Coordinator for the Horshna Forest School

Project Description

We are a community of families and educators who initiated a forest school in October, 2019, in the parks and forests of Beirut and its surroundings. We believe that contact with nature provides our children, (ages 2.5 - 6 years), a free and nurturing place for their developmental, physical, emotional and social needs. We meet daily rain or shine, engage in free play, exploration of our environment, storytelling and song, arts and crafts.

Job Summary

We are looking for someone who loves nature and children and is looking to be part of a conscious community of children, parents and educators. Someone passionate about collective work and is an initiative taker. The job requires the ability to interact with a diverse parent and educator community, build consensus and work in a cooperative environment. The Coordinator will also have the overall responsibility for the project in administrative, financial, and legal matters and contribute to the growth of Horshna and its cooperative spirit.

Overall objective of the position:

In close collaboration with the lead educator, the coordinate will: 

• Participate in setting a vision to act inclusively and positively impact the Horshna community
• Identify partnerships for development and fundraising
• Ensure Horshna’s financial sustainability
• Ensure and maintain a good governance structure and system
• Register Horshna as a legal Lebanese entity

Specific tasks:

The coordinator will be in charge of the overall management of Horshna: 

• Focal point for new potential parents, organize new parent visits with Lead Educator
• Coordinate Staff Development opportunities
• Focal point for Forest Location Relations
• In charge of the logistics related to Horshna
• Collaborate with similar initiatives, build a network of community organizations and schools
• Coordinate Horshna brochure, website and other media outreach
• Coordinate parent committees and general meetings with parents and educator
• Identify fundraising needs & develop fundraising strategy
• Meet with donors, proposal writing, oversee ongoing grants, report to donors as needed

The coordinator will oversee Horshna’s Administrative and Financial Management:

• Develop and follow up on Horshna’s yearly budget 
• Coordinate the Tuition Fee Committee
• Supervise the preparation of an end of the year budget summary for the Horshna community
• Overview human resources: recruitment, contracts…
• Follow up on accounting including collection of care fees & payment of salaries and expenses
• Implement payment of supplies/ materials needed
• Lead the legalization process
• Lead the organization of work as needed: Structure, processes…
• Implement Parent Care Agreements
• Archive Horshna files (hard & soft copies)

Candidates must possess most of the following attributes:

• Self-motivated and self-reflective
• Creative problem solver
• Time Management
• Comfortable multi-tasking
• People Skills
• Communication and presentation skills
• Teamwork
• Vision building

The ideal candidates will have:

• Fluency in Arabic and English
• Necessary: Collective work
• Necessary: Project management experience
• Desirable: Administration and finance management experience
• Desirable: Training and experience in early childhood development and education