Education Program Manager

Education Program Manager

Salary
$69,913.00 – $134,588.00 Annually
Location Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD
Job Type Full Time
Closing Date
9/17/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

POSITION SUMMARY:
Works with staff and other conservation partners to develop and implement programs for the general public conducted at or through the Robinson Nature Center (RNC).  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Management & Development:

• Determine programming priorities for the Robinson Nature Center. Provide guidance to education staff on the development, execution and content of programming conducted by the Center to ensure programs meet the needs and interests of the community served by the Nature Center.
• Research, design, implement and evaluate special events, programs and projects for the Robinson Nature Center in cooperation with community groups, business and tourism establishments, partnerships, focus groups, sponsorships and based on need relating to nature programs and camps.
• Coordinate all such activities with the Robinson Nature Center Director, the Volunteer, Front Desk and Rental Operations Manager, the Environmental Education and Technology Manager, and external partners. Establish program goals and schedules. Review, evaluate and approve content to ensure programs fit with the mission, effectiveness and financial sustainability of the Robinson Nature Center.
• Coordinate cross-departmental collaborative programs and projects with other Programmers and Divisions within the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks on an as-needed basis.
• Fiscal management including preparation and submission of monthly revenue reports for public programs, field trips, birthday parties and additional program offerings. Prepare seasonal program attendance and revenue reports, track program revenue and expenses, and complete budget worksheets for new programs. Conduct cost/revenue analysis of programs after they occur. Set and regularly reevaluate program fees.
• Represent Robinson at Department-wide programming meetings to keep abreast of changes to Departmental policies and development of new procedures that affect programming. Coordinate with staff on certifications and background checks needed for general programming and summer camps.
• Recruit, interview and evaluate contracted service providers for Nature programming. Negotiate service agreements, contracts and process invoices. Conduct risk analysis on new contracted programs and coordinate with the Offices of Law and Risk Management on contractor paperwork and with the Department on new vendor paperwork. Prepare purchase requisitions and order logs and supervise/coach staff in these areas as well.
• Evaluate, draft license agreements for, and procure full-dome films for the Nature Sphere planetarium on an annual basis as budget allows.
• Oversee the design and implementation of safety procedures for programs. Work cooperatively with Facilities and Robinson Nature Center maintenance staff to schedule space for programs and promote smooth flow of operation, safeguard valuables, develop risk management and safety plans, track revenues and expenses, and submit attendance records.
• Review, determine severity, and submit incident, injury, accident, or other related reports for all incidents occurring during Nature programs or camps to the Recreation, Adventure, and Nature Division Superintendent and to the Office of Risk Management. Follow up with parents/participants.
• Work closely with other Center staff to research, write proposals for and report on grants to fund environmental education programs at the Center.  
• Will assist with the delivery of nature/interpretive programs by assisting and conducting nature walks, lectures and programs on an as needed basis.  
• Responsible for managing and overseeing implementation of Robinson Nature Center programming. 
• Responsible for identifying and applying good sustainability practices into all aspects of Department operations.

Program Enrollment and Registration:

• Work extensively with Robinson Nature Center registration staff to ensure accurate attendance records, financial reports, accommodations and rosters regarding Nature programs and camps.
• Monitor program enrollment on a weekly basis, coordinate with education staff and contractors leading programs to make decisions on cancellations due to low enrollment or inclement weather; work with staff to accommodate additional sections of popular programs; 
  Set minimum and maximum age requirements and attendance levels for all programs. Approve all requests for age overrides and over-enrollment.

Departmental Responsibilities:
Responsible for identifying and applying good sustainability practices into all aspects of Department operations.
Serves on committees as assigned
Position is identified by the Department as essential and will be required to work emergency situations that include staffing the Department Operation Center (DOC).

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises (directly and indirectly) the full time and part-time staff as well as volunteers that are associated with programing for the Center. This includes annual employee reviews, recruitment, hiring and dismissal of staff and administering of personnel policies.

 
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years related experience.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:
Possession of a valid driver’s license. License must remain valid, as long as individual is employed in this class.
Possession of CPR and First Aid certification or ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, interpretation, biology or natural resource management.
At least three (3) years of experience as a naturalist/teaching and educational capacity.
At least two (2) years in a supervisory/management capacity.
Strong in people skills.
Strong background and experience in natural history.
Computer skills especially in Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, Outlook as well as website management.
Good organizational skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Demonstrated experience in teaching children and adults in formal and informal settings, indoors and outdoors.
Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, contract negotiation, proposal writing, grant writing and fund-raising. 
Ability to develop plans and timelines and follow through to completion.
Creativity, innovation, and follow-through are essential.
Excellent written and oral communication skills. Experienced in public speaking with a diverse audience and with people of all ages. 
Must have flexible schedule with the ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. 
The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. 
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
The work environment encountered with this position is a combination of both indoor environments consistent with working in an office, meeting/classroom and in outdoor interpretation. This would include activities in hot, cold, wet, rainy, snowy and other forms of inclement weather conditions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. 
Ability to write simple correspondence. 
Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. 
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

TO APPLY:  You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted. 

Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.       

At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).

Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at  HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application. 
Employer
Howard County Government
Address
3430 Court House Drive

Ellicott City, Maryland, 21043
Phone
410-313-2033

Website
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/howardcounty