Community Engagement and Environmental Education Coordinator
The Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center (KSAC) translates museum science into results for conservation and quality of life. The Community Engagement and Environmental Education Coordinator works in the Center’s Chicago Region team and is a member of the Youth Conservation Action initiative, which equips Chicago region youth with the knowledge, skills, and passion to become the region's environmental stewards and sustainability leaders of tomorrow. The Coordinator also coordinates with the Learning Center and the City of Chicago initiative. Primary responsibilities are event planning and design, production and dissemination of nature-based tools, and team support and coordination. Through these efforts, the Coordinator will provide meaningful, hands-on materials and engagement experiences for youth, families, and their communities to connect with green space and nature close to home in culturally relevant ways.
The Community Engagement and Environmental Education Coordinator reports to the Center’s Urban Conservation Educator.
The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to work with diverse teams, take initiative to address problems as they arise, and perform a range of tasks to achieve a successful outcome. Experience working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with different work styles and the development and use of standard systems and processes for administration will be valuable. This team member values diversity, equity, and inclusion and helps us put those values into practice. This position is mission-driven and action-oriented.
In your cover letter, please include your professional experience with or personal commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) and what it means to you. Applications received by October 25th will be given first consideration, although this posting will remain active until the position is filled and our final candidate has accepted the position.
Duties and Responsibilities
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Support events for Chicago Region initiatives, including planning, design, logistics, communication with partners, invoices, and evaluation. Events include environmental stewardship days, plantings, field trips, teacher workshops, Roots & Routes events, and other community engagement activities
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Provide support for teen and young adult programming including Chicago Green Ambassadors and the FUEGO fellowship
- Collaboratively work with others to strengthen the museum’s Teacher Leadership project that helps incorporate environmental education and nature-based education at participating schools. This includes field trip support, workshop planning, and support for the Summer Teachers Institute for environmental education
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Participate in planting, maintenance and activation of gardens at partner schools and community spaces in the Chicago Region
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Work with partner organizations and team members to design, assemble, and disseminate nature kits and other nature-based tools for students, teachers, community organizations, and families in the Chicago region, particularly on Chicago’s West and South sides
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Maintain tracking and evaluation documents that help assess the impact of nature kits; keep track of all nature kit expenses and accounting
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Contribute to ongoing adaptation of Youth Conservation Action and City of Chicago programming and tools, to incorporate considerations of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice
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Provide calendar support and conduct note-taking for YCA initiative meetings; support internal communications about these meetings and projects to the wider Chicago Region program
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Maintain supplies and equipment that support the YCA Initiative
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Seek out new tools and techniques to improve work performance
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Identify and act upon opportunities to serve the mission of the larger Museum and with external stakeholders
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Education, Social Science or related field or at least two years’ professional experience in environmental education, event planning, or related field
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Experience working outdoors with community organizations, youth, and educators
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Experience in event design, planning, and logistics
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Willingness and ability to travel within the Chicago region frequently, including some evenings and weekends
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English, both written and oral
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Familiarity with MS Office and Google Enterprise applications
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Ability to take initiative and guide projects to successful completion; track record of managing several projects simultaneously
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Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural context that includes colleagues of varied cultural, economic, and professional backgrounds
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Commitment to mission and values of Keller Science Action Center and the Field Museum
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Knowledge of local ecology and natural history and/or experience or knowledge of Chicago region communities / neighborhoods
Important Note: In order to protect the health and safety of our community, employees, guests, and their families from COVID-19, the Field Museum is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide proof of that status in order to maintain employment. Requests for exemptions from employees with qualifying medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination will be considered.
The Field Museum is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to create a working environment that is free of sexual, racial, and ethnic discrimination, and one that promotes human dignity and mutual respect among all staff. As such, it is the policy of the Field Museum to hire without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
The Field Museum strives to ensure that our career website and recruiting process are accessible to all. If you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application, or if you require a reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to accessibility@fieldmuseum.org.
