Program Coordinator

Sierra Nevada Journeys; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance (

Phone reimbursement

Optional 403(b) retirement plan with 4

Paid time off (PTO)

12 paid holidays

Discretionary annual bonus

Reduced hours around December/January

Job summary

Sierra Nevada Journeys in Sacramento, CA seeks a Program Coordinator to support K-8 education programs, manage day-to-day preparation, coordinate activities, and mentor staff within a collaborative environment.

Starting Fall 2026, this full-time role reports to the Program Director and involves teaching, field studies, curriculum design, program evaluation, and administrative support for school and field-based education programs.

Qualifications

• Passionate about outdoor education and STEM literacy.
• Excellent time management and attention to detail.
• Strong written, phone, and in-person communication skills.
• Proven track record of successful project management.
• Experience working with elementary-age children.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Current Red Cross CPR and First Aid or willingness to obtain before start date.

Responsibilities

• Teach K-8 students in classroom, field studies, and family/community events.
• Coordinate Classrooms Unleashed, Family STEM Nights, after-school, and summer programs.
• Collaborate on curriculum design, program evaluation, and operation support.
• Manage inventory and purchasing in the expense system.
• Lead staff trainings and conduct observations; run planning and debrief meetings.
• Serve as onsite lead during programs and support budget management.

Skills

Outdoor education

STEM literacy

Time management

Communication

Project management

Elementary education experience

Initiative and independence

CPR/First Aid

Job description

Program Coordinator

Full Time; Start Date: Fall 2026

$24-$26 per hour DOE ($49,920-$54,080 annual equivalent) + Benefits

Sierra Nevada Journeys, Sacramento, CA

Sierra Nevada Journeys is seeking a Program Coordinator with experience working in a professional educational setting. This position requires an individual who can effectively manage and facilitate excellent programs while overseeing the coordination of current programs and mentoring other staff.

The Program Coordinator will be responsible for day-to-day program preparation, coordination, and facilitation of activities, as well as helping to maintain a supportive and collaborative work environment. The Program Coordinator will report to and work in tandem with the Program Director, creating a shared responsibility for facilitating staff training and professional development days.

The position requires an individual with a commitment to equity and inclusion, and a dedication to growth, learning and improvement. They should be enthusiastic about fostering scientific literacy, critical thinking skills and environmental stewardship while uplifting their team and being accountable to strict deadlines.

This person will teach K-8 students in a variety of settings: in the classroom, on field studies at local nature sites, and at family and community engagement events. They also collaborate on curriculum design and revision, program evaluation, and administrative support of the overall education operations of school and field-based education programs. The Program Coordinator will report directly to Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Senior Program Director.

Areas of Responsibility

Education (50%)

• Classrooms Unleashed – Teach a multi-part STEM program, including an in-class lesson and an outdoor science field study at a local nature site. Topics include Earth Science, Life Science, Environmental Science and Physical Science.
• Outdoor field studies – Lead group of 12-20 students, K-6th grade, through a variety of field-based science activities at local nature sites during the field study portion of the Classrooms Unleashed program. Field trip programs are up to 3 hours long.
• Family STEM Nights – Lead family engagement events held at elementary schools and partnering community-based organizations. Serve as site contact, lead and organize volunteers, organize and set up station supplies, and “emcee” the event.
• Afterschool Programs – Facilitate 60-90 minute, hands‑on STEM and team‑building activities with up to 30 students in the classroom and in the schoolyard.
• Summer Day Camp – Act as the summer day camp lead at our camp programs by supporting summer day camp counselors, communicating with parents, serving as the site contact and helping plan and prepare summer camp curriculum. Support the Senior Program Director with pre-summer camp planning, training and coordination. As needed, act as a summer camp counselor by facilitating summer day camp programs at local outdoor sites, leading groups of 15 elementary‑aged children through STEM learning activities and traditional summer camp activities.

Mentorship and Program Coordination (50%)

• Coordinate Classrooms Unleashed, Family STEM Night, after‑school, and summer programs, including scheduling lessons, communicating logistics with staff, preparing program materials, communicating with partners, etc.
• Independently take on large educational and curriculum‑based projects
• Collaborate with and support the education team to design high‑quality curriculum and materials for Classrooms Unleashed, Family STEM Nights, after‑school programs, summer programs, and special projects
• Manage and organize inventory of program and office supplies, including purchasing supplies and coding transactions in the expense management platform
• Lead internal staff trainings in tandem with the Senior Program Director on a consistent basis
• Perform formal and informal observations of staff and provide feedback
• Lead consistent planning, check‑in, and debriefing meetings with the team
• Function as onsite lead during programs and make real‑time decisions about program needs
• Independently take on large educational and curriculum‑based projects as needed
• Create, implement, and maintain physical and digital organizational systems (i.e., filing student waivers, assessments, maintaining program supply inventory, etc.)
• Foster a positive team culture that reflects Sierra Nevada Journeys' Core Values and Mission
• Represent Sierra Nevada Journeys at outreach and educational tabling events
• Work cross‑functionally with department leads to support Sierra Nevada Journeys' Mission and ClassroomsUnleashed programming
• Act as a member of the Sierra Nevada Journeys Expanded Leadership Team, attend Expanded Leadership meetings, and help carry out Expanded Leadership initiatives
• Work with the Senior Program Director to manage revenue and expenses in the annual budget
• With our one organization mindset, you may be asked to teach in other areas of the organization as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Passionate about outdoor education, working with children, and fostering STEM literacy
• Exceptional attention to detail and time management skills
• Excellent written, phone, and in‑person communication skills
• Proven track record of successful project management
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to be accountable to deliverables
• Experience working with elementary‑age children
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and maintain a positive attitude
• Current Red Cross CPR and First Aid (or willing to fulfill this requirement prior to starting date)
• Ability to commute daily to schools and field trip sites within a 45‑minute drive of the Sierra Nevada Journeys office with occasional longer commutes (mileage reimbursement provided by Sierra Nevada Journeys)
• Ability to pass a background check
• Experience with and understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards
• Passionate commitment to educational equity and understanding of issues of systemic oppression
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time, lift and carry program supplies up to 20lbs, and work outdoors in all weather conditions and on uneven terrain
• All employees and volunteers are required to attest in writing they have up‑to‑date immunizations against the diseases required for public school attendance in the state in which they work

Compensation and Benefits

• $24-$26/hour DOE ($49,920-$54,080 annual equivalent)
• Medical, dental and vision insurance (covers 90% for employees and 30% for dependents)
• Phone use reimbursement at $5 per paycheck
• Optional 403(b) retirement plan and up to a 4% match by Sierra Nevada Journeys
• Earned paid time off starting from the first day of employment. PTO is accrued per pay period at the rate of 12 days per year.
• Potential for an additional 3% pay for Spanish fluent or other languages relevant to supporting our programs.
  • The determination of the employees designated to receive multilingual pay is at the sole discretion of Sierra Nevada Journeys.
• Coinciding with the December/January holiday break, 2 weeks of reduced hours (schedule and time off are coordinated in advance with your manager); including partially paid time off during this time which does not count against your PTO accrual time.
• Earnedpaidtimeoff starting from the first day of employment. PTO is accrued per pay period at the rate of 12 days per year.
• 12 paid holidays
• Annual discretionary bonus based on company and individual performance
• Employment with an innovative organization focused on improving outdoor education delivery

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ individuals who represent the rich diversity of cultures, language groups, and abilities of its surrounding communities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status or genetic information.