Conservation Education Assistant

The Conservation Education Assistant (CEA) participates in education, outreach, stewardship and operations programs, interacts frequently with visitors and helps maintain preserve areas frequented by the public at Brownsville Preserve, Nassawadox, VA.  The Conservation Education Assistant will work closely with the TNC Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve outreach and education team. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Outreach and Education (60%): Assist Brownsville Preserve and Education Manager and the Outreach and Education Coordinator to help create and implement interpretive education/outreach programming and materials that emphasize the biological diversity of the Brownsville Preserve, global environmental change, and The Nature Conservancy’s conservation initiatives.  Projects include curriculum planning and execution of environmental education programs. Lead interpretive walks and participate in local festivals and public events.  Provide staff support, including completing office/administrative work, event support, providing information to visiting public and working with and helping to direct volunteers. Education efforts may be in person or virtual. They will maintain and track data related to education grants.

Stewardship (40%):  They will have frequent interaction with staff throughout the program including assisting staff with various aspects of preserve stewardship, facilities maintenance, conservation projects, and Brownsville House operations. Tasks may include trail management and maintenance, event preparation/clean-up, invasive species removal and leading the Brownsville stewardship volunteers. Duties will require physical labor and the safe operation of hand tools and power equipment.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Duties are performed under general supervision and established guidelines
• Perform administrative functions as required
• Assists in developing educational program content and/or curricula for field and classroom programs
• Assist with recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers for community, educational, and stewardship events
• Manage the coordination and logistics of planning, execution, and impact of various environmental outreach programs
• Collaborate with teachers, chaperones, and large groups of children in natural settings
• May produce publications, educational videos, and materials to promote and increase public awareness
• Travel to and from preserves, meetings and events which are essential to the service of this position
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations for long periods of time in isolated settings, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances in areas where ticks & mosquitos can be a frequent nuisance.
• Maintains preserve areas frequented by the visiting public, assists with stewardship projects, and maintains tools and equipment

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates Degree plus 1-year experience or equivalent combination;
• Experience managing diverse activities to meet deadlines;
• Experience providing customer service, and coordinating meetings or events;
• Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people through public speaking; and
• Experience writing, editing, and proofreading written materials.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are preferred
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Opportunity to act independently on assigned tasks and projects.
• Experience with public education associated with conservation projects or closely related field.
• Comfortable with kayaking and/or boating.
• Experience operating and maintaining various types of tools and equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g. handheld GPS, gardening tools, lawn mower, weed whacker, etc.)

How to apply:

To apply for job ID 50944, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 11:59 PM EST on February 21, 2022. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

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TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.