Director, Youth Learning

About the Role

The Director of Youth Learning provides strategic leadership for the development of all children’s educational programs and learning experiences. This position directly supervises the learning team program managers, strengthening alignment, communication, and collaboration. The role translates departmental priorities into operational plans by guiding curriculum and program development, supporting professional growth of managers and staff, managing shared resources and project timelines, and streamlining staffing, materials, procedures, and program delivery. This role ensures that children’s programs are educationally sound, operationally efficient, financially responsible, inclusive, and aligned with the Arboretum’s mission and vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision, strategy, and operational execution of all youth educational programs, including Children's Adventure Garden programs, academic offerings, and youth enrichment initiatives, driving quality, impact, and organizational growth.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration to align people, priorities, and resources, ensuring departmental initiatives are executed effectively and support strategic goals and mission.
• Guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality curricula and learning experiences that are standards-aligned, developmentally appropriate, engaging, inclusive, and accessible.
• Collaborate across departments to support the coordinated planning and successful delivery of programs and educational events.
• Ensure that all educational programs reflect the Arboretum’s mission and vision.
• Hire, supervise, and develop learning team managers by establishing goals, clarifying expectations, providing coaching, and supporting professional growth.
• Guide managers in building, supervising, and evaluating effective teams.
• Develop and manage project timelines, including responsibilities, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines for programs, events, and departmental priorities.
• Evaluate departmental processes and implement continuous improvements that strengthen organizational effectiveness and program delivery.
• Lead other initiatives and programs as assigned by the Vice President, Learning.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, staffing, and resources, ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Oversee data collection, impact assessment, and reporting for institutional priorities, grants, and program evaluation.
• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with school districts, community organizations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to expand educational opportunities and program impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, science, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in a related field preferred.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of applicable experience, including supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Experience in education, program development, curriculum design, or informal science learning environments (public garden, museum, cultural institution, nature centers, or similar experiential environment) required.
• Strong knowledge of STEM education, curriculum standards (TEKS), and experiential learning methods and best practices.
• Proven ability to supervise teams, develop staff, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Experience in budget management and long-term planning.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management software.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Ability to successfully complete all pre-employment requirements, including a background check and drug screening.

Skills

• Motivated leader with strong communication, team-development, and project-management skills.
• Strong knowledge of formal and informal education practices, curriculum development, and program implementation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Results-oriented, with the ability to use data, feedback, and program outcomes to support continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to foster collaboration across teams and departments.

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare
• 401K
• Paid Time Off (PTO)