Salary: 42,353
Department: Soil and Water Conservation District
Location: Plymouth, IN
Description:
Incumbent serves as Environmental Education Coordinator for the Soil and Water Conservation District, responsible for providing environmental education to schools, community organizations and coordinating related programs. This position is full-time, non-exempt, and is covered under the St. Joseph County Employee Policy Manual.
Hours: 7:30am-3:30pm (start time flexible) Shift Times: Monday-Friday
Essential Functions:
•Develops and coordinates youth environmental education programs for county schools. Develops and coordinates field trips for schools and other youth organizations to outdoor labs or ecological area and makes related presentations. Develops review forms for costs, equitable distribution of programs, and use of staff resources. Coordinates environmental related contests, including but not limited to poster, speaking, and soil contests. Promotes and coordinates youth attendance at environmental camps or congresses.
• Reports to the SWCD supervisors
• Designs, staffs, prepares and sets up environmental education displays and programs for special projects and events, including Ag Days, 4-H Fair, Science Alive, and annual meeting.
• Represents Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) by participating in various groups and organizations, promoting the SWCD programs. Makes recommendations to the SWCD concerning participation in various environmental special projects and groups.
• Conducts workshops to instruct teachers on the use of various environmental guides. Presents environmental education information for teachers at local, regional, and state levels. Promotes environmental education to teachers and leaders of youth organizations.
• Plans, constructs, and maintains school outdoor labs and grounds for environmental education, including assisting schools in providing curriculum for outdoor education.
• Speaks to civic groups and other organizations on environmental topics, including preparing and presenting audio-visual presentations.
• Plans and coordinates Natural Resources Field Day as directed by the SWCD. Plans and prepares public relations campaigns for general environmental education as directed.
• Attend monthly SWCD Board meetings and staff meetings and district meetings as required.
• Prepares environmental education newsletters for public and private schools and teachers.
• Assists writing articles for bi-monthly newsletters, annual report, social media posts and the SWCD website.
• Serves on various committees as assigned. Prepares environmental education budget and annual plan of work with education committee.
• Prepares grants applications to obtain funding for SWCD projects
• Makes nomination for conservation teacher of the year and enters SWCD in various award programs.
• Maintains resources center for environmental education, including maintaining files on environmental topics, obtaining audio-visual productions, supplying information to the public, maintaining information related to presentations, and maintaining files of contacts related to environmental education. Acquires new resources including but not limited to books, posters, and digital media.
• Periodically assists other Department personnel and/or performs their duties in their absence.
• Attends professional training and seminars.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Baccalaureate degree in environmental biology, ecology, natural resources, or closely related field.
• Working knowledge of biological and chemical processes as they relate to the natural world and ability to provide related education and advice to diverse audiences.
• Ability to develop and implement environmental education programs for various age groups and provide scientific information in a manner easily understood.
• Working knowledge of standard office procedures, spreadsheet/database software, word processing software, and various other computer programs used by the Department, with ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations. Ability to properly operate standard office equipment, such as computer, keyboard, copy machine, telephone, and fax machine.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation with ability to prepare detailed written reports, and maintain complete and accurate files.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to State requirements.
• Ability to meet all Department hiring and retention requirements, and ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, teachers, school children, school administrators, community organizations, government agencies, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect.
• Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and work rapidly for long periods, occasionally under time pressure.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.
• Ability to occasionally work extended and/or evening hours, and travel out of town for training and meetings, sometimes overnight.
• Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.
• Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment and/or outside, including sitting for long periods, sitting/walking at will, keyboarding, color perception, depth perception, lifting/carrying objects less than 75 pounds, close vision, speaking clearly, and hearing sounds/communication.