Director of Education [The Trustees of Reservations]

Here at The Trustees, it is our passion to improve the quality of life in the Commonwealth by building programs at our properties to be used as a powerful and compelling platform to engage more residents and visitors in our mission-driven work. We are looking for a Director of Education to use their passion and experience in education to build a new statewide education program using our beautiful places to teach in the areas of nature, culture, recreation, and agriculture.

The Trustees of Reservations is one of Massachusetts’ largest non-profits and the nation’s first conservation and preservation organization, and we believe in protecting the irreplaceable forever, for everyone. We want people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved with our places, be inspired by them, and love them as much as we do. Playing a central role in The Trustees Education Program, the Director of Education will build upon existing, locally-driven program successes and expand our delivery modes and portfolio to connect new audiences to our work, provide high-impact experiences for program participants, and advance our core mission work. As the Director of Education, you will be shaping the Education program’s identity, philosophy, goals, and metrics, while providing high-level design, management, and some delivery of a suite of educational programs that support this framework.

This position will be instrumental in supporting our strategic plan goal to significantly increase in visibility, membership, visitation, and public support by reinvigorating and deepening connections between people across Massachusetts to our places and the great benefits that they provide. The Director of Education will be a dynamic leader that is passionate about both people and place and who has a personality and creativity that excites and inspires. Resourceful and full of great ideas, the candidate will have the credibility, the professional knowledge of educational practice, and the dynamic nature that will allow them to build a cohesive, statewide program with deep mission impact. The Director of Education will not only develop a vision and strategy for the education program, but will ensure its successful implementation, providing support as needed. Working closely with Program Leadership, Engagement, and regional staff, the Director of Education reports to the Vice- President for Program Leadership and is part of the statewide Program Leadership team, which is driving key aspects of the organization’s mission delivery.

Our places are already amazing. It’s the unforgettable educational experiences you and your team will create that will bring them to life, connect people to place, and inspire activism, commitment, and membership.

Essential Functions:

Vision and Strategy:

• Develop the direction, philosophy, and goals for a centralized education program at The Trustees. Among other elements, the vision will:
  • Identify connections between educational community needs and opportunities and The Trustees’ key strategic mission areas, which include culture, agriculture, nature, and recreation.
  • Integrate current priorities and projects into educational programs.
  • Articulate The Trustees educational niche geographically, topically, and programmatically, and deliver a program plan that has ambitious but achievable goals in order to have the greatest impact for the organization.
• Develop The Trustees educational standards, policies, and legal protocols that support fun, consistent, safe, and impactful program implementation across multiple program sites.

Implementation:

• Oversee the planning, design, and delivery of creative and inspiring educational programs that are shaped by strategic priorities. These programs will:
  • Deepen the impact of successful existing youth and adult educational programs, including camps, school-based programming, and general public programs, and expand their delivery beyond current bounds.
  • Develop a robust, scale-able youth and workforce development strategy that engages youth and young adults in meaningful leadership opportunities and work experiences that also deliver on Trustees priorities.
  • Pilot and establish new models to reach new audiences, with an eye towards serving underserved communities as an important, but not the only, target audience.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate program staff and volunteers across dispersed geography.
• Manage the Education Program’s resources creatively to grow the program’s impact and reach. This will require attention to revenue generating potential of programs in order to support growth.
• Provide direct program design and delivery, and high-level program oversight, that creates the right conditions for others to be successful. We anticipate that the balance of direct delivery vs oversight and support will shift as the program matures.
• Build a culture of constant improvement within the engagement team, in part by establishing a robust evaluation approach for programs and working with staff to implement it consistently.
• Support a professional development program for educators and the development of supporting educational materials.

Administration and Supporting Functions:

• Develop a partnership with the Development and Stakeholder Engagement departments to promote and raise funds for the education program, which will include grant writing, interface with donors, preparing communications, and supporting overall public relations and marketing pertaining to the education program.
• Plan and administer the overall education program budget.
• Be an enthusiastic and authentic ambassador by representing The Trustees externally through participation in professional organizations and collaborations at the regional, state, and national levels.
• Collaborate with Program Leadership, Engagement staff, and regional teams to ensure successful program delivery on our properties.

• Bachelor’s degree in education, arts/humanities education, natural history, history, environmental education, natural sciences, or other related areas. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 6 years relevant experience in education, ideally both in the classroom and out-of school environment. Experience managing youth/workforce development programs a plus.
• Minimum of 3 years supervisory experience required.
• Proven success in curriculum and program development and implementation and experience with inquiry-based, hands-on methods.
• Proven ability to develop cohesive and fun programs across a variety of platforms (indoors, outdoors) and a range of topics.
• Proven expertise in program evaluation.
• Familiarity with Massachusetts curriculum standards including Common Core integration.
• A commitment to teamwork and demonstrated success in leadership and staff management.
• Budget planning and management experience.
• Excellent teaching skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated and detail-oriented with the ability to work independently and as a team player on multiple tasks simultaneously.

Compensation and Benefits:

The Director of Education is a full-time, exempt position that can be based out of one of The Trustees offices in Stockbridge, Holyoke, Sharon, or Boston. Frequent statewide travel using a personal vehicle is required. Salary is commensurate with experience and we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical/dental/vision insurance, 401k plan, life and disability insurance, travel reimbursement and paid time off.

eharris@ttor.org

With the subject line: “Director of Education Search”

Or by mail to:

Director of Education Search

Attn: Esther Harris

The Trustees of Reservations

200 High Street

Boston, MA 02110

No phone inquiries please.

In addition to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, the Trustees of Reservations aim to create a thriving, inclusive workplace that values each member of our team. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.