Naturalist and Project Coordinator

The Spring Island Trust (SIT) is seeking a broadly trained educator-naturalist with familiarity with the natural history (with an emphasis on botany) of the coastal plain of the southeastern USA, and with experience coordinating educational programming for the general public, to serve as Naturalist and Project Coordinator. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, experience with citizen science initiatives, and will be a gifted educator who is comfortable working with audiences of all ages.

Spring Island is a unique and beautiful place to work! The island is a 3,000 acre sea island located within the Port Royal Sound. It has a diversity of habitats ranging from maritime forests to fire-managed pine savannas, as well as early successional fields, and is surrounded by an additional 3,000 acres of tidal marsh. Within this mix of habitat nestles a low-density residential community currently including approximately 350 homes dispersed throughout the Island. The SIT was established as a non-profit in 1990. The mission of the SIT is to preserve and protect Spring Island’s environment and cultural history, providing education, expertise, and leadership in the conservation of natural resources throughout the Lowcountry. See the Spring Island Trust website for more information.

Position Summary

The Naturalist and Project Coordinator position is responsible for the logistics and implementation of a variety of nature education opportunities. One of SIT’s key outreach efforts is the Master Naturalist program, teaching educators across the community - as well as our island’s residents - about the natural history of the Lowcountry. This position leads all logistical aspects, and is one of the co-instructors for this program. The position also involves communicating natural history information to a variety of audiences, through written contributions, short informational videos, field trips, and presentations. There is a great opportunity to expand citizen science programming for the region as well.

The impact of this position extends across the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and has the potential to impact natural history instruction across the region.

This position has a preferred start date of September 1st, 2022.

Responsibilities

•  Coordinate all aspects of the Master Naturalist program, including logistics, recruitment of participants, participating as one of the course instructors, and creating educational materials.
•  Provide programs for island residents, including formal presentations, field trips, and informal teaching opportunities
•  Coordinate local citizen science projects
•  Create informative natural history videos and written articles
•  Serve as liaison to Lowcountry Master Naturalist Association
•  Maintain the websites of the Spring Island Trust, the LowCountry Institute, and the Native Plants Project
•  Additional responsibilities may be assigned, and could include assistance in annual fundraising activities

Qualifications

•  A degree (M.S. preferred) in biology, education, or a related field
•  Strong knowledge of the natural history of the southeastern USA, including identification, ecology, and conservation. Knowledge of plants and ecosystems is especially valued.
•  At least 3 (5+ preferred) years of relevant experience, including:
•  Creating, coordinating, and evaluating educational programs for people of all ages
•  Demonstrated task-management and teaching capabilities
•  Ability to work both independently and collaborating with others
•  Strong communication skills, both oral and written
•  Experience with citizen science initiatives
•  Familiarity with the archaeology and history of the southeastern USA, experience working with volunteers, and experience maintaining informative websites is a plus.

Working Conditions

•  May require extended times in the field, including during hot, humid, buggy summer days
•  Requires physical dexterity, including walking on uneven terrain off trails, and the ability to lift 50 pounds
• Involves some weekend, evening, and holiday commitments

How to apply:

To apply, please send a cover letter outlining relevant experience and interest in this position, a resume/CV, and the contact information for three references. Submit your application materials – preferably as a single PDF document – to springislandtrust@gmail.com  Review of applications will begin on August 1st.