Departments: Education; Camp; Adventure; School-Based 

Employment Class: Full-time Regular 

Pay Status: Exempt  

Salary Range: $45,743-$54,054/year depending on years of experience, education, tenure with the organization, and bi-lingual Spanish speaking/writing ability.   

Expected Hours: Average of 40 hours/week 

Dates of Employment/Start Date: April 4, 2022

Reports To: Program Managers 

Housing Available: No 

At Keystone Science School, we believe that the power of inspiring curiosity and critical thinking, through the lens of science, changes lives and strengthens communities. We create future leaders who can problem solve and work together in an ever-evolving world and workplace environment. 

The employees of Keystone Science School collectively work for the mission, and truly live the Vision and Values! We offer competitive health and welfare benefits. Our campus is located at 9,200 feet on the site of Old Keystone Village in Keystone, Colorado. Our historic 23-acre campus serves as the ultimate outdoor laboratory and is the home base for our diverse suite of programs. Our facilities include modern log-style dormitories, a central dining hall, an outdoor amphitheater, an observatory, and a geothermal field. Visit www.KeystoneScienceSchool.org to learn more!  

Job Summary: 

The Program Coordinator is a full-time year-round position responsible for the successful implementation of all Keystone Science School’s Programs. Program Coordinators may be asked to oversee or support any of the programs operating at KSS during a given season, however this particular position will primarily focus on the School Year Programs. School Year programs include but are not limited to Residential Outdoor Education, Girls in STEM programs, and programs in local schools.  As part of the Program Team, Program Coordinators oversee logistics, develop curriculum, serve as points of contact to clients, collaborate with other administrative staff, and support program needs as they arise. Program Coordinators also provide oversight and mentorship to program staff, which includes hiring, training, and coaching. Program Coordinators work diligently to deliver the highest quality programs to our campers and students.  

Our tagline Science. Adventure. Fun! summarizes what we seek in our employees: passionate about our work, willing to seek adventure and take risks to improve KSS, and able to laugh along the way. We work hard so we can play hard! 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

The main areas of focus for this position are: 

• 30% Administrative  

• 30% Staff Oversight 

• 20% Teaching  

• 20% Customer Service 

Administrative 

• Develop and improve curriculum for all programs, with special attention to School Year programs; 

• Oversee and improve logistics and general systems for all programs, with special attention to school year programs; 

• Maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies in all activities; 

• Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS; 

• Drive a 15-passenger van and successfully complete Van Driver Training; 

Staff Oversight 

• Act as team leader for specific programs and program teams including but not limited to:  

  • leading staff meetings; 

  • preparing program resources; 

  • managing client attendance and medical information; 

  • providing accurate student documentation; 

  • providing feedback and coaching to staff; 

  • support and regularly check in with individual staff members. 

• Act as afterhours “on-call” administrative staff to assist in emergencies on a rotating basis; 

• Lead professional development training sessions for program staff; 

• Facilitate/support the hiring and on-boarding process for program staff; 

• Support the Program Managers in the performance evaluation process for program staff. 

• Work with manager to schedule program staff and approve vacation and sick time requests as needed; 

Teaching 

• Facilitate programming on an as-needed basis. This includes but is not limited to:  

• Teaching/group-leading periodically; 

  • substituting as needed for regularly scheduled instructors; 

  • leading off-site camping-based education programs; 

  • leading specialty programs and activities. 

• Co-teach with and observe program staff in order to deliver high quality feedback and coach program staff. 

Customer Service 

• Serve as the role of site coordinator for specific programs, which includes serving as the point of contact for clients and other staff during a program; 

• Partner with the customer experience team to ensure client needs are properly met and communicated to the instruction team and clients; 

• Communicate directly with parents/guardians, teachers, and other program leads to meet program goals.  

Other duties as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Minimum Requirements 

• An understanding of education pedagogy and curriculum, and the ability to adapt instruction and lessons to meet a wide variety of learners utilizing different educational philosophies; 

• Exceptional leadership skills and ability to mentor program staff; 

• Familiarity with risk management as it pertains to outdoor education; 

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children; 

• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete; 

• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community; 

• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment; 

• Strong command of communication, writing, and organizational skills; 

• Effectively interact with people of diverse backgrounds and different levels of experience; 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends; 

• Superior customer service skills. 

Required education, experience, and certifications: 

• Minimum of 2 years of experience teaching/leading students in an outdoor setting; 

• Candidates will be asked to provide verification of one of the following: (A) 4 year college degree with a major such as recreation, education with a specialty in art, elementary education or early childhood education, or a subject in the human services field; (B) 2 years of college training + 6 months (910 hours) of experience in the care and supervision of 4 or more children since attaining the age of 18;  

• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certifications; 

• Excellent driving record and a valid driver’s license; Candidates age 21+ with a minimum of 5 years driving experience will be required to participate in and pass Van Driver Training, and they will be required to drive a 15-passenger van;  

• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check. 

Preferred skills: 

• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish; 

• Previous experience as a Program Instructor or Apprentice at Keystone Science School; 

• Experience supervising staff; 

• Experience teaching in a K-12 classroom;  

• Experience facilitating tent-camping and backcountry education programs; 

• Proficiency with Google Drive and CampSite camp management software. 

Travel Expectations: 

In many situations, KSS will provide transportation to satellite programming locations. However, staff may be asked to use personal vehicles to travel within Summit County. Any travel mileage outside Summit County may be reimbursed.  

Housing 

Housing is not offered for this position.

Physical Demands of this Position  

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 regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or hold objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee often stands for up to 16 hours per day but may be required to stand longer in emergency situations. The employee must be able to lift and carry at least 40 pounds for an extended duration. The employee is frequently required to travel for extended periods over rugged terrain. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.  

Work Environment  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires the employee to work in close contact with their teammates and children. Staff will be expected to adhere to dynamic health guidance and policy set forth by KSS while working with children during a global pandemic. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee often works outside and drives vehicles in various weather conditions.  

Compensation: 

Salary range is $45,743-$54,054 per year depending on experience, tenure, education and ability to speak and write Spanish, plus a generous benefits package including: 

• 75% employer-paid medical and dental premiums for the employee and dependents; 

• 100% employer-paid short- and long-term disability, $50,000 life insurance policy with matching AD&D benefit; 

• Up to 120 paid PTO hours, 96 paid sick hours, and 80 paid holiday hours, pro-rated based on hours worked; 

• 401K retirement savings plan with a 3% employer match contribution; 

• Discounts for family members on KSS programs, plus access to outdoor industry pro deals and a discounted ski pass. 

Ready to find yourself at the heart of Science. Adventure. Fun? Apply now! 

Please submit the Employment Application found at KeystoneScienceSchool.org/Employment. All applications will require a cover letter, resume, and 3 references. In your cover letter, please indicate your desired salary/wage. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. For more information, please contact the Human Resources department at [email protected]. 

Equal Employment Opportunity  

Keystone Science School is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.