Job description

Marin, CA Forest Preschool Operations Manager

Mighty Bambinis Forest Preschool is HIRING an Operations Manager for our outdoor forest preschool program in Southern Marin (Mill Valley, Tiburon). This role is 50% on-site and 50% remote.

Who We Are

At Mighty Bambinis, we hope children learn to delight in wonder, deeply engage in learning, and to practice problem solving and experimentation together in harmony with nature. In short, we want children to spark a lifelong love of learning through a sense of belonging, hands-on emergent curriculum, and nature. At Mighty Bambinis we strive to nurture the whole child and provide an inspiring and supported workplace for teachers.

Immersive natural experiences offer a counter-balance to the negative consequences of "nature deficit disorder" in a time of accelerating screen time even for the youngest children. Children climb trees and rocks instead of structures, get wet and muddy, learn to become confident and self-sufficient, anticipate and plan, plant seeds and see life bloom, collect flowers and identify vegetation and animal species, and are at home in the forest during all seasons.

Reggio-inspired, child-led project-based experiential learning is provided and supported in relationship with caring, present teachers. We are seeking like-minded individuals who are up for the rewarding and invigorating work of a forest school teacher.

Our goals are for children to develop: ​

• Process over product growth mindset (wonder, experiment, reflect and repeat)
• Deep connection with fellow humans and the natural world
• Self-confidence and emotional agility through personal knowledge of mind, body, and heart

Our goals are for families to develop:

• A supportive community for the early years and beyond
• Parenting skills and confidence as playful, loving, yet firm leaders of their families

What We Need

As we head into our 3rd school year, we’ve proven our concept. We have a class of 20-25 children per day and a team of 6 experienced, passionate educators. Operations Manager's goal is to manage the day to day behind the scenes forest school operations in various aspects on-site and strategic.

While this is not a teaching role, this candidate will work about an average of 10-50% weekly on-site.

Potential candidates must be flexible and exhibit a willingness to perform many jobs from marketing, handling inbound leads, to running errands for supplies, to substitute teaching potentially on rainy days, and more.

This role could be great for a flexible, can-do human who is passionate about our mission of high quality Early Childhood and Youth Earth Education that loves a dynamic start-up vibe. We do not require teaching experience or ECE credits for this role, but an interest in positive parenting, early childhood and forest school is a must.

All the duties listed below do not need to be part of the role, but I am looking to share the work load as Director of the program with an awesome person that believes in our mission!

Details:

Job Title: Forest Preschool Operations Manager
Location: up to 50% on-site, 50-80% work from home after being trained in person at the director’s house (Mill Valley, CA)
Salary $50,000-$70,000/year
Benefits: PTO 5 weeks off and national holidays
Benefit Conditions: Waiting period may apply
Job Type: Full-time

Weekly Hours: full-time or part-time flexible but ideal schedule would include 9-3pm M-F 12 months, breaks during school closures

Start date: Immediately but flexible timeline

Job Description

The Operations Manager (OM) role can be done off-site from home on a regular basis if the OM lives near Mill Valley, CA. However, one important function of this role is on-site physical organization of supplies and being the on-call substitute if a teacher is absent (luckily we have a reliable team and 1 other sub on call). On-site hours as needed would be 9am-1pm or 3pm when subbing is needed, but the bulk of the work can be done at home or at the Director’s home office in Strawberry Mill Valley during the training period.

The Operations Manager is responsible for daily logistical tasks to keep the program in compliance, research and planning, and will be trained to act as teacher, parent, and on-site liaison in event of Executive Director’s absence. Hours needed are subject to change with prior notice, specifically in the event of Director absence and weekend family events.

Big Picture Operations

• Oversees, coordinates, organizes and performs the day-to-day functions needed for the smooth operations of the forest program
• Recommends and implements process changes to drive efficiency
• Long-term spearheads growth opportunities for program

The list of duties below is all the projects / tasks that could be part of the role. Although not being able to do any set of them is not a deal breaker - such as laundry support is not an important job duty. Could be done by someone else.

ON-SITE

• Occasional in class support when a last minute sub is needed 9-1pm or 9-3pm (on average 2-4x per month)
• Engage in on-site care and prep based on season and needs
• Oversee materials inventory, ordering, and logistics
• Prep and Care of rain materials after rainy days (i.e. launder blankets, dry tarps)
• Support staff community during staff meetings, trainings, and teacher in service days
• Day of logistic management for “Family Day” events
• Staff meetings quarterly 8:30-4:30pm and 4th Friday 1-4/5pm team meetings

REMOTE (or at Director’s House during training period)

Materials Management

• Would be ideal to store printer at home and some school materials to make efficient use of teaching prepwork time
• Open and process school mail/amazon orders (once organized most will be stored at school, director or teacher’s home)
• Manage teacher supply wishlists and purchase materials (approved by Director)

Administrative Assistant duties

Document & Student “Files” Management

• Enters, maintain and update data for student and teachers (Brightwheel, Gusto, Google Docs, rosters)
• Ensure compliance in student and teacher files & paperwork
• Manage school calendar
• Assists in filing proper paperwork to CCL and keeps up to date with Licensing regulations when needed
• Make job posts as needed, manage pipeline of candidates

HR:

• Support onboarding new teachers and assist in training with help of Assistant Director and Director
• Support in creating “playbooks” to capture logistics on events, curriculum, and job duties by role to make training more streamlined
• Create Teacher Handbook and policies
• Prepare materials for staff meetings with Assistant Director

Communication with prospective & current families

• Admissions: answer incoming lead calls/emails with application and marking information, schedule prospective parent meetings, tours, and Zoom Open House for Director
• Write monthly newsletters to current parents
• Research and draft policies and updates - forms/waivers, sick policies, teacher handbooks etc

Marketing

• Create seasonal marketing plan and budget
• Create flyers, ads, posters as needed
• Update website as needed
• 1x weekly social media post

Business Development (when time permits)

• Find and apply for grants
• Create counselor in training program
• Identify growth opportunities for organization
• Organize volunteer opportunities for parents

Event Management:

• scheduling/notifying staff and community of events, making arrangements for refreshments and/or catering, completing set-up and clean-up or ensuring it is arranged, overseeing teacher & parent volunteers, preparing materials 9-1pm events held 5-6x/year on Fridays 9-1pm

OFF-SITE ERRANDS

• Printing, mail distribution, package pick up, materials shopping
• Weekly laundry (paid for time and utilities, unscented detergent provided) of blankets, towels. During rainy months we may need additional washes during the week.
• Library book ordering and delivering

Educational/Experience Requirements

• High school/Undergrad diploma required
• Must be able to clear a background check
• 3 professional references required
• Car and license
• 2-3 years experience in one or more of the following: Office management, small business management, administrative assistant, church/school/community center operations, handy-person or property management, school administration, or teaching K-12 or preschool setting.

Physical Requirements

• Must be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Must be comfortable getting dirty, able to sit on the ground.
• Must be comfortable with occasional handling of bugs and other small living things.
• Must be able to crouch, dance, dig, carry a backpack, climb, hike, and carry up to 60lbs.
• School year runs for 12 months with 5-6 weeks off for school breaks and National Holidays (more unpaid time off may be negotiated)

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter telling us why you are interested in joining our amazing program to Evelyn at mightybambinis@gmail.com

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Mill Valley, CA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

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