Position announcement: Stewardship & Education Program Director [filled]

Please note, this position has been filled. Openings are announced on our homepage and in our email newsletter, Mississippi Messages. 

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Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is a leading and growing nonprofit organization working to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region. Our goals are to: improve water quality; conserve important lands; engage people in learning about and taking action to protect and enhance the river; inspire widespread commitment to this natural wonder flowing through our community; and protect our river's unique scenic, natural, cultural and recreational qualities.

We have an annual budget of $2.5 million and employ a dedicated, professional staff of 19 who work to improve the health of the river through policy advocacy, education and engagement, land conservation and restoration and other disciplines.

Over the course of 27 years, FMR has established deep relationships and credibility with thousands of citizens, landowners, neighborhood organizations, volunteers, government agencies and elected officials. Our organization has become a national model for conservation and watershed protection.

With a well-known and respected brand, a seasoned and effective staff, a strong Board of Directors, and a growing base of support, FMR is poised for continued growth and success. The workplace culture at FMR is collaborative, fun and staff share a common love of the river and dedication to the mission of the organization.

FMR believes the Mississippi River belongs to all of us and its gifts should flow equally to everyone in our community. We strive to be culturally competent, welcoming and inclusive of all people. We are working toward greater social and environmental justice, using our resources and influence to redress structural inequality in our own organization and where it intersects with the health and vitality of the Mississippi River.

We encourage interested applicants from all backgrounds to apply. (More about FMR’s commitment to advancing equity.)

Position Description

(Full-time, 40 hours/week, with benefits)

The Stewardship & Education Program Director leads and manages FMR’s work to engage thousands of people each year in activities that connect them with the river and help them to take action to protect and enhance it.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Stewardship Director leads the Stewardship & Education team (which currently includes 2.5 full-time staff) and works closely with other staff who coordinate the organization’s land restoration, communications and grassroots advocacy work.

FMR’s Stewardship & Education Program strives to cultivate connections between individuals, communities and the river that inspire an ethic of active participation in stewardship and conservation. Through this program, we annually engage roughly 5,000 people in 150+ environmental education and volunteer stewardship events. We’re also working to foster the next generation of river stewards through our growing youth programs, in opportunities like storm drain stenciling, classroom lessons, on-site stewardship activities, citizen science, and mentorship and internship programs.

This position is right for a professional with experience developing and leading education and volunteer programs for youth and adults. The ideal candidate will have a passion for and a desire to engage diverse audiences through innovations in program design and outreach.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of FMR’s senior management team

• Provide leadership, direction, management, and evaluation of FMR’s Stewardship & Education Program including the development of the annual program budget and work plans

• Inspire, lead, support, and supervise FMR’s Stewardship & Education staff and interns

• Lead the implementation of the program’s multi-year strategic plan

• Lead the development and growth of FMR’s youth programming including the Youth Empowerment Program (now in its second year)

• Develop, coordinate and present personal behavior change and educational workshops and restoration events for community members for the benefit of water quality, habitat, and the River

• Oversee the Stewardship Team’s work to plan, promote, recruit and coordinate school and community group involvement in our suite of education and stewardship programs.

• Work closely with the Communications Director and other staff to ensure outreach, communications and messaging are effective and consistent with the organization’s river corridor policy objectives

• Work with the Development Director in proposal development and reporting for fundraising activities associated with the Stewardship & Education Program

• Identify and foster positive working relationships with partner organizations, local governments, state and federal agencies, and community leaders to inform our work and attain program goals

Qualifications

• Commitment to and passion for the mission of Friends of the Mississippi River

• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred) in environmental education, youth development or a related field

• Experience developing, managing and delivering education, volunteer or youth programs

• Ability to organize, lead, and inspire teams of staff, interns, volunteers, activists and coalition partners

• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and comfort speaking and presenting to groups

• Strong organizational skills including the ability to plan work, meet deadlines, and balance multiple projects and priorities

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasionally long hours, some evenings and weekends

• Reliable personal vehicle for transportation to project sites

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time position. The salary range is $62,000-$68,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, dental and short-term disability insurance, a retirement plan with employer match, parking/transit allowance and generous paid time off.

To Apply

Please consolidate your application into one PDF document that includes: a cover letter summarizing your interest in and qualifications for the position, a 1-2 page resumé, and the names, titles and phone numbers of three professional references (or two professional and one personal reference).

Please indicate your last name in the file name and email it as an attachment with “Stewardship & Education Director” as the subject line to sdekok@fmr.org.

Application Deadline

(We are no longer accepting applications for this position.)