Year-Round Environmental Educator- Neighborhood Naturalists Program

Deliver positive outdoor, nature-based, and interpretive educational programs citywide. This is a year-round part-time position; 21-28 hours per week, season dependent.  

JOIN OUR CREW, WE NEED YOU:
Join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and make a difference in your community! We are seeking employees who love nature, people, and fun.  Apply today and enjoy learning new skills, meeting new friends, and serving the community, all while working in our beautiful park system.  Whether you are interested in recreation, environmental education, maintenance, or customer service, we have a job for you!
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of one of the premier park systems in the United States.  Our picturesque lakes, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming make the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play, and work!  

• Provide positive, outdoor, nature-based education programs in Minneapolis parks, primarily for children ages 3-12 in group activities.
• Adapt programs to highlight nature found in a wide variety of park spaces. Travel and transition programming between varying parks to interact with different groups and neighborhoods.
• Provide interactive activities and education for people of all ages at community events.
• Foster relationship building between community members and nature in parks.
• Prepare materials and content for environmental education program delivery.

Hours:

• This is a year-round part-time position working up to 28 hours per week.
• Hours vary seasonally. Programming typically occurs between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. with shifts scheduled within that time frame. The majority of weekly hours occur during the morning, afternoon, and/or early evening.
• Staff are expected to accommodate occasional later evening and weekend special events by maintaining at least one weekend per month available for these purposes.
• Must have ability to transport program materials and travel between work locations using personal vehicle.
• Mileage reimbursement provided.

Need to Have:

• Postsecondary coursework in environmental education, ecology, biology, natural history, or teaching: Two (2) years
• Experience delivering interpretive or environmental education programs at a nature center, education center, or similar: Six (6) months
• Experience teaching all ages in an outdoor setting or classroom: Six (6) months
• Must have ability to transport program materials and travel between work locations using personal vehicle
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record

Nice to Have:

• Experience teaching with and caring for live education animals preferred
• Experience with program and curriculum development preferred
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, or Somali preferred

Skills Crucial to Success in This Role:

• Cultural competence in engaging people from diverse communities.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational skills.
• Ability to adapt to working in different locations. Flexibility and adaptability to changes in work assignments.
• Receive feedback and adapt accordingly.
• Demonstrated success teaching all ages (especially children) in an outdoor setting or classroom.
• Excellent customer service skills, a positive attitude, creativity, and adaptability.
• Ability to work independently with minimum direct supervision.

Physical requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• The physical ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, drive, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear, see and perform repetitive motions.
• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• The ability to safely operate a motor vehicle as incumbents are subject to local travel both to and from work locations.
• Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.
• The ability to remain in a sitting or standing position for extended periods of time.
• The incumbent may be required to traverse on rough, uneven terrain, as well as wet and slippery surfaces.
• Ability to perform basic outdoor recreational skills such as biking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and/or snowshoe at a beginner’s level.
• Outdoor work in all weather conditions in a natural environment with exposure to extreme heat or cold.
• Will be required to work alternate work schedule including evenings and weekends and occasional holidays
• Working with live animals and their care with exposure to odors and animal bites or other injuries.

FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Union Status: AFSCME Local #9

Job Information Session:  A 30 minute Job Information Session will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 2:00PM CT via conference call.  This is your opportunity to ask questions about the position and to gain a better understanding of the civil service application process.  Interested parties are encouraged to call 612-474-1955 and enter phone conference ID 338 247 516#

View a full list of qualifications and job description  

Learn more about Veteran’s Preference

Selection Process:

To apply for this part-time civil service position, applicants must complete an online application with supplemental questions at www.minneapolisparks.org/jobs.  Late applications will be rejected.

What steps the selection process involves:

Please note that HR reserves the right to limit the number of people invited to successive testing events.

Salary : $24 - $29