Community Programs Director

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust is seeking a key individual to join its staff as Community Programs Director. This is a regular full-time exempt position based in Fresno, California. Competitive salary and benefits offered commensurate with experience.

 The Trust's mission is to preserve and restore San Joaquin River lands of ecological, scenic, or historic significance, to educate the public on the need for stewardship, to research issues affecting the river, and to promote educational, recreational and agricultural uses of the river bottom consistent with the protection of the river’s resources. We work with public and private partners to acquire land and easements, build trails, provide access, and educate people of all ages about the river.

General Description

The Community Programs Director is responsible for connecting our community to the wonders of the San Joaquin River through programs designed for children, adults, and families. The Trust has a strong lineup of community program offerings, including school field trips to the river, classroom presentations, canoe and kayak tours on the river, volunteer-led weekend nature walks, leadership and outdoor skills development for high school-aged youth, and the Living River Speakers Series. The Community Programs Director oversees all school-based and community program activities and leads part-time and seasonal staff and volunteers that provide on-the-ground program implementation. This position also assists the Director of River Camp Programs with the Trust’s day camp programs throughout the year.

Authority

Reporting to the Assistant Director, and working within the adopted goals and policies of the Board of Directors, the individual has the authority to undertake the duties and activities as defined below.

Areas of Responsibility and Duties

Program Development

Position the River Parkway Trust to be the leading provider of high-quality river education and recreation programs through creative programs and fund development utilizing community partnerships, volunteers, and staff.

Management and Leadership

Supervise regular full-time, part-time, and seasonal program staff and volunteers. Recruit and train new staff and volunteers as needed. Participate in regular staff and management meetings. Work cooperatively with staff and the Board of Directors to develop and implement annual program goals.

River Docents

Actively recruit and train new volunteer docents and college interns to lead field trips and classroom programs. Provide supervision and support, and on-going education and training of volunteers through meetings, workshops, newsletter, and personal contact.

School Programs

Promote the Trust’s River Field Trips and River Quest classroom programs to schools throughout the valley. Utilize tools and technologies to update the reservation process and oversee program staff responsible for school program communication. Oversee maintenance of field equipment and keep the program curriculum updated to meet current education standards.

River Camp

Work cooperatively with the Trust’s Director of River Camp Programs to implement day-camps along the San Joaquin River Parkway and in the community of Firebaugh. Assist with staff training and other activities as needed.

River Tours

Oversee the Trust’s public canoe and kayak tours program. Recruit, hire and oversee training of new guides and volunteers. Create annual schedule for public canoe and kayak tours on the river, and oversee online tour reservation system. Develop new program offerings as funding allows.

Programs for Underserved Communities

Develop and implement programs to reach underserved communities to achieve the Trust’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) goals. Programs could include guided nature walks, family-friendly weekend outings, Youth Parkway Ambassadors, Voyagers: Investigating Sierras, Trails, and Seas (VISTAS), Inclusion Programs, and other outdoor education/recreation programs with community partners.

Fund Development and Budget

Develop annual budget for programs in collaboration with Director-level program staff and manage income and expenses to maintain a positive bottom line. Seek out and secure new funding sources to develop and maintain Community Programs. Draft and submit grant proposals to maintain and expand programs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Recreation, Environmental Studies or related field
• Experience managing and implementing environmental/outdoor education or interpretive programs
• Supervisory experience
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills
• Good working knowledge of software used in a modern office environment including Microsoft Office, social media tools, databases and web management tools
• Ability to work cooperatively with a variety of people and organizations
• Experience working successfully with volunteers of all ages and life stages
• Personal commitment to conservation and environmental education
• Grant proposal writing and management experience
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English/Hmong/Lao/Khmer)
• Must have valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Note: this position is subject to fingerprinting and background check due to interaction with children

Working Conditions

• Office environment for planning and administration
• Frequent outdoor responsibilities, including walking and hiking on uneven ground in undeveloped areas
• Some weekend and evening responsibilities
• Some equipment lifting and moving, including loading and unloading canoe and kayak trailers.

The Trust is committed to equal employment opportunities for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations of the United States. The Trust will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We encourage applicants of all ages.

The anticipated salary range is $68,000 – $74,000.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Sarah Parkes at sparkes@riverparkway.org with the subject line Community Programs Director.

Upon receiving a conditional offer, the applicant will be required to submit a DMV driver report, which can be downloaded for a small fee HERE.

Position open until filled.

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 1988 to preserve and restore San Joaquin River lands of ecological, scenic or historic significance; to educate the public on the need for stewardship; to research issues affecting the river; and to promote educational, recreational and agricultural uses consistent with protection of the river’s resources. For more information about the River Parkway Trust, please visit our website at http://www.riverparkway.org.