Yellowstone Program Supervisor

About Ecology Project International

EPI is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing critical conservation issues through field-based partnerships between local experts and high school students. We engage adolescent youth from local communities and youth and teachers from around the world in applied hands-on science and conservation as they learn about and help protect threatened species and habitats. Through EPI’s programs in five countries throughout the U.S. and Latin America, participants are inspired and empowered to engage in conservation efforts at home and worldwide to become the next generation of conservation leaders. More information can be found at www.ecologyproject.org

Job summary

The Yellowstone program supervisor leads all Yellowstone programs operations and field team, overseeing the execution of programs, its goals and quality, while helping align program capacity and operational readiness with enrollment and financial goals. The program supervisor will lead the full-time and seasonal staff recruitment, training, and supervision processes while improving existing systems used to deliver field courses. They are responsible for ensuring course quality and strong risk management through professional mentorship and by working with staff from other EPI program sites to share best practices. 

To support the diversity of Yellowstone participants and EPI staff, it is critical that the program supervisor has the skills to constructively address implicit bias and be culturally responsive in interpersonal communication, program planning, and program implementation. This position is also empowered to identify new and creative ways to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment for full-time and seasonal staff that encourages self-reflection, feedback, and commitment to professional growth.

Key responsibilities and duties

Categories of key responsibilities include overall operational programs supervision, direct supervision of seasonal instructors and YEL staff members. The supervisor is expected to collaborate with the program manager to refine program systems, logistics, educational curriculum and contribute to program development.

Program Operational Supervision

• Lead the continuous development, evaluation, and improvement of Yellowstone curriculum, educational resources, and instructional materials to ensure alignment with EPI's educational framework, participant outcomes, and organizational priorities.
• Lead annual reviews of instructional resources (e.g. student journals, instructor handbook, etc.) and implement improvements based on participant feedback, instructor evaluations, and program assessment data.
• Coordinate and supervise YEL program courses. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:
  • Pre-course communications with teachers/chaperones in conjunction with the Recruitment team.
  • Plan and execute briefing and debriefing meetings with the instructor team.
  • Support Operations Coordinator with creating briefing notes and itineraries.
  • Ensure that all pre and post-course information and paperwork is uploaded into the appropriate systems on time (i.e. Incident reports, photos, course logs, social media posts, Pre-Post assessment, Course Quality, etc.).
  • Evaluate, recommend, and approve operational improvements, vendor utilization, and field practices that enhance participant experience, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation
  • Oversee course accounting for accuracy and completeness.
• Participate in regular meetings with the admissions team to find alignment on logistics for upcoming visiting groups.
• Maintain accurate program records and utilize Salesforce and other organizational systems to monitor course outcomes, debrief notes, participant assessments, and operational metrics.
• Responsible for maintaining research binders and research equipment, with support from the Operations Coordinator.
• Review and send updates for visiting recruitment materials in coordination with the Recruitment team.
• Analyze operational, assessment, safety, and participant feedback data to identify trends and implement continuous improvement initiatives across Yellowstone programs.
• Participate in the Yellowstone emergency response system (ERS) including being assigned to the emergency phone (24h available to support emergencies on the field).
• Occasionally participate in the global ERS system.
• Responsible for ensuring the completion, quality, and systematization of all courses and programs through the effective administration and oversight of pre-/post-course assessments, Course Quality Evaluations and other tools available. Accountable for achieving established assessment completion rate targets and using assessment results to monitor and improve program quality. 
• Support the development of reports for Yellowstone programs, including fundraising and donor reports, grant reports, annual reports, and other programmatic reporting needs.

Program Staff Supervision:

• Responsible for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding instructors for all programs within the Yellowstone department.
• Set instructor schedules, adjusting as needed for changes.
  • Maintain a schedule of office hours for instructors.
  • Create and execute instructors’ payrolls (twice per month)
• Supervision duties in the instructor house. Operations Coordinator (with supervisor support) is primarily responsible for hands-on aspects, while Supervisor is responsible for administrative tasks: 
  • Ensure the instructor house is clean, prepped, and ready for instructors to move in before each program season.
  • Ensure each instructor receives their sub-lease, and return it signed and dated, before their move-in date.
  • Issue invoices and receive rent payments for each instructor each month.
  • Ensure the instructor house is fully cleaned, moved out, and inspected at the end of each program season.
• Organize and lead instructor trainings, mid-season debriefs, and end-of-season debriefs  and feedback sessions with instructors.
• Conduct field visits to observe field staff in their execution of course delivery, research and service project activities, and to evaluate partners and their projects (2-3 visits per season).
• Responsible for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and supervising all direct administrative reports and the development of direct reports through regular performance conversations, professional development planning, and ongoing feedback to strengthen leadership capacity within the Yellowstone program.
  
  

Other Key Responsibilities

• Support YEL Local Coordinator with all aspects of YEL Local Course and Conservation Leadership planning and program delivery.
• Administer and make reports for accounting expenses relating to personal staff travel, PD expenses, etc.
• Other responsibilities as determined in conjunction with your supervisor.
• Contribute to a positive and welcoming community environment that is supportive to field staff, including those from non-dominant communities.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, ideally in education, biological sciences, ecology, or natural sciences.
• Three years or more of staff supervisory experience, of both seasonal and permanent staff.
• Three-four years or more of field instructor experience in outdoor, environmental, or adventure education programs.
• Curriculum development experience.
• Proficiency in project planning, organization, and management, including the ability to multitask and keep track of multiple simultaneous projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Valid Wilderness First Responder certification or willingness to obtain.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and demonstrated ability to work effectively with partners and students from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Commitment to EPI's mission and values.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Field experience in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—lived experience and knowledge of local ecologies, communities, and history.
• Experience as a classroom educator OR experience delivering and designing professional development programs for formal science educators.
• Experience responding to challenging medical and/or behavioral situations in the field OR experience providing support to field staff responding to challenging field situations.
• Group facilitation experience in team-building and professional development settings.
• Spanish fluency.

Reports to

The Yellowstone program supervisor reports to the Yellowstone program manager.

Direct Reports

The program supervisor will supervise: 

• YEL seasonal instructors
• The Yellowstone Operations Coordinator 
• The Yellowstone Local Programs Coordinator 

Schedule & Location: The Yellowstone Program Supervisor position is full-time (40 hours/week) with office hours typically from 9am to 5pm. This position requires the ability to report to our EPI office, located in Missoula, Montana.

Physical Requirements: This position involves some travel, site visits, and outdoor work in variable weather conditions.

Compensation

The local market-based starting salary range is between US$55,000 and $56,600 annually. Additionally, this position is eligible for a generous benefits package that includes 32 days of paid time off, health insurance, retirement plans, and funds for professional development.

EPI is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of these factors. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.