Youth Education Program Manager

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

18h

About The Position

The Youth Education Program Manager leads the development, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of nature-based environmental education programs for children and families at the North Carolina Botanical Garden ( NCBG ), serving thousands of participants annually. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Learning & Community Engagement, this role oversees a comprehensive suite of learning experiences, including school field trips, early childhood programs, seasonal and summer camps, family classes and workshops, free drop-in and self-guided activities, and community partnership programs. Programs use hands-on, inquiry-based approaches to foster meaningful connections to the natural world and align with NCBG’s mission and community needs. Content spans botany, ecology, gardening, animal behavior and adaptations, sustainability, and biodiversity, and programs reflect best practices in nature-based environmental education. The Youth Education Program Manager regularly assesses existing offerings and thinks strategically about how to maximize resources, expand reach, strengthen program quality, and respond to evolving community interests. The Manager also oversees key informal learning spaces, including the Discovery Room and the Children’s Wonder Garden, with responsibility for planning and maintaining engaging interpretive content, educational displays, and hands-on activities. This role supervises and mentors two full-time educators, as well as seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers, fostering a collaborative team culture and ensuring programs are developmentally appropriate, scientifically accurate, inclusive, and consistently delivered at a high standard. The Youth Education Program Manager is a highly skilled educator and inspiring leader who brings energy, creativity, and vision alongside strong organizational, administrative, and operational abilities. As a core member of the Learning & Community Engagement team, the Manager collaborates across departments to enhance visitor experience, support institutional goals, and advance NCBG’s mission of connecting plants, people, and place.

Requirements

• Experience teaching natural science topics in classroom and field settings in non-formal education environments (e.g., botanical gardens, nature centers, museums)
• Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating nature-based environmental education programs for children and families across multiple formats (e.g. school programs, camps, family programs, drop-in activities), including designing original curriculum and educational materials
• Ability to translate educational goals into engaging, accessible learning experiences
• Experience creating or overseeing interpretive materials, educational displays, or other informal learning resources
• Experience managing program operations, including scheduling, registration, staffing, and logistics
• Experience leading teams in educational program settings, including recruiting, training, mentoring, and supervising educators, seasonal staff, interns, and/or volunteers
• Strong team-building skills with the ability to foster engagement, collaboration, and accountability
• Self-directed, creative, and capable of independently identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing solutions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain high standards of quality
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in changing conditions, with a positive, solution-oriented attitude
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and departments in a mission-driven organization
• Experience managing budgets, tracking program outcomes and impact, and preparing reports
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license or ability to obtain one
• CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within one month of hire

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental/science education, environmental studies, natural sciences, or a closely related field
• Five or more years’ experience designing, teaching, and evaluating nature-based environmental education programs in a non-formal setting (e.g., botanical gardens, nature centers, museums), including both classroom and field-based instruction
• Two or more years’ of experience overseeing educational program operations, including scheduling, registration, budgeting, documentation, and logistics
• Two or more years’ of experience leading educational program teams, with responsibility for recruiting, training, mentoring, and supervising staff
• Experience developing programs aligned with North Carolina curriculum standards
• Experience working with individuals and organizations across a wide range of cultural, socioeconomic, and organizational contexts
• Experience in fundraising activities, including grant writing, donor cultivation, and/or securing in-kind support
• North Carolina Environmental Education Certification

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager