CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Non-Exempt
HOURS: 40 hours per week, Occasional Weekend and Evening Hours Required
SALARY: $25 to $30 per hour, depending on experience; Competitive Benefits Package
REPORTS TO: Rooting Youth Manager
The Environmental Education Pathways Lead is the primary point person for this project and will be responsible for implementing, tracking, researching and guiding this collaborative Countywide environmental education project to:
“significantly elevate the impact of outdoor environmental education across Sonoma County, increasing depth and breadth, and the extent to which we reach and create change in underserved communities.”
This position is a direct outcome of the work of the Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative. The Project Lead will build, work with and facilitate the Pathway Schools Committee and the Pathways Committee, attend and report out at Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) meetings, become familiar with all participating environmental education providers and the environmental education landscape with direct field visits, and build partnerships with appropriate organizations and institutions.
The Pathways project is based on a collaborative model, demanding transparent management, strong communication, and relationship-building. The Project Lead will interface with and support all project partners, coordinate and facilitate Pathway meetings, observe program implementation, research models and identify potential solutions.
Specifically, the Project Lead will:
- maintain clear, transparent and open lines of communication across all project partners.
- coordinate and facilitate project meetings.
- coordinate a Summer Teacher Institute.
- develop strategies to address identified existing barriers (e.g., transportation).
- facilitate periodic assessment and reflection to embed project improvements and adjustments during the course of the multi-year grant.
- develop a strategy to grow and sustain County-wide environmental education into the future.
Position Duties
Leadership
- Lead, coordinate and facilitate Pathways School Committee comprised of participating nonprofit providers
- Facilitate 2 to 4 meetings (quarterly/twice during school year) in -person “Pathway Schools Committees” summits (½-days, incl. school personnel) attended by rep from each nonprofit working in a Pathways School
- Communicate and act as primary liaison with all Pathways participants – support communication with teachers, among providers, identify opportunities to collaborate and be present with school partners and at community events
- Conduct field visits to all project partner programs in the field, observe and become knowledgeable of the diversity and richness of environmental education in Sonoma County
- Provide support to Pathway providers assisting with deliverables, problem solving and supporting accountability
- Attend SEEC meetings to further understand challenges and resources within SEEC and environmental education in the County
Coordinate and facilitate with the Community Foundation, the Pathways Committee:
- Form and facilitate Pathways Committee, drawing from SEEC membership and Steering Committee, LandPaths, Community Foundation,and other relevant organizations and institutions (I.e., Sonoma County Office of Education), including in-person and or remote meetings. The committee’s purpose is big picture coordination and project and grant goals, reflecting, improving and advancing the Pathways project strategy
- Work on elements such as evaluation and deliverables
- Communicate among and across providers, schools, districts, (outreach/relationship building with new schools, etc.)
- Manage project milestones and vision/vision evolution
- Reflect on project accomplishments, impact and effectiveness to implement improvements
- Create, Coordinate and Facilitate a Summer Teacher Institute in collaboration and tapping the expertise of SEEC members. Goals of the Institute are:
Teachers will develop strategies and lesson plans to leverage field experiences into classroom learning and great level standards.
Teachers will learn about the habitats of Sonoma County.
Teacher will become familiar with CA Environmental Principles and Concepts and how these feed the standards.
- Research challenges including examples/lessons learned elsewhere, gather information and data and problem solve.
- Conduct outreach and communication to build community relationships through active listening, mutual understanding, and relationship building to engage and expand partners and the community’s understanding of the importance, impact, and vision of environmental education and the Pathways project (I.e., meetings, presentations and conversations with relevant institutions and partners for outreach and recruitment/marketing for Pathways Project)
- Administration and record-keeping: tracking of outputs and deliverables, etc.: meeting notes and follow-up, budget and finance tracking, developing systems for shared work across orgs, and figuring out the nuts and bolts.
- Participate in LandPaths’ all-staff initiatives and efforts (staff meetings, equity initiatives, professional development, etc.)
- Possible fund development to sustain the Pathways project
Experience and Qualifications
A successful candidate will likely have significant experience in environmental education, project management and regional-scale collaborative projects, including the following qualifications:
- A genuine passion for environmental education
- Knowledge and experience working throughout Sonoma County and its diverse communities
- Knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards
- A passion for equity in access to nature
- 5-years or more experience leading environmental education, project management, and collaborative team-building
- Excellent interpersonal skills;
- Experience with program or project implementation
- Ability to think long term, big-picture planning;
- Detail-oriented, well-organized
- Strong communication skills: articulate with proven ability to write effectively and speak persuasively
- Experience working with Title 1/low-income serving schools, and communities that are underrepresented in environmental education and the sciences
- Significant cross-cultural experience and understanding
- College degree and/or relevant education or work experience
Attributes
- A successful candidate will:
- Embrace LandPaths’ and SEEC’s values of fairness and equity.
- Thrive in a creative, problem-solving atmosphere of shared leadership and an unrelenting drive to improve.
- Be curious and enjoy learning and supporting the work of others.
- Excels in a strong team centered work environment, while able to work independently.
- Enjoys a challenge, building teams and working collaboratively.
- Works best in busy work environment, managing multiple variables with divergent goals.
- Practices high integrity and a strong commitment to program and organizational goals.
- Confident in area expertise, and flexible, able to engage with new ideas and approaches.
- Enjoys and expresses joy as part of a positive work environment.
- Practiced public speaker, energized by engaging with people on value of hands-on, place-based environmental education.
Compensation
Pay for this position begins at $25 per hour and includes a competitive benefits package. LandPaths’ compensation includes health and dental benefits, retirement savings, and generous paid leave package. The specific pay is between $25 – $30 per hour, commensurate with experience.
Apply
Interested applicants should send a BRIEF AND SPECIFIC cover letter and resume to LandPaths ~ Attn: HR, 618 4th Street, Suite 217, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 or hr@landpaths.org. Recommended deadline to apply is Monday, November 14th, 2022; open until filled.