Associate Director of Center for Environmental Education

Chewonkis Center for Environmental Education (CEE) is seeking a dynamic experienced outdoor education leader to join our team asAssociate Director of the Center for Environmental Education. This is a unique opportunity to help shape transformative environmental learning experiences for thousands of participants each year! If you thrive at the intersection ofprogram leadership curriculum development staff mentorship and hands-on field work this role offers both responsibility and adventure across all seasons.

• Location:Wiscasset Maine (On Campus)

• Anticipated Start Date:March 2026

• Reports to:Director of the Center for Environmental Education

• Salary:$58656 / Annually

• Benefits: access to meals on campus health insurance dental insurance vision insurance life insurance 403B retirement plan and access to professional development funds.

About the Center for Environmental Education

The Center for Environmental Education supports Chewonkis day programs overnight programs off-site programming team development initiatives workshops and trips. Together we deliver immersive experiences rooted innatural history outdoor living skills environmental literacy and personal growth all aligned with Chewonkis mission to foster stewardship of the natural world.

The Associate Director of CEE is a key member of the leadership team working closely with the Director of CEE Associate Director of Natural History Outdoor Logistics and Group Coordinator Camp Director and Associate Director of Trips.

The Role

TheAssociate Director of CEEfocuses on managing onsite day and overnight programs while providing leadership mentorship and field support to environmental educators and trip leaders. During the summer this role also collaborates closely with Camp Chewonki and the Trips program to support backcountry travel and outdoor living skills instruction.

This is ahigh-impact hands-on leadership positionfor someone who values collaboration excellence in programming thoughtful risk management and meaningful relationships with participants families and partner schools.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Management

• Serve as a core member of the CEE leadership team supporting all CEE programming: day and overnight programs offsite programs workshops team development contracted trips and packout

• Provide direct field support to Environmental Education Instructors and Trip Leaders

• Participate in an on-call duty rotation including overnight campus support when residential programs are in session

• Support challenge course facilitation team development and rescues as needed

Training & Curriculum Development

• Lead planning and implementation of spring and fall CEE staff training

• Train staff to industry standards and Chewonki operating procedures

• Develop and refine an integrated equitable and mission-aligned curriculum

• Collaborate with partner schools to align CEE programming with school-based curricula

• Strengthen curriculum in social-emotional learning sense of place ecology and outdoor living skills

Camp Chewonki Responsibilities

• Work with the Associate Director of Trips to support the completion of day-to-day tasks in the Trips Office. This may include providing direct field support trip briefings and debriefings driving resupplies etc.

• Assist with summer staff training

• Practice and model sound risk management that prioritizes the physical and emotional safety of campers and camp staff

Staff Hiring Supervision & Mentorship

• Assist with hiring and supervising CEE staff

• Mentor instructors through observations feedback and regular check-ins

• Foster a supportive high-performing team culture

Risk Management & Safety

• Model and coach best practices in risk management

• Support incident response and communication in collaboration with leadership teams

• Lead after-action reviews and continuous improvement efforts

Relationship & Community Building

• Serve as a primary contact for school partners and program families

• Deliver exceptional customer service and build long-term relationships

• Collaborate across departments including Facilities Kitchen Health & Wellness Development and Alumni

• Participate in recruitment retention and re-enrollment efforts

Additional Opportunities

• Lead occasional school or staff training trips

• Participate in Chewonki committees and foundation-wide events

• Engage with the broader outdoor education community including active involvement withMaine Outdoor Schools For All (MOSFA)

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 21 years old.

• Must pass Criminal Background Check including Motor Vehicle Record and Drivers License approved by Chewonkis insurance carrier.

• Bachelors Degree preferred.

• Previous outdoor school experience required.

• Previous backcountry canoe sea kayak and/or backpacking trip leading experience preferred.

• Previous management experience.

• Passionate about working with participants and educators.

• Adaptive communicative accountable and solution focused.

• Experience using Google Workspace.

• Maintain or ability to obtain active certifications:

  • Wilderness First Responder.

  • ACCT Level 2 Level 2 Challenge Course Practitioners Certification.

  • Maine Guide License.

  • American Canoe Association Instructor.

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including weekends early mornings and/or evenings occasionally working 6 days in a row.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lb at a time.

• Must be able to work in an active outdoor environment in a variety of weather conditions.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to travel as needed.