Environmental Education Programs Assistant Manager

Job Description

The Environmental Education Programs Assistant Manager is directly responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing program delivery, with a primary focus on the Neighborhood Ecology Corps. The Neighborhood Ecology Corps (NEC) is a three-year, environmental literacy program serving 6th-10th grade participants. Through hands-on environmental education, this program creates experiences for underrepresented youth to connect with the natural world, learn foundational environmental science concepts, and be exposed to environmental career pathways. The program is based at Walnut Creek Wetland Park, which has a rich legacy of environmental justice and land stewardship that NEC participants engage with and become participants in.

This position is part of the Environmental Education Programs & Support Office within Nature Preserves and Programs Team.

The ideal candidate for this role would be skilled in strategic and holistic visioning and have the ability to develop program goals and learning objectives for a 3-year, environmental literacy program.

This role collaborates frequently with others in the team as well as throughout the City. This role will also be responsible for developing and maintaining strong partnerships within the community. We are looking for candidates with both experience and skills working well in teams, innovating in a rapidly changing world, and advancing inclusion and diversity.

The NEC program serves youth with a wide range of experiences, cultural backgrounds, identities, and abilities. The ideal candidate has experience mentoring youth represented in this program.

The Nature Preserves and Programs Team is part of the City’s Natural Resources Unit, which is devoted to connecting people and nature through experiences, conservation, and education and is comprised of 3 Nature Preserves, 1 Nature Park, the Environmental Education Programs & Support Office, the Land Stewardship Program, and the Green Stormwater Maintenance Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Oversees the development, planning, and delivery of environmental education programming, with a primary focus on the NEC

• Develops and regularly updates a robust NEC program curriculum with alignment to the state academic standards
• Hires, trains, supervises, and schedules part-time staff, interns, and volunteers in collaboration with the Program Manager
• Assists in the direct delivery of the program, including but not limited to: driving passenger vehicles of program participants for off-site trips, teaching programs as needed, leading overnight camping trips, summer day camp planning and delivery, recruitment of participants, and working some evenings and weekends
• Develops and maintains relationships with stakeholders, including within the department and with outside agencies, organizations, and community groups
• Enforces regulations and standards of conduct, observing necessary precautions to ensure safety of all program participants and rendering first aid in cases of minor injury
• Assists with the planning and coordination of emergency response efforts and risk management, and will additionally assist the City as needed in clean-up and repair during inclement weather situations
• Works as a team member of the Natural Resources Unit to further the mission of the department

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Licenses or Certifications:

Additional Information

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of program administration, management, and facilitation
• Principles of park management including resource conservation, land use planning, and facility maintenance
• Project management principles
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning, and monitoring work
• Community outreach strategies, public relations, and stakeholder communication
• Identification and management of flora and fauna including conservation status, invasive designations, and natural history
• Environmental educational and instructional methods and techniques
• Emergency response protocols, risk assessment, and crisis communication
• Modern office practices and procedures including the use of standard office equipment and computer applications such as word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications
• Park management software, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and other technological tools for data analysis, mapping, and facility maintenance tracking

Skill in:

• Providing customer service
• Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning/monitoring work performed
• Managing a project or program
• Communicating with coworkers, supervisors, school groups, the general public, and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction
• Working with and effectively communicating with diverse populations
• Identifying flora and fauna
• Safely using and operating natural resource management tools

Ability to:

• Foster positive relationships with park users and nearby residents
• Enforce rules and regulations to ensure visitor safety
• Render first aid in case of minor injury
• Assist the City in clean-up and repair during inclement weather situations
• Build relationships, foster teamwork, and engage with diverse individuals and groups within the community
• Conduct inspections, monitor environmental conditions, and ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations