District Operations Director Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are:

NatureBridge provides best-in-class environmental science education experiences for more than 30,000 students and their teachers every year in the world’s best classrooms: our National Parks. Our mission is to connect young people to the science and wonder of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of the planet. Through our programs, students explore the outdoors, connect with their peers, discover themselves and develop a lasting relationship with science and the environment around them.

What You Will Do:

This role leads all operational logistics for the campus and interacts regularly with customers and partners including school district personnel, participant families, National Park Service personnel, and partners to ensure smooth program logistics and an excellent customer experience. Learn more about our overnight Environmental Science (ESCI) programs.

Learn more about our summer day camp, Forest Camp (FC).

This position is located at Prince William Forest Park (PRWI), and cannot be performed remotely.

Your primary job will be:

Program Logistics

• Lead and manage program logistics prior to and during program implementation, including:

  • Create and manage schedules for educators, administrative educators, and support staff

  • Ensure program managers have information to troubleshoot during program implementation.

  • Create and manage group lists for ESCI and Camp

  • Maintain arrival and departure spreadsheets for Camp

  • Assign campus resources including lodging and meal shifts for ESCI

• Administer, maintain and update all operations-owned documents and planning paperwork; Ensure relevant information on all external and internal websites for ESCI and Forest Camp are current.

• Use Salesforce to maintain ESCI operations records, including program notes and schedule.

• Manage Forest Camp registrations and payments; Build and maintain Active Network as the camp’s registration database for each new camp season.

• Lead relationships with and manage contracts and payments for vendors including all contracted food, transportation, and guest presenters.

• Work closely with all department leads to provide a seamless transition in customer hand-offs between departments and in transitions between Environmental Science and Forest Camp programs.

Customer Relationships

• Prepare teachers and students for their environmental science (ESCI) experience and campers and guardians for their Forest Camp (FC) experience.

• Develop and maintain relationships with schools, school districts, and group coordinators,

• Represent and promote NatureBridge programs at school events, community fairs and open house events.

• Identify and implement community outreach opportunities to drive increased Forest Camp enrollment.

• Ensure comprehensive and cohesive customer journey and workflows.

• Create and update camp outreach materials.

• Collaborate with campus leadership to ensure consistent customer service during program planning and delivery.

• Provide direct customer service attention and troubleshooting; mediate conflicts and address complaints.

Campus Operations

• During Environmental Science (ESCI) program seasons (spring and fall):

  • Greet and support all arriving school groups and attending coordinators (Mondays and Wednesdays).

  • Collaborate with education department to train and mentor educators serving as Site Managers; occasionally facilitate meal shifts and provide program support and customer service as Site Manager.

  • Serve as the overnight Manager On Call during ESCI programs, in rotation with other campus program managers.

• During Forest Camp program season (summer):

  • Support arrival and departure logistics; Be present at first day arrivals and final day departures each week of camp.

  • Act as primary representative for family/guardian communications; Provide daily updates for program staff.

  • Facilitate on-site camper registrations.

• Serve as Day Manager on a regular schedule (problem-solving, customer service, staff management, partner and vendor relations) and as needed; When day managing, primary responder on the radio for staff and participant needs and concerns; provide essential support during programs and emergencies, including delegation and reporting.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Work strategically with the Mid-Atlantic leadership team to address any campus-specific operational opportunities or challenges.

• Regularly review participant feedback data; recommend and implement improvements; Support ongoing development, refinement, and programming improvement based on staff and participants' feedback; Implement systems of feedback and accountability across campus and departments.

• Ensure regional state and partnership-specific requirements are met, including Forest Camp licensing/exemption.

• Implement and model excellent risk management practices and maintain a safe environment for our participants and staff.

• Maintain certifications for Wilderness First Responder, CPR, Servsafe, and VA MAT.

• Cultivate a culturally responsive working and learning community; bring relevance to community relationships including staff, students, teachers, schools, campers and families; demonstrate and model allyship.

• Manage a budget as assigned.

Compensation:

• $60,000-63,000 annual salary

• Medical, dental and vision insurance

• Option for a 403b retirement plan with employer match after 1000 hours of work

• Generous paid vacation, training days and sick leave

• Other benefits include Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and more

Who You Are:

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Minimum of four years of applicable experience in outdoor education and/or camps; and/or Bachelor’s degree in recreation management, nonprofit management, hospitality, or related field, or equivalent experience.

• Understanding of summer camp programming and logistics and dedication to positive camper and family experience

• Thorough, decisive, with strong analytical ability and good judgment; excellent time management and record keeping skills; attention to detail essential.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in the workplace. We especially encourage you to apply if you are a member of (or have extensive experience working with people from) any communities that are impacted by the historic and current system of oppression that has limited access to environmental education, or the outdoors in general.

• Flexible to changing demands; maintain respectful communication in an environment with conflicting priorities; experience working creatively with limited resources to achieve maximum impact.

• Able to work both independently and as a member of a team; willingness to be coached and open to feedback.

• Effective communication skills; ability to speak and write effectively for diverse groups of customers, employees and partners; Ability to speak, read and write in English required;

• Demonstrated experience managing risk in the outdoors.

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex legal and financial documents. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.

• Proficiency with Google Suite, SalesForce, ActiveNetwork and Adobe Acrobat, or ability to learn.

• Current Wilderness First Responder, CPR, Servsafe, and VA MAT certifications or willingness to obtain training shortly after being hired.

• Valid and current driver’s license necessary.

If you are interested in the role and do not meet every requirement listed, please still apply! We are interested in applicants with unique lived experience and skill sets.

*All NatureBridge Employees are required to complete a background check in order to be eligible for employment.

Why should you join the NatureBridge team?

• We are a mission-driven organization that values your contributions and supports you in making a positive impact on young people and the environment

• You will get to work in a beautiful natural setting with other dedicated staff who are passionate about the environment

• You want to be part of an organization that is invested in growth, self-examination, and creating equitable and inclusive environments for staff and participants

NatureBridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate based on any protected category, including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, gender expression (including transgender expression or pregnancy), political affiliation, age, immigration status or disability. We encourage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Please let us know if you require any accommodation.

How To Apply:

Submit your application to our Online Career Portal. Please respond to the application questions instead of submitting a cover letter.