POSITION TITLE:   EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

               POSITION NUMBER:   POL.1377

                         DEPARTMENT:   NATURAL RESOURCES

                STARTING SALARY:   $18.22 - $20.50 PER HOUR (DOQ)

    APPLICATION DEADLINE:   04/10/2008

 

 

AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IS CONDITIONAL AND CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON THE RESULTS OF A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND A MOTOR VEHICLE RECORD CHECK.

Assists with development, administration, and management of the educational program within the Department of Natural Resources.  Develops professional training and educational opportunities for Rangers and other staff, volunteers, and the public at large.  Designs, develops, and initiates interpretative media, education plans, education materials, and special educational events.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

·         Develop and implement environmental educational plans for properties managed by the Department of Natural Resources.

·         Develop, design, and produce interpretative signs, website materials, brochures, and other educational media.

·         Participate in community natural resource education organizations.

·         Recruit and coordinate organizations with existing educational programs to use Larimer County’s parks and open spaces as their “classroom” to learn about the natural environment.

·         Develop and coordinate natural resource training programs for staff, volunteers, and the public at large.

·         Coordinate, organize, administer, and evaluate the Volunteer Naturalist and Volunteer Ranger Assistant programs, including collaboration with the Department Volunteer Coordinator, outside agencies, and schools as appropriate.

·         Recruit, select, train, and supervise Volunteer Naturalists and Volunteer Ranger Assistants.

·         Establish, implement, and coordinate campground programs, a junior ranger program, and rangers as naturalists program.

·         Manage, schedule, and market nature hikes and field trips for schools, community groups, and the general public, including market and press releases as needed.

·         Prepare and present reports regarding education/outreach events and other services provided by the Education Program.

·         Plan and participate in public outreach events including public tours, dedications, and community festivals.

OTHER DUTIES:

·         Collaborate and partner with outside agencies, businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations to create an educational network for the Education Program.

·         Assist in grant writing and due diligence as needed for the Education Program.

·         Assist in volunteer recognition events and new volunteer orientation trainings.

·         Perform other duties as appropriate or necessary for performance of the job.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

·         Local plant and animal communities, conservation biology, threatened and endangered species, and natural ecosystem processes.

·         Volunteer management, including the ability to recruit, select, train, supervise, and maintain volunteers.

·         Strategies and designs of effective training and development programming.

·         Effective public speaking skills.

·         Various computer software applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, as well as desktop publishing software.

Ability to:

·         Develop and modify work procedures, methods, and processes to improve efficiency.

·         Effectively organize and coordinate complex scheduling of simultaneous projects and/or programs at multiple locations and with numerous volunteers.

·         Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and members of the community.

·         Perform duties independently, without close supervision.

·         Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

·         Work some evenings and weekends.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:  Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Experience:

·         One year of experience in a directly related field, or in the performance of similar duties, with at least one year of experience in the supervision of volunteers.

Training:

·         Equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Environmental Education/Interpretation, Natural Resources Management, Ecology, Range Science, or other closely related field.

Licenses/Certificates:

·         Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver’s License.

·         Possession of, or ability to obtain, CPR and First Aid certifications within six months of date of hire.

 

 

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