New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (NEBG) believes diversity in nature promotes a healthy, vigorous garden. We believe that diversity among our staff promotes a healthy work environment and a vigorous organization. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected statuses as required by applicable law. We believe in diversity of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ability, and all the other traits that make us unique. New England Botanic Garden is an equal-opportunity employer.
NEBG does not require its staff to be vaccinated for Covid-19, but we urge everyone to receive an updated dose which became available on September 2, 2022 to protect themselves and each other.
The Manager of Youth Education will carry out the responsibilities of the job in ways that support NEBG’s mission to create experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world, and its commitment to creating a diverse and welcoming organization.
• Being welcoming to all staff and the public
• Be respectful of staff differences and preferences
• Use gender-neutral communication styles
• Respect everyone’s pronouns
• Make efforts to support a diverse workforce
• Develop and support a culture within the department that recognizes and supports NEBG’s IDEA initiatives (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility).
Position Overview
Under the direction of the Director of Education, the Manager of Youth Education will develop, execute, and evaluate a variety of mission-related, audience-focused learning experiences and a year-round program calendar for youth and family audiences. These learning experiences include PreK-12 school and youth group programs, school vacation week programming, summer programs, family classes and workshops, and informal education opportunities such as drop-in activities, and event and exhibition related programming at NEBG. The Manager of Youth Education is charged with evaluating current educational offerings and thinking strategically about how to maximize available resources to reach new audiences. As a part of the education team, the Manager of Youth Education assists in other areas of the department as needed to help New England Botanic Garden achieve its mission.
Responsibilities
• Oversee all aspects of the Youth Education Department including school and scout programs, family workshops and classes, youth birthday parties, community partnerships, free drop-in activities, school vacation week activities, drop-off programs, and more
• Develop, coordinate, and lead educational programs and lessons on gardening, ecology, botany, agriculture, climate change, arboriculture, conservation, and more on and off-site, for children in grades Pre-K to 12
• Create new dynamic activities, interactives, interpretation, curricula, and other educational tools focused on topics including art, botany, gardening, environmental science, climate change, sustainability and more
• Develop and carry out a program plan for the Garden’s two children’s garden spaces; The Ramble and the Climate Garden
• Plan a robust year-round calendar of free and fee-based youth focused classes and activities
• Create and implement an evaluation strategy for new and existing programs
• Work collaboratively with exhibitions and events to create family-friendly tie-ins
• Develop and manage the youth education budget and maintain, record, and evaluate program metrics
• Write, manage, track, and fulfill grants from public and private institutions and support fundraising efforts
• Develop strategies for promoting and facilitating relations between NEBG and local community organizations and identify outreach opportunities
• Strategize and plan for areas of growth in the youth education department and identify potential new projects and program formats
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned
Leadership and Interpersonal Relations
• Supervise, train, and provide professional development opportunities for a team of two full-time coordinators, and a team of up to twenty part-time Teacher Naturalists
• Model excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal tactfully with visitors, students, volunteers, instructors, and staff
• Strong organizational, time management, and oral and written communication skills
• Ability to delegate and deliver results on time and on budget
• Can effectively adapt to change; can shift gears comfortably; is flexible, and embraces change with a “can-do” attitude
• Recognize problems and constructively identify and articulate solutions
• Ability to work with diverse groups and exercise cultural competence and inclusion
• Ability to work collaboratively with other departments to fulfill grant requirements, create new programs, and leverage the use of the garden and plant collections for classes and programs
• Ability to work within and outside of the Education Department to leverage existing community partnerships and identify new ones
• Ability to work collaboratively on a diverse team to accomplish shared goals
• Assist with volunteer and per diem staff trainings, supervision, and management
Supervision and Training
• Interviews, assesses, screens, and hires candidates for full-time and part-time positions in the Youth Education department
• Trains, supervises, encourages, assesses, and counsels full-time and part-time staff
• Fosters teamwork and mentors staff members by modeling best practices
• Empowers staff by granting authority and autonomy whenever possible
• Encourages full-time staff to participate in ongoing professional development
• Develops and implements tools and measures to evaluate the success of tasks and projects
Schedule
The Manager of Youth Education is a salaried, full-time position and is exempt from overtime. The standard work schedule for this position is 40 hours per week. This position requires flexibility and the ability to work regular weekends and evenings as needed. Outdoor and off-site work will be required.
Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in education, museum studies, museum education, environmental studies or related field or equivalent experience and at least five years relevant work experience
• Professional experience teaching in a public/private school or educational non-profit institution and working knowledge of the Next Generation Science and Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering curriculum standards
• Demonstrated ability to create original content, curriculum, and programming for school field trips, and youth and family classes, events, interactives, label copy, etc.
• Experience creating and delivering successful, engaging, and mission-related programs in a non-traditional educational environment, such as a museum, nature center, or botanic garden
• Knowledge of current public garden and/or museum education practices and trends
• Experience working with a variety of young audiences from diverse backgrounds, including school groups, PreK-12 community groups, and families
• Excellent classroom management skills and demonstrated ability to work with children in grades PreK through 12
• Demonstrated experience and creativity in implementing, and evaluating educational programs for youth and families
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and work independently
• Experience teaching or background in natural science, gardening, agriculture, botany subjects a plus
• Experience working in the non-profit sector and grant writing experience a plus
• Commitment to New England Botanic Garden’s mission and demonstrated interest in teaching youth about plants and the natural world
Safety
• Works with an awareness of surroundings and is vigilant to any possible threat to the safety of staff and the public, or NEBG property. Ensures all concerns are reported promptly.
• Reports all accidents and injuries immediately to an immediate supervisor and/or Chief Financial & Operations Officer, or designee.
• Complies with provisions of the current Employee Handbook, all published personnel policies and job description requirements.
Physical Demands / Working Conditions
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds and work outdoors as required.
• Must be able to bend, squat, kneel, stand, and walk for extended periods and to navigate uneven grounds and stairs evenly.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, personal vehicle, and be comfortable with local travel.
• Must be able to work with appropriate computer and communications equipment.
Note: Duties described above, other duties and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.