Program Manager, Seeds to Trees & Coastal Classroom - City Parks Foundation

POSITION SUMMARY 

City Parks Foundation is seeking a Program Manager to work during the school year with Seeds to Trees, our signature STEM school day program, educating elementary and middle school students about urban ecology, forest ecology, marine ecology, parks stewardship and conservation. Seeds to Trees blends hands-on classroom sessions, outdoor field experiences in parks, and teacher professional development sessions, to produce a high quality, breakthrough educational experience from Sept-June. The Program Manager reports to the Associate Director of Environmental Education and supervises 3 paid college interns during the field portions of the program.

During the summer, the Program Manager is the lead educator for the Coastal Classroom groups program.  This STEM marine ecology program extends the water-based component of the Seeds to Trees curriculum into a dynamic initiative that explores the biodiversity, health and stewardship of NYC’s waterways.  The program manager supervises a team that includes paid high school and college interns.

COMPENSATION: $50 - $58,500.00 per year

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a primary educator for Seeds to Trees in schools during the school year, and as site manager and lead educator of the Coastal Classroom summer groups program
• Work with the Associate Director of Environmental Education and other staff to shape curricula, introduce new or updated activities and implement program evaluation and student assessment strategies and tools
• Manage the hiring, training, and supervision of college and high school interns
• Continually investigate best practices through professional development in topics such as child development, environmental studies,  pedagogy and evaluation. Actively participate in staff development across CPF education programs. 
• Participate in and form partnerships with citywide coalitions and groups that are connected to the program

• Develop and lead semi-annual professional development workshops for Seeds to Trees partner teachers
• Coordinate with school leadership to finalize schedules for in-class and field sessions for each school

• Contribute to a department-wide calendar that reflects all program activities
• Work with the Associate Director of Environmental Education to ensure accurate, comprehensive records and statistics

• Nurture partnerships with a portfolio of elementary schools, and strategically and consistently build relationships with key stakeholders, such as teacher partners and principals
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Environmental Education and school partners to clarify and execute clear vision, goals, roles and responsibilities; address challenges and problems; and implement clear communication strategies
• Contribute to the fundraising and marketing processes, as needed

• Represent program at conferences, DOE events and other industry events, as needed and occasionally on evenings and weekends
• Help maintain, repair and protect tools and equipment for Seeds to Trees and Coastal Classroom
• Contribute to the care and maintenance of our Living Collection
• Provide logistical support and complete general administrative duties, as needed

REQUIREMENTS  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, or related field
• Knowledge of forest ecology, marine and freshwater ecology
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience with outdoor and experiential learning preferred
• Experience with elementary age students essential and with middle school students a plus
• A strong background in inquiry-based methods and developing interdisciplinary curricular materials 
• Demonstrated success working with diverse students, especially youth from low-income communities
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive throughout the five boroughs
• Willingness to work outdoors year-round in sometimes uncomfortable weather conditions
• Willingness to work the occasional evenings and weekends

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

Community engagement includes Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, which supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances. We also administer the NYC Green Fund, a regranting program for parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations.

We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City.

We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens.

Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.

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