Interim Managing Director of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College

Goshen College is a Christian liberal arts institution that prepares students to thrive in life, leadership and service. We strive to model an inclusive community committed to transformative justice, peace, and sustainability. A respect and appreciation of the Anabaptist- Mennonite faith perspective and practices, and a commitment to the mission, vision, core values and community standards of Goshen College, are important for teaching and administrative faculty members.

Position Summary:

Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College is a 1,189-acre nature sanctuary located near Wolf Lake, Indiana, dedicated to providing:

• Environmental education for people of all ages, from preschool through college and adulthood.
• A natural sanctuary for Northern Indiana’s plants and animals,
• A setting for creating opportunities that benefit the human body and spirit while not exploiting the land or excessively disturbing its ecosystems,

Merry Lea is a leader in environmental education. Over 6,000 children and youth visit the nature center each year for innovative PreK to 12 programs. Merry Lea’s relationship with Goshen College enables it to provide innovative collegiate educational experiences, and to serve as a field station for interdisciplinary environmental research.

Goshen College seeks an Interim Managing Director who will closely support the Interim Executive Director to manage and support programming at Merry Lea in its education and public outreach purposes. The Interim Managing Director provides leadership for budget preparation, financial planning, and operations, in support of the teaching, research and outreach purposes of Merry Lea. They are also expected to provide supervision for the administrative assistant, and the communications manager, and directors of some program areas as assigned. The Interim Managing Director supports the Interim Executive Director to represent Merry Lea in community relations and the promotion of the center and its programs, and serves as an advocate for Merry Lea’s mission within the campus community, the faith community, and Merry Lea’s service areas.

This is a 75% – 100% time benefit-eligible position for the remainder of the 2025-26 fiscal year (ending June 30, 2026). The successful candidate may be considered for a permanent role at Merry Lea.

Essential Functions:

Leadership:

1. Support the Interim Executive Director to provide oversight for the staff of Merry Lea, including professional development and evaluation, recognizing that teaching faculty report solely through the academic departments of Goshen College. Provide direct supervision as assigned and in coordination with the Interim ED.
2. Collaborate with educational partners (i.e. YMCA, School districts, homeschool groups) for the delivery of programs at Merry Lea.
3. Coordinate monthly team meetings of the whole staff. Oversee the work of the programmatic teams at Merry Lea and ensure that communication flows within and between programmatic areas.
4. Design professional development activities that support staff excellence and familiarity with GC policies and procedures.
5. Serve as the designated conduit between Merry Lea and Human Resources at GC.
6. Serve as ex-officio member of the Merry Lea Board, and perform duties as assigned to support the Board.

Finance and Administration: 

1. Monitor and report on the budget to the Interim ED, Merry Lea Board of Directors, and Vice President of Finance and Operations of GC. Regularly meet and communicate with Ben Bontrager, vice president for finance and operations, and others as needed to ensure financial compliance with GC policies.
2. Gather programmatic data and prepare regular reports for Goshen College and the Merry Lea Board.
3. Manage financial and HR processes in a timely manner consistent with GC policies, e.g. approving financial requests, invoices, and credit card purchases; timesheets for hourly employees and time off requests for all staff.
4. Support the Interim ED to ensure that academic processes with Goshen College are completed, such as student registration, billing, course scheduling, grading, curriculum changes, etc.
5. Promote Merry Lea’s academic interest with the campus community by providing a supporting culture for faculty in collaborative teaching, service and research.
6. Oversee ongoing grant programs and reports.

Outreach and Communications:

1. Work with the Interim ED to assist with recruiting faculty and students to participate in the programs at Merry Lea.
2. Provide presentations related to Merry Lea for audiences at professional meetings, donor functions and other venues as requested.
3. Participate in community programs to promote the interests of Merry Lea in the service area and with constituents.

Qualifications — Requirements:

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in business, environmental education, environmental science or related field.
• Minimum of five years’ leadership experience in a non-profit setting.
• A high level of written and oral communication skills; organizational skills; computer skills (word processing, database management, spreadsheets)
• Ability to manage and work effectively with a diverse group of people, including faculty, staff, visitors, donors and administrators
• Record of successful fiscal management in a non-profit setting.

Qualifications — Preferred:

• Master’s Degree
• Experience working in environmental education
• non-profit management experience

Travel & Schedule Requirements

• Local, regional and national travel required (25–50%)
• Regular participation in evening and weekend events
• Must be able to navigate diverse environments, including buildings not fully ADA accessible
• Physical Demands
  • Prolonged periods of sitting and screen use
  • Frequent phone and in-person communication
  • Ability to lift up to 25 pounds (e.g., event materials, displays)
  • Occasional movement across campus and off-site venues

Work Environment

• Primarily on-site in an office setting
• Travel to meet donors in a variety of environments (indoor/outdoor, private/public spaces)
• Reasonable accommodations will be made as needed

All of the essential job functions are subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform other job-related instructions as requested by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and may be modified at the discretion of the supervisor. Any major change will result in the position being reviewed for reclassification.

How to Apply

Application materials may be attached to the Administrative/Faculty Application Form or sent electronically to hr@goshen.edu. Goshen College will not be sponsoring candidates for this position.

Required:

• Complete the online Admin/Faculty Application Form
• Letter of Application
• Resume
• List of three professional references with contact information
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (official transcripts) and background check
  will be required prior to hire.

E-Verify Statement of Participation

Goshen College participates in E-Verify. If you are hired, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Goshen College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement Goshen College is an equal opportunity employer, committed to enhancing diversity across the institution. Goshen College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status. As a religious institution, Goshen College expressly reserves its rights, its understandings of, and its commitments to the historic Anabaptist identity and the teachings of Mennonite Church USA, and reserves the legal right to hire and employ individuals who support the values of the college. To protect the welfare and provide for the safety of the students, employees, visitors, and resources of Goshen College, background checks are conducted by the Office of Human Resources on all new and re-hired employees.

About Goshen College

Goshen College is a nationally-ranked college and Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana renowned for its distinctive hands-on, real-world educational opportunities, and its commitment to creating positive change in the community and the world. The college offers over 65 undergraduate areas of study; as well as best-in-class graduate programs in nursing, business administration, social work and environmental education. This caring, safe and diverse campus prides itself on providing excellent academic programs that connect arts with sciences, and theory with practice — exposing students to multiple perspectives and encouraging them to think deeply, live creatively and lead purposefully. The college is located in the City of Goshen in the heart of Elkhart County, within several hours of Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit. Residents of Goshen enjoy a culturally diverse small-town atmosphere with an active arts community, a vibrant and entrepreneurial downtown, the Maple City Greenway network of bicycle paths and affordable housing prices. Learn more at goodofgoshen.com.

Contact HR

Human Resources
Goshen College
1700 S. Main Street
Goshen, IN 46526-4795
E-mail: hr@goshen.edu
Telephone: (574) 535-7111