Manager, Youth Programs

About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet.

Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary

The Youth Programs Manager will play a lead role in the development and execution of events and programs known for high-quality environmental education, including mentoring opportunities that connect high school students to a diverse range of environmental professionals, highlight green career paths, lead them to conservation advocacy and action, and nurture their relationship with birds and the natural world.

The position will be responsible for the development of innovative programs that support and align the Center’s educational programs with Audubon’s Washington and network-wide strategies and initiatives. The Youth Programs Manager will work closely with the Center Director and Public Programs Manager on Elevation, the Center’s flagship Youth Leadership Development program.

The position will co-create multigenerational programming, ways to transition from youth programs to lifelong engagement, and focus Center programming on efforts that feed into an organizationally accepted web of engagement and scaffold that defines how individuals move from one stage to the next.

This position is on-site based at the Seward Park Audubon Center in Seattle, WA. The Seward Park Audubon Center sits within 277 acres of old-growth forest with 2.5 miles of shoreline in South Seattle, in one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse areas in the United States. The Center serves students, families, and teens from South Seattle schools and community organizations, with programming developed to connect people with the natural world and offer opportunities to take action to protect it.

Essential Functions:

In collaboration with Center Director, lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of youth education, leadership development, and conservation engagement programs that connect young people to environmental learning, civic engagement, advocacy, and conservation career pathways aligned with Audubon priorities.

Develop and manage a comprehensive youth engagement pathway, including the Center's flagship teen leadership program, internships, seasonal programs, and other educational experiences, creating clear opportunities for participants to deepen involvement and progress toward lifelong conservation engagement.

Design, deliver, and evaluate place-based environmental education programs for K-12 students that leverage the ecology and cultural significance of Seward Park and align with state and national educational standards.

Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, educators, youth-serving organizations, cultural institutions, government agencies, Tribal Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and other community partners to advance student engagement, educational outcomes, and program impact.

Serve as a primary representative of the Center and Audubon Washington through community outreach, partnership development, coalition participation, professional networks, and public engagement opportunities.

Embed inclusive, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, youth-centered, and safety-focused practices throughout curriculum development, program delivery, staff training, and participant engagement.

Hire and manage seasonal staff, interns, volunteers, and youth leaders, including developing and delivering training on facilitation, youth safety, inclusive practices, conflict de-escalation, and program delivery best practices.

Coordinate school and youth group program participation, including scheduling, registration, transportation logistics, scholarship support, and communication with educators, families, and community partners.

Manage program and project budgets, resources, and operational logistics to ensure responsible stewardship and achievement of program objectives.

Develop communications, outreach, and promotional materials for newsletters, social media, websites, and other public-facing channels.

Develop and maintain systems for program evaluation, data collection, recordkeeping, and reporting, including participant engagement, learning outcomes, retention metrics, volunteer records, incident reporting, and organizational and partner reporting requirements.

Support a culture of philanthropy, including public funding.

Collaborate with Audubon colleagues and others across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.

Maintains and fosters a culture of safety.

Support Center-wide operations, community programs, special events, and other organizational priorities as assigned.

Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental science, natural sciences, outdoor education, or a related field, and at least five years of experience designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating environmental, outdoor, youth development, or informal education programs for K-12 audiences. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated success developing programs from concept through implementation and evaluation, using data and measurable outcomes to inform continuous improvement and advance organizational goals.
• Experience with or knowledge of current trends and best practices in environmental education, nature centers, museums, parks, cultural institutions, or youth development organizations, preferred.
• Experience building and sustaining authentic partnerships with schools, community organizations, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff, interns, volunteers, or youth leaders, including hiring, training, performance management, and professional development.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and facilitation skills, including public speaking, relationship-building, and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse perspectives and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, timelines, budgets, and operational responsibilities in a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using web-based databases, registration platforms, CRM systems, or similar program management tools.
• Commitment to inclusive, equitable, and youth-centered practices in program design, facilitation, and community engagement.
• Valid driver’s license, ability and willingness to work weekends and occasional evenings, travel locally as program needs require.
• Able to obtain and maintain required certifications and training (including mandated reporter, CPR, and First Aid).
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, and lift and carry up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Direct experience working with youth, schools, families, and community-based organizations in South Seattle or similarly diverse urban communities, preferred.
• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.
• This position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).
• National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable to apply and develop the following competencies.
• Fostering Relationships : Build trust, mutual respect, and understanding through regular and genuine interactions while promoting a positive and inclusive environment.
• Analytical Thinking : Recognize and value diverse perspectives and experiences in data analysis to foster a more comprehensive and equitable approach to problem-solving.
• Creativity and Innovation : Leverage creativity and imagination to generate new insights and solutions while embracing diverse ideas and approaches that foster innovation.
• Facilitating Change : Work with others to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving while promoting inclusivity, equity, accessibility, and belonging in the change process.
• Team Leadership : Communicate vision and engage others or the team to solve problems while valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity.
• EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org . This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.