Program Manager, 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:
This is a regular, ongoing, full-time position.
The Youth Programs Manager oversees the development and delivery of education and youth leadership programs throughout the year. In the school year (September-May), this position focuses on partnership programs with schools and community groups or on long-term out of school time leadership programs for middle and high school aged youth. Youth from San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo Counties are the primary audience for these programs. All programs are primarily delivered in-person and utilize park resources to support youths' learning and development. School and community group programs serve youth through partnerships with teachers and community group leaders. These include Project WISE, a high school environmental science program, and partnerships with public middle schools. Youth Leadership programs include the Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (IYEL) program, a program that focuses on leadership development, community engagement, and outdoor experiences for high school aged youth.
During the summer, (June-August), this position focuses on one of the department’s Youth Leadership programs. These include the Urban Trail Blazers program (UTB), a 6-week leadership, service learning, and environmental education program for middle school-aged youth; Linking Individuals to their Natural Communities program (LINC), a 6-week leadership, service learning, and environmental education for high school aged youth; the Queer Belonging Backpacking Adventure (QBBA), a backcountry leadership program for queer youth of color. The Youth Programs Manager also develops and supports programming for additional schools, community groups, and youth as directed by department leadership.
The Youth Programs Manager establishes and maintains partnerships with teachers and organizations, and co-designs curriculum and lessons with teachers that explore environmental justice, multicultural environmental education, and social justice. The Youth Programs Manager coordinates outreach and recruitment for programs, manages transportation support for schools, supervises children, youth, interns, facilitates programs, tracks and reports on participant and program data. This position also supports the oversight of classroom spaces and their resources at the Youth Campus. Past youth program participants and early career staff are strongly encouraged to apply.
During the school year, the Youth Programs Manager 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 Manager 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 Manager is expected to coordinate and facilitate 3 or more overnight camping trips each year.
This Youth Programs Manager 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 Spring 2025, the Youth Programs Department is specifically looking for a manager to lead programs for high school aged youth, including the Linking Individuals to Their Natural Communities (LINC) program in the summer and partnership programs with high schools during the school year. The department is also prioritizing candidates who with the one or more of following competencies:
- Experience Leading Service-Learning Programming with Youth
- Background in Social Sciences
- Experience facilitating Digital Media or Visual Arts with Youth
- Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese Language Ability
Not having these skills will not disqualify applicants from consideration.
Reports To: The Youth Program Manager, Youth Programs reports to one of the Department’s Associate Directors.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Management
- Oversees multiple youth programs, including curriculum development, outreach, staffing, and logistics.
- Engages in program planning with partners to develop and deepen relationships in various communities.
- Develops annual program goals and work plans and tracks progress.
- Develops program evaluations that connect to program goals. Works with Youth Program staff to synthesize data and create program reports.
- Collects program data. Tracks statistics such as attendance, participant-hours, demographics.
- Hires and supervises staff and/or interns throughout the year.
- Oversees planning of annual events such as youth summits and culminating program events
- Designs, coordinates, and implements out of school time drop-in programs at the Crissy Field Center.
- Supports Youth Advisory role within the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This includes strengthening the structure for specific program areas in collaborating and leads any additional initiatives to get youth input in park design and planning.
- Oversees management of teaching spaces at the Crissy Field Center, including establishment of policies, maintenance of resources, budget tracking, staff training, and curriculum development.
- Co-designs, coordinates, and implements additional programming and projects with other staff.
Programming
- Responsible for developing and delivering weekly programming. Designs and implements programs using best practices in youth development and education pedagogies.
- Facilitates programming in various settings, including parks and other outdoor spaces, in classrooms/labs, and online when appropriate.
- Oversees development of dynamic curriculum that incorporates a mix of leadership development, multicultural environmental education, and project-based learning.
- If applicable, develops curriculum in languages other than English and translates curriculum into languages other than English
- Collaborates with Youth Programs staff, park partners and other community-based organizations to develop and implement curriculum, including outdoor outings, workshops, annual projects, and other events for middle and high school students.
- Responsible and accountable for the physical, social, and emotional safety of participants in the program while in training, on field trips, on overnight trips and while driving.
- Responsible for driving 15 passenger vans for programs. This includes being able to secure and maintain the appropriate California Driver's License and necessary endorsements.
- Oversees coordination and implementation of service projects, field trips, special projects, and overnight activities.
- Provides regular mentorship and evaluation of participants and provides guidance in setting goals and exploring college and career paths.
- Engages and meets with parents and guardians and provide an open door for communication and progress of their children.
- Supports coordination of Summer Youth Internship placements.
- Provides training for park staff, early career educators, interns, and community groups.
- Ensures programs meet quality standards. Provide assessment and implementation of regular evaluations.
Supervision
- Supervision of full-time and part-time Youth Programs staff. The number varies on season and program priorities.
- Supervision, mentorship, and independent oversight of up to 50 youth.
- Supervision of volunteers.
- Provides mid-year and end of the year evaluations for staff and for youth.
Fiscal Management
- Oversees annual program expense budgets (typically $30,000-100,000).
- Purchases supplies, tracks expenditures.
- Manages distribution of youth educational awards.
- Tracks expenses connected to grants to ensure appropriate and timely use of grants.
- Tracks participation and use of resources using Salesforce CRM.
- Assist with grant reporting and presentations.
Collaboration and Outreach
- Coordinates with program managers to develop strategy and recruit motivated youth from Bay Area Public Schools that are from often marginalized communities, which include Black, Indigenous and people of color, LGBTQ youth, low-income families or have barriers that traditionally prevent them from taking part in opportunities such as Park Youth Programs.
- Outreaches to low income- serving community groups and schools for public events and programs
- Supports youth to effectively outreach opportunities to their peers.
- Tracks and communicates with alumni networks. Designs and implements events to continue engagement
- Works in partnership with Parks Conservancy, Presidio Trust, and National Park Service to develop youth leadership opportunities at park and community events.
- Represents the Parks Conservancy Youth Programs at regional conferences, gatherings, and events.
- Helps to create and manage communication, social media content and outreach materials via website material, brochures, images, videos, and other promotional material.
Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Multiple years of direct service with youth, program coordination and design. An educational degree will be considered and valued.
- Background in youth development, ethnic studies, environmental studies, education, child and adolescence development, recreation, or related field preferred. Classroom experience and/or a Teacher’s Credential desired.
- Three years of combined experience in youth development and leadership, delivering programs for Middle or High School aged youth, particularly in underserved communities.
- Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and delivery for middle and high school youth and can implement youth development principles, able to respond to youth needs, skills in crisis intervention, knowledge of local community resources.
- Demonstrated experience in Multicultural Environmental Education, understanding of environmental justice issues, knowledge of issues related to the urban environment, and current local, regional, and global events.
- Demonstrated experience working with Middle and High School age youth from underserved, low income, and/or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities in the Bay Area including mentoring and helping youth set goals and overcome obstacles.
- Interpersonal skills: considers and responds appropriately to the needs and capabilities of different people in different situations; is tactful and treats others with respect; relates effectively to others when encountering difficult situations.
- Teamwork: Pitches in and contributes to achieving group goals; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; balances team and individual responsibilities.
- Judgment: exhibits sound and accurate judgment; can clearly explain reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
- Leadership: exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions and opinions of others, takes ownership and responsibility for challenges and successes of program, staff, and interns.
- Experience leading groups on outdoor and overnight trips.
- Strong group management skills and ability to build a community with participants; exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well.
- Creative, energetic, and self-motivated, ability to take initiative and recognize what needs to be done.
- Ability to take direction and feedback in a constructive manner.
- Able to work a flexible work schedule including weekends and overnights.
- Organization: able to work on multiple projects, set milestones and ensure timelines and deadlines are met.
- Experience with media, audio/visual technology, and video editing/production desired. Familiarity with Salesforce or other program tracking system for tracking program statistics.
- Bilingual (preferred): Ability to facilitate programming in Spanish (highly desired), Cantonese, or Mandarin. Ability to translate existing program materials. Ability to communicate program details with youth’s families in Spanish (highly desired), Cantonese, or Mandarin.
Certifications or Licenses:
- Valid Driver’s License. Employees must have a clean driving record. Ability and willingness to obtain Commerical 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 and First Aid certification- will assist upon hire.
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 & Work Environments:
- Schedule (School Year): Typically Tuesday– Saturday, or Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5pm, with some after school programming. Schedule (Summer): Typically Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, with some weekend and evening work. Some Sundays. Three or more overnight programs a year.
- 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 an office desk, in front of a computer, in indoor teaching spaces like classrooms, and in outdoor settings like parks.
- Work is both sedentary and active—including sitting, standing, walking, moderate hiking, squatting, kneeling.
- Work requires regular trips by car.
- Ability to work outside in inclement weather, and ability to navigate uneven terrain.
- Ability to work in an active and sometimes noisy office environment.
- Supervision: This position is supervised by one of the Parks Conservancy’s Associate Directors.
Pay Rate and Benefits: The annual salary for this position is $72,500 (Pay Grade 14). Comprehensive benefits package includes paid vacation/personal/sick days, health plans (medical/dental/vision), 403(B), Employee Assistance Program, Commuter Program, employee discounts, etc.
Desired Start Date: March 2025, with some flexibility.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Application review will begin by early January 2025.
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.
