Program Director | Permaculture Non-Profit in Southern California

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About Quail Springs

Founded in 2004, Quail Springs (QS) is an educational non-profit that resides on a 450-acre permaculture demonstration site in the Cuyama Valley. Quail Springs is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of sustainable living in collaboration with our ecosystems, through practice and teaching. We believe that land health is human health, and that the lessons of simple living provide direction towards a thriving Earth and society.

Residents & Staff

The residents and staff of the QS site and nonprofit are a group of makers and thinkers who work together to create regenerative land and community systems. The residents and staff of QS strive to create a vibrant community and balanced workplace through passion, collaboration, and celebration.

Structure

Prospective candidates will embrace simple, remote rural living in a community while working in a nonprofit organization. Quail Springs has recently adopted a new organizational structure with the aim of empowering all employees with decision-making power in their areas of work and supporting a more equitable, efficient and engaging work environment. We are excited about this new structure and a successful applicant will have an interest in, or knowledge of, non-hierarchical workplace structures and a commitment to grow with us. Part of this practice is a commitment to weekly Town Hall and Business Circle meetings, where we discuss, problem solve, and come to consensus on relevant needs and topics related to community living and nonprofit functions. All staff are requested to participate in these weekly meetings and are welcome to join any other circles that have specific functions and purposes.

About You

Successful applicants are flexible, solution focused, open to learning, and have an interest in equitable and resilient community structures. A collaborative and playful spirit as well as strong communication skills and an orientation towards leaning in during conflict will serve the successful candidate in this position.

Position Description

The Program Director will expand our team and work collaboratively with our existing Program Director. The Program Director will collaboratively oversee, implement, and adapt the overall programming strategy at Quail Springs. The main responsibility of this Program Director is to lead the marketing and social media strategy for all our programming. Other responsibilities include collaboratively creating new courses, curriculum + content and participating in program-related fundraising efforts, while working to build local relationships in the Cuyama Valley and greater area. Experience with permaculture and/or a graduate of a Permaculture Design Course is a big plus.The Program Director will work closely with the current Program Director, the Executive Directors and other QS staff.

This position is largely self-directed and the right candidate will be able to work independently as well as in collaboration with staff and the community.

-Primary Responsibilities-

Marketing and Social Media Strategy

Develop, implement and manage the Programs social media strategy in collaboration with our current Program Director and Communications coordinator
Promote online and offsite programs through communication channels not limited to social media, permaculture + local publications, e-blasts, and the Quail Springs e-newsletter
Regularly develop Programs social media story + language, web copy, and newsletter content to be collaboratively implemented
Develop and organize free educational webinars for online programming promotions

Program Strategy

Work closely with the current Program Director to collaboratively make decisions around what, when and how programs happen (online and offsite) in alignment with our mission
Collaboratively create program curriculum and content for online, onsite and offsite programming
Integrate our DEI goals when developing changes to existing content

Program Finance & Fundraising

Work with the current Program Director to track programming income and profit in relation to annual organizational budget goals
Work with the current Program Director to track and direct program-related fundraising efforts, including grants and donor relationships

Program Staffing

Collaboratively hire, train, and support when additional staff is needed to coordinate and facilitate programming at Quail Springs
Create and implement standardized policies and facilitation guidelines for improved organizational process (i.e. contracts, team procedures, timelines, project management)

Community Outreach

Work with all staff to build on our relationships in the Cuyama Valley
Coordinate with current Program Director to develop offsite programming
Coordinate with all staff to organize offsite projects at local sites of nonprofit and land-based partners

Qualities & Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

An ideal candidate would possess some or many of these qualities in no particular order.

2+ years of experience with online marketing
Excellent knowledge of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media platforms
Experience teaching courses
Experience creating or managing online programming
Proficient computer skills
Clear and effective communication skills
Strong writing skills
PDC certificate
Permaculture teaching experience
Experience with video production (desired but not necessary)
Spanish proficiency (desired)
Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations
Ability to create and manage your own schedule
Self-directed and takes initiative on work and projects
Investment in community outreach
Cultural sensitivity and ability to adapt working style
Ability and desire to live in community and to work well in a team
Strong work ethic and attention to detail
Willingness to engage in community chores (laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc.)
A strong spirit of volunteerism on community projects
LGBTQ+ folks and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply

*We value relevant life experiences that demonstrate qualifications as much as education

Location

Quail Springs is based in Maricopa, California in the Cuyama Valley, 1.5 hours from the nearest urban/suburban center.

Working & Living Conditions

This position is approximately 30hr/week, with some weeks being less, and others being more. The successful candidate is self-directed and maintains flexibility with a shifting workload. We all share in community responsibilities, in addition to our paid work. The Program Director may choose to live and work in the Quail Springs community setting, where there are anywhere from 10-25 other people living and working on the mission of the organization. The site is remote, with limited communications (cell phones do not work, and the internet and phone service are limited to the office area). Our WiFi working environment includes two small offices and outdoor spaces. Our staffing accommodations range from yurts to earthen tiny homes. This will be discussed during the interview process and depends on availability.

Community Life & Collective Commitment

Community life consists of sustaining the systems that help keep this place flowing smoothly. This includes a monthly relational gathering for staff—our Village Council—shared community meals and clean up, and additional community chores that support the health of the commons. Each person living on the land, regardless of their role, is asked to contribute around 10 hours a week to support the commons. Since we are on average an hour away from other larger towns, our community cultivates quality time together for our individual and collective social well being.

Application Process

Please take care to fully fill out our online application so we may best get to know you. If your application is approved, we will set up interviews. We are hard-working folks, so please be patient with our response time! But also don’t hesitate to check back in on the status of your application.

We highly recommend planning to come out for a day to see if it feels like a good fit. The application will close April 8th. We will subsequently host Zoom interviews and will invite candidates who have been welcomed to the third round of interviews for an on-site interview at QS, likely mid or late April. We highly recommend that third-round interviewees come out for a day or an overnight stay to see if it feels like a good fit. We hope to welcome the new Program Director to join our community by June 1st.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to reviewing your application!

TO APPLY: [click here]

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