Climate Education Program Manager

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Climate Education Program Manager to join our Education and Engagement team’s New York City field office. The Climate Education Program Manager will support NWF’s Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program and manage the NY-based Climate and Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) and manage and facilitate the CRETF Youth Steering Committee (YSC). This person will work directly under the Director of Climate Resilience Education and interact and work with NWF’s national Education for Sustainability Team. There will also be an opportunity to support the build-out of a planned NWF Climate Education program. This diverse position will require a dynamic, energetic person who enjoys multi-tasking, collaboration, thought leadership, teacher professional development, youth leadership development, and ongoing management of program deliverables. The position requires someone to be located in the greater NYC area and work remotely from their home.

Principle Duties (major areas of responsibility):

Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC)

• Support communications, scheduling and programming with RiSC partners, such as NYC Parks, NYC Department of Education teachers, and others;
• Create and deliver webinars for participating teachers for possible in-classroom presentations and activities;
• Coordinate school/teacher recruitment and communication, plant purchasing, and scheduling for spring dune restoration and/or stewardship field trips for student and teacher groups from up to 25 schools;
• In March/April 2025, assist with two weeks of on-site dune restoration at Coney Island Creek Park with additional community planting day(s). Must be present in NYC.
• Work with local Coney Island partners to develop an outreach plan for residents;
• Help manage a website build for Coney Island partners with a contracted website designer;
• Engage in communication with RiSC adaptation partners in New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Texas and potential new locations;
• Work virtually with website designer to support updates to the RISC website;
• Help to document and promote work through photography (video where possible) and contribute writing for blogs, press releases, and posts for social media when needed;
• Manage ongoing grant requirements and reporting.

Climate & Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF)

• Coordinate and oversee the administration of the Task Force including member and partner stewardship and engagement, communication, list management, and support of CREFT meetings through agenda development and notetaking;
• Help with NY climate education policy work, including coordinating a legislative package and campaign. This may include, but not be limited to: communicating with lawmakers, scheduling meetings with elected officials for lobby days in Albany, coordinating bus trips with students and adults, and collecting memos of support for legislation;
• Help with NY inter-agency and inter-state connections and coordination around interdisciplinary climate education;
• Cultivate and nurture partnerships and conduct outreach to grow CRETF’s coalition;
• Support research into, and resources focused on, green Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs;
• Help the Director stay current on relevant education and legislative issues;
• Lead event-planning and coordination for in-person CRETF meetings;
• Help manage ongoing CREFT grant requirements and reporting.

CRETF Youth Steering Committee (YSC)

• Plan and facilitate weekly one-hour YSC Zoom sessions at 6pm: prepare weekly presentations/mini lessons focused on climate education related topics, aligned with an existing syllabus;
• Set expectations and encourage maximum student engagement and participation through discussion and activities;
• Create virtual attendance rosters and track attendance, communicate with students;
• Secure guest speakers for weekly sessions as needed;
• Collect student forms, create end-of-year certificates, process invoices for stipends;
• Coordinate and plan events for in-person YSC meetings;
• Help recruit new students.

Other:

• Assist the Director with fundraising, including grant-writing, research, and outreach to donors/funders;
• Support the development/enhancement of new and existing RiSC and CRETF resources and materials;
• Participate in NWF strategic planning, build out of NWF Climate Education programming and thought partnership;
• Assist with the development and deployment of a quarterly newsletter;
• Support ongoing administrative needs with contracts, invoices, meeting notes, program documentation, newsletters, and other administrative support;
• Represent our programs at tabling events, conferences, and public forums;
• Support communications around video storytelling, social media management, press releases, etc.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in either Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Policy, Climate Science, Oceanography, Sustainability, Wildlife Ecology, Climatology, or Environmental Studies.
• 5+ years of experience in climate change and/or environmental education, with a proven track record of designing and implementing successful climate education, teacher professional development, and youth engagement/green workforce/advocacy programs.
• Strategic thinking, collaboration, and planning for program development, scaling and replication.
• Proven project management and facilitation skills to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, capable of building relationships at all levels of an organization and with various public and private partners.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to drive decisions and improvements.
• Communications experience around storytelling and social media.

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet), as well as bending over and/or crouching during planting and stewardship events.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Travel Requirements: 

Some occasional out of state travel may be possible.

Location and Work Mode: 

This position will be based in New York City. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee will work remotely with periodic in-person field work and meetings. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $72,000 - 80,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits, and by Forbes as one of America’s best small employers! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 10 holidays.
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of knowledge and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid work, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Whether you’re new to the field, returning to work after a gap in your employment, or are taking the next step in your career path, if you believe you could excel in this role we encourage you to apply! Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. To be eligible for this role you must be a U.S. citizen or have valid work authorization to work in the U.S

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.