Director of School Partnerships & Programs

School Partnerships

Serve as the primary relationship manager for school administrators across Midcoast Maine. Position school programs as a critical entry point where youth first engage with Hearty Roots, building partnerships that deepen student engagement and strengthen pathways into our broader community-based programming.

Identify and cultivate opportunities to expand Hearty Roots' reach into new schools and communities. Prioritize deep, high-quality partnerships that support sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Serve as the organizational lead for school partnership compliance, ensuring school-based programs adhere to applicable school requirements, organizational policies, and safety standards.

Collaborate with school leaders to evaluate partnership effectiveness, address challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Operational Infrastructure

Author, refine, and systematize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for school-based operations. Translate field realities into clear, repeatable systems that support consistency and quality.

• Oversee scheduling, logistics, staffing coordination, and multi-school program calendars to ensure efficient program delivery across sites.
• Develop and optimize operational systems including Google Workspace, CRM databases, scheduling software, and data management tools. Streamline administrative workflows, improve information sharing, and strengthen organizational efficiency.
• Work collaboratively across departments to ensure operational systems support both school-based and community-based programming.

Financial Management

Manage and monitor the school programs budget, ensuring expenditures align with program goals, contract obligations, and organizational priorities.

• Develop annual budget projections, staffing plans, and program forecasts in partnership with organizational leadership.
• Review program costs and contract structures regularly to ensure school-based partnerships remain financially sustainable and appropriately resourced.
• Identify operational efficiencies and resource-sharing opportunities that strengthen sustainability while maintaining an exceptional participant experience.

Team Leadership

Supervise, mentor, and support a team of school-based Field Instructors. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, communication, and continuous learning.

• Build and implement structured staff evaluation systems that include regular field observations, goal setting, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Support onboarding, professional development, and retention efforts for new and returning staff members.
• Design communication systems that keep a field-based team connected, informed, and aligned with organizational priorities and values.

Program Quality & Impact

Lead school-based curriculum refinement alongside the Community Programs Director to ensure alignment with positive youth development best practices and organizational values.

• Establish quality benchmarks and feedback systems that support consistent, high-impact participant experiences across all school sites.
• Design and manage practical evaluation frameworks that track participant outcomes, social-emotional development, attendance, and program effectiveness.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, inform decision-making, and measure program impact over time.
• Translate evaluation findings into recommendations that drive program improvement and organizational learning.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working within a growing nonprofit, youth development organization, educational program, or mission-driven startup environment.
• Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with schools, community partners, families, or other institutional stakeholders.
• Experience supervising staff, facilitating performance conversations, supporting professional growth, and building healthy team culture.
• Proficient with managing budgets, tracking expenses, forecasting costs, and ensuring resources are allocated effectively.
• Demonstrated experience developing SOPs, operational systems, safety protocols, or organizational infrastructure that improves consistency and efficiency.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, CRM systems, scheduling platforms, spreadsheets, and practical data management tools.
• A collaborative leadership style grounded in humility, adaptability, strong communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• A genuine commitment to youth development, experiential learning, social-emotional growth, and nature-based programming.