Are you a passionate environmental educator? Do you love caring for and safeguarding the environment? Are you a self-starter with the motivation and ingenuity to build partnerships, lead groups, coordinate events and foster an environmental ethic within the community? Then working at Natural Area Preservation (NAP) may be just the right opportunity for you!
NAP – a division of the City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services – is looking for a passionate coordinator to oversee environmental education opportunities within the park system’s 1,400 acres of woodlands, prairies, wetlands and more. The NAP Environmental Education & Engagement Coordinator is responsible for developing and advancing all environmental education activities at NAP. This position will lead the buildout of new environmental education programming and engage with interested stakeholders to widen and strengthen NAP’s ties to the community.
The NAP Environmental & Engagement Coordinator works collaboratively with fellow NAP Supervisors to address all aspects of NAP’s mission, including volunteerism, biological inventory, and prescribed fire programming. The NAP Environmental & Engagement Coordinator may also serve as a “Burn Boss” – taking responsibilities for prescribed fire permitting, writing burn prescriptions, developing site-specific safety recommendations, fielding public inquires, and more.
Salary: $52,000 - $60,000/year (Offer will be commensurate with experience)
Benefits offered for this opportunity: Non-Union Benefits Summary
Duties
Duties are performed under the direct supervision of the Deputy Manager – NAP & Land Acquisition or designee and may include the following:
Essential Duties
- Develop, coordinate, and lead Natural Area Preservation’s (NAP) environmental education programming functions in the community.
- Develop community partnerships related to NAP’s environmental education efforts.
- Build relationships with the public and partner organizations to support environmental education efforts related to the City’s public natural areas.
- Assist with the development of policies and standard operating procedures regarding NAP programs, including environmental education curriculum, historic and cultural preservation, and safety issues.
- Assist with training staff and volunteers on safe work methods, equipment uses, and maintenance.
- Utilize NAP’s databases including inventory, volunteer, ecological restoration.
- Develop and maintain informational exhibits.
- Engage with the community in other projects related to ecological restoration and conservation, historic and cultural preservation, and other content approved by the Deputy Manager.
- Assist Deputy Manager and with other activities of NAP, as assigned.
- Keep Deputy Manager apprised of operational progress and potential issues as needed.
- Identify and respond to issues within the service unit, as directed.
Related Work
- Assist with leading volunteer workdays and other restoration activities in the field.
- Help coordinate and oversee prescribed burn program and regularly serve as a Burn Leader.
- Coordinate with other service units and partner organizations to optimize unit operations and public benefit.
Knowledge of (position requirements at entry)
- Contemporary principles and practices of environmental education and/or community engagement
- Familiarity with native and invasive flora and fauna and ecology of southern Michigan.
- Understanding of the ecological impacts of invasive species on native ecosystems of southern Michigan, and familiarity with the best management practices to control and minimize those impacts.
- Familiarity with the ecological role of fire in the management of southern Michigan ecosystems.
- Familiarity with ecosystem services provided by native landscapes.
- Outstanding customer service principles.
- Contemporary principles and practices of volunteer management and training and supervision.
- Knowledge of relevant safety regulations and procedures.
- Knowledge of, or ability to learn the operation of databases for tracking large amounts of data.
- Knowledge of current industry practices and technologies.
- Pertinent federal, state, county and city laws, codes, ordinances, standards and regulations.
Skills and Ability to (position requirements at entry)
- Ability to plan, promote and present on a variety of topics related to natural and cultural history for the general public.
- Ability to identify examples of the native and non-native flora of southern Michigan.
- Ability to identify ecological objectives for the restoration and management of natural areas within 6 months.
- Ability to identify ecological threats to local native ecosystems and have familiarity with appropriate best management practices to mitigate those threats within 6 months.
- Ability to lead, direct, coordinate, and motivate employees and volunteers to conduct ecological stewardship activities in the field within 6 months.
- Ability to describe the internal stewardship prioritization process for natural area work sites and activities within 6 months.
- Ability to use and manipulate databases for tracking large amounts of data.
- Ability to communicate technical information in a non-technical manner.
- Ability to prepare and monitor a program budget.
- Provide both oral and written communication that is easily understood and direct in its content.
- Establish and maintain effective, respectful and productive working relationships with department staff, citizen advisory groups, governmental officials, city employees, volunteers, community organizations, and the general public.
- Proficiency with Microsoft products, including Outlook, Word, Excel.
Equipment
- Standard Office Equipment including: PC Computer, telephone with multiple lines, copier, and printer
- GPS (Global Positioning System) handheld unit
- Chainsaw, brush-blade and/or loppers
- Herbicide application handheld sprayer and wand
- Prescribed burn hand equipment
Education, Training and Experience (position requirements at entry)
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, natural resources planning, conservation biology, recreation management, education, or a related field.
- At least two (2) years of environmental education experience; or two (2) years of experience in ecological restoration and management (specifically the control of invasive species with prescribed fire or herbicides), and the planning of such activities; or at least two (2) years of experience conducting biological inventories; or at least two (2) years of experience coordinating volunteers; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
- The City of Ann Arbor, at its discretion, may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience.
- If hired, candidate is required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 no later than their start date or have a City of Ann Arbor approved medical/religious exemption.
Preferred:
- Supervisory experience with seasonal staff and/or volunteers working in the field.
- Environmental education and/or community engagement professional certifications.
- Previous fieldwork experience in the Great Lakes region.
Licensing Requirements (position requirements at entry)
- Valid Driver’s License
- CPR/First Aid/AED Certification
Physical Requirements
The physical ability to drive, walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, pull, push, lift, grasp and perform repetitive motions. The work requires the ability to operate hand controls on equipment.
The incumbent must have the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle as incumbent may be required to drive a truck to different parks in the City.
Incumbent may be exposed to hazardous physical conditions (i.e. heights, mechanical parts, etc.), and poor atmospheric conditions (i.e. fumes, odors, dusts, etc.). In addition, the work may require seasonal exposure to extreme (both hot and cold) weather conditions, including snow and ice. The incumbent may be expected to walk on rough, off-trail, uneven terrain, as well as wet and slippery surfaces. The work requires the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and to hear audible alarms.
May require the physical ability to handle heavy brush, to perform routine moderate lifting and to carry up to 50 lbs. in a backpack. The work requires the ability to correctly apply Personal Protective Equipment.
While in the office, the ability to move and lift objects less than 20 lbs. such as mail, files and supplies. Operating office equipment requiring continuous repetitive hand/arm movements.