activities, including implementing risk management practices and adhering to agency policies and procedures.
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Transport and accompany youth safely to program locations.
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Communicate effectively and respectfully with youth, caregivers, community partners, and colleagues, demonstrating trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and identity-affirming practice.
Management (will become priority as program grows):
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Maintains strong daily program operations, including scheduling, staffing support, documentation flow, and timely communication with internal and external partners.
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Support program growth and sustainability through effective operations, service coordination, and implementation of best practices.
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Provide effective staff supervision, coaching, and follow-up to help staff meet role expectations and maintain high-quality service delivery.
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Coordinate service delivery to ensure alignment with program goals, clinical guidance, and operational standards.
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Monitors adherence to agency policies, documentation standards, risk management procedures, and all applicable regulatory and safety requirements.
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Provide staff training on risk management, documentation systems, and program protocols, as needed.
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Coordinate client assignments and support planning in collaboration with clinical and program leadership.
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Monitor program implementation, outcomes, and documentation to ensure quality and consistency.
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Manage program resources and operational needs, in collaboration with Program Director and Edgewood support departments.
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Liaise with internal departments to support effective program delivery.
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Facilitate staff meetings and contribute to team development.
Core Competencies
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Demonstrated ability to work with families in a wide variety of cultural contexts and community settings.
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Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, youth-serving environment.
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Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-based practice.
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Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
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Experience facilitating groups, mentoring, or leading youth activities.
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Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with youth.
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Ability to work effectively in outdoor settings and successfully manage physical and emotional safety needs, including implementing outdoor risk management practices and adhering to agency policies and procedures.
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Contributes positively to a healing-centered, respectful workplace by engaging others with humility, care, and a commitment to honoring all identities and lived experiences.
- Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with supportive family networks, services and resources.
- Knowledge of local ecosystems, environmental science, or cultural and historical connections to land.
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Ability to provide calm, professional responses during crisis situations.
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Passion for applying nature-based and trauma-informed practices to youth mental health
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Strong teamwork and self-awareness, especially around power and privilege in youth work.
? 3–5 years of experience in youth-serving programs.
? 2 or more years of supervisory experience.
? Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Counseling, Social Work, or related field. Equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
? Must have a valid California driver’s license and proof of insurance (you’ll need to use your own car). Transport youth participants to outdoor program locations as needed (estimated 10-15% work time).
? Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR (can be completed within 3 months)
Preferred:
? Bilingual (English/Spanish)
? Youth Mental Health First Aid certification
? Experience with outdoor education, mentoring, or therapeutic youth work
? Knowledge of local ecosystems, environmental science, or cultural and historical connections to land
? Passion for applying nature-based and trauma-informed practices to youth mental health.
Salary Information
The salary range for this position is $80,000-$85,000, depending on experience, education, and applicable differentials. *Please note- the language differential is contingent on passing a language proficiency test.
As part of our team, benefits-eligible employees receive an excellent comprehensive benefits package:
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16 days of PTO the first year and more thereafter
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Nine paid holidays
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Five health and wellness days off annually
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10% additional pay for community-relevant second language fluency
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Medical/Dental/and Vision plans
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403 B Retirement Plan with agency match
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Employee Assistance Program
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Commuter Benefits Program
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Medical and Childcare Flexible Spending Accounts
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Pet Insurance
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Identity Theft Protection Plan
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Paid employee referral program
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Career advancement opportunities
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Retention bonuses for many positions
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Continuing Education expense reimbursement
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Professional licensing fee reimbursement
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Professional Development reimbursement opportunities
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Verified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer
NOTE: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued new requirements for health care and congregant care facilities to decrease the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks. Based on the CDPH public health mandate, all candidates for positions at Edgewood Center must provide proof of vaccination. Edgewood Center will consider applicants with ADA and Title VII exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
Equal Opportunity
Edgewood is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex are encouraged to apply. Edgewood maintains a policy of non-discrimination with respect to employees and applicants for employment. No aspect of employment will be influenced in any matter by race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical condition, perceived physical disability, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by statute.
