POSITION: PROGRAM COORDINATOR
NON-EXEMPT / FULL-TIME

Who We Are
Community Nature Connection (CNC) is a non-profit organization and a leader in the efforts to increase outdoor equity across unceded indigenous territory currently known as Los Angeles County. Our work is centered on dismantling some of the major barriers to accessing the outdoors. These barriers are an issue of equity and are directly addressed through our efforts to connect communities to nature, advocate for equitable access, advance diversity in park careers, and collaborate with community based organizations. As we strive to have a staff that is representative of the diverse communities we serve, we encourage applicants who identify as black, indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, women and LGBTQAI people.

Why work for us? We value accessibility, community, equity, inclusivity, justice, and shared leadership. Working for us also means a commitment to personal and professional growth. You will have the opportunity to develop your potential through professional development, shaping programs, and working towards a future where all communities in Los Angeles County have access to public lands, are included in programming, and are represented in outdoor careers and political decision making.

The Role

Our team is seeking an experienced Program Coordinator to assist in its work of increasing access to the outdoors for communities impacted by racial, socio-economic, and disability injustices. The Program Coordinator will coordinate and deliver community-centered CNC programming for public and school programs. The Program Coordinator must be able to engage with partners, develop and deliver programs, mentor and supervise volunteers and staff, and carry out critical administrative tasks. The Program Coordinator will gain knowledge of flora, fauna, ecology, and geology of the Santa Monica Mountains and L.A. area. The Program Coordinator will also gain a deeper understanding of climate change, environmental justice, and the cultural history of the Los Angeles area with an emphasis on the Chumash, Tataviam, and Gabrieleno Tongva. This position requires a Wednesday through Saturday schedule with occasional evenings, overnight, and weekend work. The Program Coordinator reports directly to a Program Manager and/or Director of Programs and Community Engagement.

An Ideal Candidate Will Be:

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently and collaboratively with other CNC staff.
• Confident in asking questions and soliciting assistance.
• Willing to collaborate with other team members, partners, and stakeholders in work leading to cross-collaborative endeavors and projects.
• An experienced and knowledgeable interpretive naturalist.
• Experienced in coordinating public programs and projects.
• Experienced at designing & delivering interpretive programs, trainings, and program outlines.
• Eager to provide professional support to program teams and other colleagues.
• Bilingual in Spanish, Chinese, Mandarin is a plus but not a requirement.

Primary Responsibilities

45% Program Preparation

• Responsible for the co-development of a program delivery work plan and reporting project deliverables with CNC program leads to ensure project completion;
• Monitor and review programming to ensure standards and guidelines are met and adhered to;
• Responsible for the development of successful participant recruitment and outreach plans;
• Follow risk management and group management practices to ensure the safety of all participants and team members;
• Serve as the main point of contact for community partners to coordinate programming;
• Represent CNC in a professional manner, at partner meetings, conferences, and other events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

35% Program Delivery

• Collaborate with Program Coordinators, Program Managers, and Directors to design and deliver programs;
• Design and deliver a variety of programs including but not limited to overnight-camping trips, outdoor education school programs, youth leadership programs, campfire programs, transit to trail programs, public programs, virtual programs, in-person and virtual trainings;
• Willing to speak in front of groups of diverse audiences including but not limited to community-based organizations, school groups, government entities, the general public, and CNC colleagues and volunteers;
• Mentor, supervise, recruit, train, engage, evaluate, and coach CNC Volunteers, Interns and program staff for the success of all CNC programs;
• Maintain professional relationships and communication with CNC staff, community partners, government partners, vendors, volunteers, program participants, and with the public.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

10% Financial Management & Reporting

• Review program agreements and maintain accurate records;
• Produce monthly, quarterly, yearly, and final reports in a timely fashion;
• Document and record accurate program data, successes, lessons learned, incidents, injuries, and group behavior;
• Manage and develop programmatic budgets and reporting for assigned programs;
• Review and manage financial statements to ensure program expenditures are within the approved program budget.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

10% Communications and Evaluation

• Develop and contribute to communication content, including brochures, flyers, newsletters, promotional materials for new and existing programs, park kiosks, social media, and more;
• Perform administrative duties such as updating and maintaining contact lists and organizing data sets according to CNC protocol;
• Collaborate with the Director of Programs and the Director of Programs and Training to determine evaluation method for program and implement the evaluation method/plan;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:

• 2-3 years related experience coordinating projects or programs for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or in the private sector.
• Experience with lesson planning and executing established curriculum. Knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards NGSS, Project Wet/WILD, Project Learning Tree, and BEETLES curriculum is a plus.
• Possess a current Pediatric/Child/Adult CPR, First Aid, and AED certification or willingness to complete training within 3 months of hire date, paid for by CNC.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Ability to relate to people of diverse backgrounds and experience.
• A commitment to CNC’s mission, vision, and values.
• Excellent time management and task prioritization skills.
• Good judgment and decision-making when working with the public, youth, and children.
• Experience in facilitating group and risk management techniques for groups of various sizes and backgrounds on and off hiking trails is a plus.
• Experience in facilitating youth leadership and youth development programs.
• Experience with community engagement and relationship building.
• Familiar with Google Suite and using a computer for assignments.
• Experience with and knowledge of best practices in environmental education.
• Naturalist and interpretive program experience and training.
• Ability to prepare a project and program scope of work, budget, and timeline.
• A general understanding of ecosystems, climate change, and environmental justice.
• Knowledge of the flora, fauna, ecology, and geology of the Santa Monica Mountains and L.A. area, or a willingness to learn.
• A general understanding and knowledge of land acknowledgements and the cultural history of the Los Angeles area with an emphasis on the Chumash, Tataviam, and Tongva/Kizh or a willingness to learn.
• Willingness to complete the Certified Interpretive Guide training and California Naturalist training after hire, paid for by CNC.
• Ability to travel and provide own transportation to and from CNC work-sites or program events. Mileage reimbursements will be applicable per CNC’s reimbursement policy.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, overnights, and some holidays and flexibility with worksite assignments.
• Willingness to transport program participants in rented and/or agency vehicles if requested.
• Willingness to submit a background check including fingerprinting upon a conditional offer;
• Maintain a valid California Driver's License, good driving record, and maintain minimum auto insurance coverage as required by CA DMV.

Work Location(s):

Work is completed in outdoor and indoor settings, and includes staying in a stationary position for extended periods of time. Travel to work sites in the greater Los Angeles area which includes the local mountains and coast is expected and required. CNC has four office sites that the Program Coordinator may work from based on work assignments. Locations include Franklin Canyon Park, the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens, Vista Hermosa, and the Akuutet Learning Nursery (Elyria Canyon), with occasional travel to other remote work sites in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Note that not all job sites are accessible via public transportation.

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay range: $24.00-27.00 per hour. Benefits include paid holidays, paid Wellness Time, Vacation Time, retirement account and health insurance.

How To Apply:

Please email the following in PDF form: a cover letter, resume, and a list of 3 references to careers@communitynatureconnection.org. In the subject line, please write “Indeed-Program Coordinator Job Application.”

What to Expect After Applying:

Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their materials. The hiring team will review applications and candidates moving forward in the interview process will be contacted by email regarding next steps. The position’s start date is expected to be in early March 2024.

This position will remain open until filled and may close at any time without notice.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Community Nature Connection provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. As part of CNC’s commitment to inclusivity, CNC will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Janice Maguire, the Director of Operations, at janice@communitynatureconnection.org.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $27.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Los Angeles, CA (Required)

Work Location: In person