Youth Leadership Program Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Program Coordinator, Youth Programs
Organization Description:
Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us.
Department Description:
Conservancy Youth Programs encourage new generations to become bold leaders for thriving parks, healthy communities, and a more environmentally just society. We prioritize individuals, groups, and communities that national parks and conservation organizations have failed to previously engage. Our programs focus on learning about social and environmental issues and building leadership skills that can contribute to positive change. Our department is located at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio, San Francisco.
Position Overview:
The term for this position is Sept 21st, 2026 to August 6th, 2027.
The Program Coordinator, Youth Programs is responsible for supporting the development and facilitation of the Conservancy's youth programs. These programs engage local youth through park- and community-based learning, leadership development, and workforce development. Under supervision of the Conservancy's Youth Programs Managers and Directors, the Youth Programs Coordinator plans and facilitates programs in activities such as leadership development, science and environmental justice education, service learning, outdoor experiences, arts, and digital media. In addition to program development, the Youth Programs Coordinator assists in youth participant outreach, building and maintaining partnerships, program evaluation, management of teaching spaces, logistics, mentorship of youth participants, and supervision of seasonal educators. Programs take place at the Crissy Field Center, in parks, at schools, and in the communities of the youth we serve.
During the school year, which runs from September through May, Program Coordinators support multiple programs:

• Youth Leadership Programs:
  • Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (I-YEL): a high school leadership program for youth attending San Francisco and Marin public schools, in which young adults learn the skills necessary to be stronger leaders in their community through project management, community involvement, and outdoor trips. I-YEL primarily takes place during out of school time hours, including evenings and weekends.
• School and Community Group Programs serve youth in schools and community groups through curriculum-based programs in parks and communities, primarily during school days and occasionally weekends. These include:
  • High School Environmental Science, Service-Learning, Cultural History, and Social Justice programs
  • Middle School Education and Leadership programs
  • Community Group Park-Based partnership programs

During the summer (June-August), Program Coordinators will support one or more of the following Youth Leadership programs:

• Urban Trailblazers (UTB) middle school program
• Linking Individuals to their Natural Communities (LINC) high school program
• Queer Belonging Backpacking Adventure (QBBA)-a two-week long backpacking field studies course for queer and trans youth of color and allies.
• Other Youth Leadership Program TBD

For the 2026-2027 program year, the department will be hiring four (4) Program Coordinators:

• Three (3) Program Coordinators will be primarily focused on youth leadership programs for high school students. These three Program Coordinators would work with the I-YEL program during the school year and either the LINC or QBBA programs in the summer.
• One (1) Program Coordinator will be primarily focused on school groups and middle school-aged youth. This Program Coordinator would work with the School and Community Group Programs team during the school year (with a higher emphasis on middle school groups) and with the UTB program in the summer.

During the school year, the Youth Programs Coordinator typically works a Monday-Friday or a Tuesday- Saturday schedule, depending on programming needs. Work days are 8 hours long, and typically fall between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00 pm or 11:00am and 7:30pm, depending on the seasonal program focus. During the summer, the Youth Programs Coordinator typically works a Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm schedule. There is the possibility of having daily schedules shifted to accommodate programming needs. The Youth Programs Coordinator is expected to coordinate and facilitate 3 or more overnight camping trips each year.
The Youth Programs Coordinator works primarily in-person and is based at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio. Any work from home or other remote work will be limited and will require supervisor approval.
For 2026-2027, the Youth Programs Department is prioritizing candidates with one or more of the following skills:

• Planning and facilitating multiday wilderness backpacking trips.
• Developing and delivering digital media curriculum.
• Developing and delivering arts curriculum.

Not having these skills will not disqualify applicants from consideration.
Reports To: The Program Coordinator, Youth Programs reports to one of the Youth Programs Managers.
Key Responsibilities:
This is an education and youth development position that includes the instruction and mentorship of youth and program support to the multiple youth-serving programs.
Program Development and Delivery

• Leads youth participants in outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, camping, team-building activities, service learning, and environmental education lessons.
• Develops and delivers project-based learning curriculum for youth.
• Facilitates in-classroom activities and presentations.
• Develops lesson plans.
• Plans and facilitates overnight camping trips with youth.
• Supports youth in art and digital media production.
• Prepares materials and teaching spaces for activities. Cleans up after activities.
• Drives work vehicles and is responsible for passenger safety and supervision during transport.

Youth Mentorship and Supervision

• Creates a physically and emotionally safe space for youth to engage in the outdoors
• Supports youth in developing short-term and long-term goals. Supports youth in developing and completing work plans.
• Models healthy and supportive behavior for youth participants.
• Develops leadership and professional career skills for youth participants.
• Provides positive and constructive feedback to youth.

Collaboration and Coordination

• Coordinates planning, logistics, and scheduling with program partners.
• Conducts youth participant outreach.
• Supports with program documentation, evaluation, and reporting.
• Supports with program administration and logistics, including using online systems such as Microsoft Office and Google Drive.
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to education, youth development, and social justice: Awareness of environmental justice issues. Can make connections between environmental and social issues. Supports youth-led advocacy.
• Interest in working with communities historically excluded from environmental experiences and careers in the Bay Area, including low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.
• Ability to connect with diverse groups of youth, especially middle school and high school aged youth. Interest and ability to make curriculum relevant to youth audiences.
• Teamwork: Ability to support team and program goals, balance team and individual responsibilities. Ability to collaborate and co-lead programs. Receives direction and feedback in a constructive manner.
• Good Judgment: Ability to analyze calculated risks while prioritizing the safety of both staff and youth. Includes appropriate staff and/or community members in the decision-making process.
• Flexibility: Ability to adjust priorities as the team's needs change. Ability to work in a variety of outdoor and indoor environments as well as with a variety of age groups. Ability to adapt to a flexible work schedule that includes some evening, weekend, and overnight work. Ability to adapt programs at once based on youth needs.
• Ability to stay organized and pay attention to detail.
• Leadership: exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well.

Desired Education and/or Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Two or more school years working with middle or high school students.
• Experience working with diverse groups of youth. This includes multiple dimensions of diversity such as race/ethnicity, income, language, physical ability, sexuality, gender identity, and neurodiversity.
• Experience leading experiential education and service-learning programs for youth in the outdoors, including overnight camping or backpacking trips.
• Experience or education in environmental education, child development, recreation, or other related fields.
• Experience developing curriculum for elementary, middle, or high school youth.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Drive.
• Experience developing and delivering digital media production curriculum.
• Experience developing and delivering arts curriculum.
• Experience as primary trip leader for multiday wilderness backpacking trips.

Certifications or Licenses:

• Valid Driver's License. Employees must have a clean driving record. Ability and willingness to obtain Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with Passenger Endorsement (P). Please consult the California Commercial Driver's Handbook for further information about obtaining and retaining this license, including its potential impacts on driving records.
• CPR, First Aid, and Epinephrine auto injector certification - will assist upon hire.
• Because this position works closely with youth, we require Live Scan fingerprint clearance in addition to the standard pre-employment background check.

Health and Safety:
It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Work is primarily in-person and is based at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio. Any remote work is planned with other department staff and requires supervisor approval.
• Work is performed in multiple settings, including at a desk in an office, in front of a computer, in indoor teaching spaces such as classrooms, and in outdoor settings such as parks.
• Ability to hike 5 miles on uneven terrain.
• Work is often performed standing or walking with a backpack.
• Frequently lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Occasionally sits at a computer station for up to 3-4 hours.
• Regularly drives youth and staff in work vehicles.

Pay Rate and Benefits:
This is a benefitted, Project I position working an average of 40 hours per week. Overtime is paid for any hours exceeding 8 hours in one day. The pay is $31.00/hour (Pay Grade 16). Benefits include health, dental and vision insurance; paid vacation, holidays, personal, and sick days; a 403(b) retirement plan (3% non-elective employer contribution); Employee Assistance Program; employer-matched Commuter Program; employee discounts, and more.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Application review will begin by July 2026. Interviews are projected to take place in August 2026.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement, and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.