Opportunities

Located in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania Riverbend fosters an awareness, appreciation and understanding of our total environment through educational programming. By growing both a love of nature and environmental literacy, we prepare informed, resilient leaders to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Education, Staff, and Intern Opporunites at Riverbend

Our mission is to connect people to nature, equitably advancing environmental literacy through outdoor STEM education and free play in nature while empowering children and adults to take action to conserve Earth's resources.

Learn more about our organizational mission, vision, and values here.

Full-time or part-time depending on the candidate’s qualifications and interests

Reports to: Executive Director

Start date: July 2023

ABOUT RIVERBEND

Riverbend Environmental Education Center connects people to nature, equitably advancing environmental literacy through outdoor STEM education and free play in nature while empowering children and adults to take action to conserve Earth's resources.

Riverbend has been a leader in environmental education for children in the greater Philadelphia area for 50 years. Central to Riverbend’s mission is fostering the appreciation needed to protect our natural world. Our goal is to get children out of the classroom and into the outdoors to make science come to life. Our office and nature preserve--one of only a dozen in the greater Philadelphia region--is situated on 30 acres in Gladwyne, PA, and is home to some of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s most traveled native walking trails, ponds, woodlands, an aquaponics greenhouse, a meadow habitat and a stream. Students from across the region visit on field trips, and we travel to bring schools Riverbend’s award-winning education programs. Last year, 68% of our programs were delivered for free to children in low-income schools.

The Riverbend Environmental Center has 12 FT employees, engages 200 volunteers and hosts 7,000 students and guests annually. Experiencing robust growth in the last two years, Riverbend’s annual budget is now $1.1 million with an operating reserve of $1 million. Riverbend is the principal owner of maintenance and preservation of two historic structures (Barn, Farmhouse) and a 30-acre nature preserve with several outdoor classroom areas.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

A newly created position, the Director of Operations will work with the Executive Director, as the second in command, to serve both as a business strategist and thought partner focused on sustainable, measured growth through efficient internal systems paired with excellent fundraising and customer service. The DO will drive future success by creating and maintaining policies and controls that maximize revenues, physical plant resources and employee satisfaction.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a strategic and experienced executive leader, with a proven track record of creative problem-solving and people and change management, to join a high-growth team of dedicated advocates working to serve children and preserve the natural resources that sustain us all.

The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience in progressive leadership roles with education, environmental, and/or nonprofit youth serving organizations, preferably having worked their way up to an executive role. In line with Riverbend’s current expansion, the DO is a position with growth potential.

CORE DUTIES:

Work with the Executive Director and Board of Directors in setting and driving the organizational vision and operations strategy
Translate strategic plan goals into actionable steps for growth, implementing organization-wide financial goal setting via, performance tracking, and annual operations planning and budgeting
Ensure compliance with national and local business regulations, and take appropriate action when necessary

The ideal candidate enjoys problem-solving and thrives on variety. On any typical day, the Director of Operations could review the education team’s last quarter expenses to align with annual goals, assess frog pond performance with our Education Manager to confirm the new pond pump is meeting the student needs, troubleshoot and improve an internal record-keeping system, craft a Board-facing fiscal report from data supplied by the bookkeeper, negotiate a better deal with an HVAC contractor, lead a tour of the preserve for new Property Council members, or implement an HR policy revision to advance the Board’s DEI strategic goals.

FINANCE OPERATIONS:

Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Finance Committee, working with the bookkeeper to generate quarterly reports for that committee
Negotiate and execute Riverbend contracts, and manage long term sublease
Manage bookkeeping, IT, and other vendors for all contracted services
Assess current financial processes and internal control measures, identify and or create efficient financial processes for Administrative staff (Bookkeeper and Office Manager) and staff’s tracking and record-keeping
Serves and the primary point of contact for banking, insurance reviews and the annual audit process

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT:

Serve on the Property Council and work hand-in-hand with the Council Chairperson to run those meetings and present updates at the quarterly Board meetings
Oversee contracted labor and direct reports on staff to accomplish regular weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance and repair of facilities
Serve as the Project Manager overseeing architects and contractors on all major construction and capital projects
Work with our staff (Director of Conservation, Office Manager, Fellows) to accomplish the above

REQUIREMENTS:

Proven experience as an Operations Director, or relevant non-profit role (8+ years)
Past experience in leadership roles
Competency in business functions such as human resources, general accounting principles, and project management.
Demonstrable competency managing finances AND a facility
Working knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics
Working knowledge of IT/Business infrastructure, MS Office, Google Suite
Demonstrated passion for environmental sustainability, and experience with and/or knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues (energy use, etc.)
Previous experience with vendor contract proposals, including negotiation of such proposals.
Strong analytical, cost control, and critical thinking skills necessary to conceptualize ideas with foresight and mature judgment.
Aptitude in risk management, decision-making and problem-solving
Considers a broad range of internal and external factors when problem solving, exhibits strong relationship building skills, including a positive attitude and ability to work effectively with others
Successful completion of pre-employment screening including drug test and Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and criminal background check.
A valid Driver’s License is preferred and ability to travel occasionally to offsite locations
Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent is required; College-level training in Public Administration, Finance, or Facility Management will elevate your application.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

$80,000 - $85,000 commensurate with experience
Hybrid work schedule, with ample work from home time
Health and dental
Disability and life insurance
Generous paid sick time and vacation policy, plus 8 paid federal holidays

The Riverbend Values:

Excellence in environmental education for all.
Equitable access to nature, which leads to more equitable educational outcomes.
Personal well-being fostered by connecting people to nature.
Environmental stewardship of the land we own.
Responsible governance and management.
Fun! Our work is recreational and creative.

Our team values the environment that we work and teach in, the Riverbend culture is such that:

We offer remote and hybrid work schedules
We hold our meetings outdoors in spring, summer and fall
We have deep respect for our partners: students, teachers, and parents
We are clear-eyed about climate change, but the work we do is substantive and gives us hope
Our Board and Staff are driven to advance equity and achieve our DEI Plan goals
On work breaks, we encourage our team members to enjoy a hike through the woods!

DEI & Equal Opportunity Employment: Riverbend Environmental Education Center (“Riverbend”) is committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. As environmental educators, we know that natural environments with greater biodiversity are stronger and more resilient. In turn, we aspire to be an ever more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization. Riverbend is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices.

See more about the Riverbend DEI Plan here: ttps://riverbendeec.org/uploads/attachments/clct9cc0u22jpqd8yxlsl7tl7-riverbend-dei-plan-2022-2024.pdf

Riverbend’s works take place across our property, where our team members:

Split between their time between our onsite facilities, the administrative offices, the Barn and outdoor trails, meadows and water areas.
Staff regularly are required to walk trails with lots of hills and uneven ground.

This is a hands-on, creative, and fun-loving place to work. If you're ready to educate the next generation, tackle varied challenges and apply your creativity and expertise, please apply!

To Apply:

Please submit a letter of interest, CV/resume, along with 3 professional references, to Executive Director Erin Reilly, ereilly@riverbendeec.org.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

Dates: Typically 1-2 days per week; must be available for morning, afternoon, weekend and occasional overnight hours

Salary: $15/hour depending on experience

For the past 40 years, Riverbend Environmental Education Center in Gladwyne, PA has been bringing high quality environmental and science programming to children in our region. Environmental educators are important members of our education team and are responsible for teaching a variety of programs, including field trips, offsite programs to schools, after-school programs, scouts and more.

Riverbend Environmental Educators will lead inquiry-based education programs at Riverbend, at area schools or partner field locations. Educators may also lead or assist at birthday parties and preserve events. During education programs, each educator is responsible for teaching a group of between 15 and 25 students at a time, ranging in age from Pre-K to 8th grade. Lessons can include, but are not limited to, pond and stream study, watersheds, habitats and ecosystems, soil and geology, Aquaponics, and animal adaptations.

Responsibilities:

Educators will work with a variety of ages of school groups visiting Riverbend and implement pre-written, inquiry-based lesson plans
Educators may be asked to deliver curriculum in area classrooms
Educators will be required to interpret existing curriculum and differentiate it as needed, based on the needs of the group
Educators’ responsibilities will include group management, crowd control, and set-up and break-down of supplies and materials used for school visits
Educators are expected to both work together as a team and function independently
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Competencies:

At least one year experience working with children in outdoor settings. Experience with early childhood preferred
Comfortable with the basic natural history of the area and the principals of inquiry-based learning
Background / interest in biology, ecology, environmental studies or education preferred
Effective classroom / group management skills
Excellent oral communication skills and the ability to project
Ability to work cooperatively with a team or individually
A cheerful, friendly demeanor
Enjoys working with children from a variety of backgrounds
Comfortable interacting with live animals
Reliability and flexibility
Successful completion of pre-employment screening including drug test and Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and criminal background check.
A valid Driver’s License is preferred and ability to travel to offsite locations
Ability to work actively outdoors in all weather conditions without correctable physical impairments that would interfere with ability to work on the Preserve
Ability to remain on your feet, hike, and carry up to 40 lbs.

To apply, email resume, cover letter and list of three references to: Suzanne Safran
ssafran@riverbendeec.org

This position is a perfect opportunity for individuals looking to build experience in the field of environmental education or for environmental professionals who are seeking a light, flexible schedule. EOE. (See below for additional information.)

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Riverbend is committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Riverbend Environmental Education Center (“Riverbend”) is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices.

Riverbend is committed to making employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and other-job related criteria without regard to an individual’s race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition or transgender identity, gender), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, use of a guide or support animal, relationship or association with a disabled person, genetic information, military or veteran status, possession of a GED rather than a high school diploma, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”). This policy applies to all employees with respect to their terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placement, training, promotion, and discipline, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.

COVID-19 Policy:

The safety of our employees is our number one concern. All Riverbend staff are required to be fully vaccinated, and show proof of vaccination status. Boosters are strongly preferred. In order to limit business disruption and protect children and workers in school settings, Riverbend may require staff to undergo occasional Covid testing, at Riverbend's expense.