Senior Education Manager

Waterfront Alliance; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with employer match

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A civic organization in New York is seeking a Senior Education Manager to lead education initiatives focused on climate literacy and coastal resilience. The role involves managing programs like Estuary Explorers and Waterfront Scholars, developing effective partnerships with schools and community organizations, and ensuring high-quality learning experiences. Candidates should have significant experience in environmental education, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to equity and environmental justice. This position offers a competitive salary of $70,000–$75,000 and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in environmental/climate education, experiential learning, or program management.
• Strong knowledge of NYC waterways and coastal resilience.
• Ability to lead and train field-based activities (seining, fish ID, etc.).
• Demonstrated success building partnerships with schools and universities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and expand Estuary Explorers field labs and classroom lessons.
• Manage the Waterfront Scholars program and coordinate student engagement.
• Build and implement a multi‑year education strategy to scale impact across audiences.

Skills

Environmental education

Experience in program management

Youth engagement strategies

Data fluency

Excellent communication

Education

5-7 years of related experience

Tools

Salesforce

Airtable

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Education Manager

Join to apply for the Senior Education Manager role at Waterfront Alliance.

About the Waterfront Alliance

The Waterfront Alliance is a civic organization that brings together a diverse Alliance of more than 1,100 Partners with ties to the New York–New Jersey waterways. Founded in 2007, our mission is to inspire and effect resilient, revitalized, and accessible coastlines for all communities. Key program areas include climate resilience, waterfront design, public access, the working waterfront, and climate education.

About the Position

The Senior Education Manager will lead the strategic growth and implementation of the Waterfront Alliance’s education portfolio, scaling programs that advance climate literacy, coastal resilience, and workforce development. This includes oversight of Estuary Explorers, Waterfront Scholars, internships, workforce development initiatives, teacher trainings (including CTLE), and community engagement activities such as coastal cleanups. The Senior Manager will design and execute a multi‑year growth strategy, manage educators and interns, strengthen partnerships, and ensure inclusive, high‑quality learning experiences rooted in environmental justice.

Responsibilities

• Education and Public Programming (45%) – Oversee and expand Estuary Explorers field labs and classroom lessons focused on marine science, water quality, and climate resilience; periodically instruct lessons to model best practices and maintain program quality.
• Ensure educators are trained and equipped to lead hands‑on field activities including seining, fish identification, water quality testing (e.g., salinity, turbidity, pH), and plankton observation – with safe handling and ethical catch‑and‑release protocols.
• Lead and facilitate teacher trainings; maintain CTLE sponsor compliance and records.
• Manage the Waterfront Scholars program and coordinate student engagement at the annual Waterfront Conference, including tailored learning and networking experiences.
• Direct internships and workforce development aligned with the Green & Blue Career Guide and partner needs in maritime, resilience, and sustainability sectors.
• Coordinate and customize education programming at community events (coastal cleanups, festivals, family days) based on funding and community need.
• Operations and Administration (30%) – Handle scheduling, site permissions, weather contingency plans, and logistics for waterfront access.
• Oversee data systems (e.g., Salesforce, Airtable) for participant tracking, photos, evaluations, and reporting; ensure accurate grant reporting and City Council contracting and compliance.
• Manage program budgets, procurement, invoices, reimbursements, and supply organization.
• Supervise, onboard, train, and provide professional development for part‑time educators, per‑diem staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Maintain safety protocols and risk management for waterfront activities; promote First Aid/CPR readiness.
• Work with Communications to prepare education materials for design and web placement; contribute to WaterWire articles and the Estuary Explorers newsletter.
• Program Development and Partnerships (25%) – Build and implement a multi‑year education strategy to scale equitable access and impact across K‑12, postsecondary, and community audiences; set goals, KPIs, and evaluation frameworks.
• Maintain and grow relationships with schools (NYCPS and charter), universities, workforce agencies, public agencies, and community‑based organizations; execute MOUs and joint initiatives.
• Develop new curricula integrating NYC waterways knowledge, estuarine ecology, climate resilience, and workforce readiness; align with standards and community needs.
• Collaborate with Development to prepare program descriptions, grant materials, and impact narratives; identify school and CBO partners for funding initiatives.
• Represent Waterfront Alliance at conferences, panels, and coalitions, sharing program insights and advocating for resilient and just waterfronts.

Qualifications

• Required – 5–7 years of experience in environmental/climate education, experiential learning, or program management, including multi‑program oversight and staff supervision.
• Strong knowledge of NYC waterways, estuarine ecology, and coastal resilience; ability to lead and train field‑based activities (seining, fish ID, water quality testing, plankton microscopy).
• Excellent background and knowledge of positive youth engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated success scaling education programs and building partnerships with schools, universities, and workforce agencies; commitment to equity, environmental justice, and positive youth development.
• Data fluency with program evaluation; proficiency with Microsoft Office and project/data tools (Salesforce, Airtable).
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross‑functional collaboration skills; comfort working outdoors in variable weather; ability to lift up to 25–30 lbs.
• Preferred – First Aid/CPR certification.
• Experience administering CTLE trainings for educators.
• Familiarity with WEDG® and resilience design principles; experience partnering with the New York Harbor School.
• Experience with animal handling/aquarium maintenance and catch‑and‑release fishing protocols (ethical handling, safety, species ID).

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $70,000–$75,000. The Waterfront Alliance offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer‑paid medical, dental, and vision insurances; life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; paid sabbatical after five years of continuous employment; commuter and FSA benefits; paid time off; professional development opportunities; and more. Our telecommuting policy allows staff the flexibility to work from home in a hybrid capacity.

Location

New York, NY

Reports To

Director of Programs and Climate Initiatives

Direct Reports

Part‑time Education Coordinator and Seasonal Educator

How to Apply

Submit your resume and the answers to the prompted questions. Applicants must be legally authorized to work full‑time in the U.S. and should not require employment sponsorship now or in the future. Only complete applications will be considered. Position open until filled. No phone calls please.

Equal Opportunity Statement

As an equal opportunity employer, Waterfront Alliance encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis.