What are the responsibilities and job description for the Outreach and Environmental Education Associate, Dangermond Preserve position at The Nature Conservancy?
Application Instructions
Please note that the application period ends at 12:00 am EDT on the due date listed. For applicants in Pacific Daylight Time, please plan to submit your application by 8:59pm the day before.
Although cover letters are not required, we appreciate and will consider a letter explaining your interest in this position and our organization. (You can upload the cover letter in the same location as your resume.)
Internal applicants (TNC employees) must apply through Workday via the Jobs Hub.
What We Can Achieve Together
The Dangermond Preserve Outreach and Environmental Education Associate supports the design, delivery, and expansion of the outreach programs and partnership engagement activities at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, with a primary focus on environmental education.
The Outreach and Environmental Education Associate helps connect diverse audiences to the Dangermond Preserve’s mission through educational programming, community engagement, and public-facing communication. The Associate provides essential skills to lead environmental education programs such as collaborating with school district and teacher partners, managing effective curriculum development, and designing impactful education pathways for local youth. The Associate will also support broader outreach priorities, including Chumash engagement, managed public access, and volunteer programs, while amplifying the science, restoration, and stewardship work happening across the Dangermond Preserve.
Responsibilities & Scope
The starting pay for this position is generally within the range of $72,600 – $85,300 annually. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA, whose state of employment is California, and whose county of employment is Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Ventura. Where a successful candidate’s pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors including the candidate's location, qualifications, skills, and experience. (Countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges.) Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.
Who We Are
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
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.
Please note that the application period ends at 12:00 am EDT on the due date listed. For applicants in Pacific Daylight Time, please plan to submit your application by 8:59pm the day before.
Although cover letters are not required, we appreciate and will consider a letter explaining your interest in this position and our organization. (You can upload the cover letter in the same location as your resume.)
Internal applicants (TNC employees) must apply through Workday via the Jobs Hub.
What We Can Achieve Together
The Dangermond Preserve Outreach and Environmental Education Associate supports the design, delivery, and expansion of the outreach programs and partnership engagement activities at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, with a primary focus on environmental education.
The Outreach and Environmental Education Associate helps connect diverse audiences to the Dangermond Preserve’s mission through educational programming, community engagement, and public-facing communication. The Associate provides essential skills to lead environmental education programs such as collaborating with school district and teacher partners, managing effective curriculum development, and designing impactful education pathways for local youth. The Associate will also support broader outreach priorities, including Chumash engagement, managed public access, and volunteer programs, while amplifying the science, restoration, and stewardship work happening across the Dangermond Preserve.
Responsibilities & Scope
- Leads the delivery of established environmental education programs, while applying creativity and effective collaboration to develop and test new approaches.
- Works with local communities to identify key partners for program delivery and implementation.
- Partners with leaders in science and education to continue developing lesson plans and curriculum specific to the Preserve.
- Assists with seasonal outreach cycles by coordinating logistics, materials, and on-site support while balancing ecological integrity with public access.
- Help maintain a welcoming, safe, and inclusive visitor experience.
- Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development, and meeting fundraising targets.
- Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Expected to be on site once per week and occasionally 2-4 times per week.
- Will occasionally attend community events in the Santa Barbara County area.
- BA/BS, law or business degree and 5 years of experience in natural resource management or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
- Experience managing contracts with external parties and/or volunteers to support program implementation.
- Experience managing multiple priorities, with assignments sometimes coming from a few sources and work independently.
- Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Experience in training and curriculum design.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Working knowledge of current trends in environmental education, citizen science, Next Generation Science Standards.
- Knowledge of land management conservation practice and conservation science.
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management, and natural resource preservation.
- Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency and social-emotional learning.
- Familiarity with Santa Barbara County.
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Strong administrative skills including attention to detail and numerical ability.
- Ability to plan, administer and record results of work-team meetings and activities.
The starting pay for this position is generally within the range of $72,600 – $85,300 annually. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA, whose state of employment is California, and whose county of employment is Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Ventura. Where a successful candidate’s pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors including the candidate's location, qualifications, skills, and experience. (Countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges.) Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.
Who We Are
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
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.
Salary : $72,600 - $85,300