We're Hiring: Education Programs Lead (Position Filled)

Update (September 2026): This position has been filled and YWI is no longer accepting applications. The original announcement is kept below for reference. Thank you to everyone who applied.

Yuba Watershed Institute (YWI) is hiring an Education Programs Lead — a part-time, seasonal position to coordinate our community education and outreach during the fall and early winter, anchored by the beloved annual Fungus Foray and Wild Mushroom Exposition.

View the full posting →  •  Download the announcement (PDF) →

A deliberate return to community education

Community education has been part of YWI's identity since our earliest years. Talks, workshops, and guided walks once drew people regularly into conversation about the lands and waters of the Yuba watershed. As the urgency of active forest management grew — driven by drought, accumulated fuels, and the rising threat of severe wildfire — our focus shifted toward hands-on restoration work, and most of those community gatherings faded. Only the annual Fungus Foray survived as a continuing tradition.

With this position, we're making a deliberate return to that community engagement work. We believe stewardship is both ecological and cultural, and that caring for the land and helping people feel connected to it are two sides of the same effort. For the right person, this is a chance to shape how a community comes to know and care for the watershed it calls home.

At a glance

• Position: Education Programs Lead (part-time, seasonal)
• Compensation: $30 per hour
• Schedule: Approximately 38 hours per month (averaging 8–9 hours per week); hours vary with event needs
• Term: Mid-September 2026 through mid-January 2027
• Location: Nevada City, CA — a mix of in-person and remote work
• Reports to: Executive Director
• Deadline: Open until filled; applications reviewed on a rolling basis

What you'd do

The primary focus is planning and executing the annual Fungus Foray and Wild Mushroom Exposition — a two-day December event featuring guided mushroom forays, expert presentations, a wild mushroom display, and merchandise and concessions. Beyond the Foray, the Education Programs Lead will work with YWI staff and board members to plan roughly 3–4 additional community education and stewardship events, which may include volunteer land stewardship days, guided ecological walks, or speaker presentations on natural history, forest health, and watershed stewardship.

We're looking for someone with experience coordinating public events or educational programs, strong organizational and communication skills, comfort with volunteer coordination and basic digital tools, and a genuine interest in natural history, ecology, or mycology.

How to apply

Send a cover letter and resume (including three professional references) to Chris Friedel, YWI Executive Director, at chris@yubawatershedinstitute.org. The full job announcement has complete details on responsibilities, qualifications, and working conditions.

Please help us spread the word — share this posting with anyone who might be a good fit.