Education and Outreach Program Coordinator

Denver Parks and Recreation is seeking an Education and Outreach Program Coordinator. Established over a century ago in 1912, the Denver Mountain Parks consists of over 14,000 acres of parks and open space across five counties outside of Denver’s municipal boundary. The Mountain Parks system boasts a wide array of resources, including parks, historic structures, bison herds, the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Buffalo Bill’s grave and museum, lakes and streams, wildlife habitat, and trails ranging from the alpine environment of Mount Evans to the plains ecosystem of Daniels Park.

DPR recognizes the importance of diversity in the representation of our organization to best serve our customers and community. To that end, DPR is committed to:

• Examining department policies and processes that value diverse perspectives and eliminate barriers to inclusion
• Identifying where inequities exist and implementing strategies to ensure equitable outcomes
• Strengthening diversity in Parks and Recreation services by transforming policies to institutionalize equity
• Reinvesting in resources aimed at ensuring DPR is an equitable and just organization

We are looking for an experienced professional to build and grow the education and outreach program for the Denver Mountain Parks system. The Mountain Parks provide an ideal venue for environmental education and history programming, with access to two bison herds, a wide range of ecological zones, significant historical sites, and committed and engaged partners. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to build the program from the ground up and to work collaboratively with colleagues to re-frame how we think about and tell our stories. The person selected for this position should be capable of working independently with limited direction, and should have a strong professional background in science, history, education, or a related field. The selected candidate will work toward building relationships and growing the program with Park Rangers, seasonal staff, volunteers, and partners. Our vision is for this individual to grow the program into a sustainable, high-impact educational and interpretive resource for the Denver community.

This position will report to the Denver Mountain Parks headquarters in Morrison, Colorado. The typical schedule will be Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., but the selected individual will be expected to work some weekends and evenings to accommodate scheduled programs, special events, campground programs, and similar activities. Significant schedule flexibility is required, especially in the summer season. Alternative schedules and telework may be available after the introductory period.

Job duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Create curriculum-based programming for a wide range of natural and cultural resources, including the Red Rocks Civilian Conservation Corps camp, Denver’s two bison herds, the Bear Creek watershed, the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave, and other Denver Mountain Parks resources
• Develop a formal field trip program that meets Denver Public Schools and other district curricula
• Work closely with Denver Zoo, volunteers, ecologists, and educators to reintroduce the rainbow scarab dung beetle (Phanaeus vindex) to the Genesee and Daniels Park bison herd. Facilitate student involvement in the breeding and reintroduction process and develop classroom and field-based curriculum that directly support reintroduction efforts
• Assist in developing and overseeing a historic preservation training and education program with internal and external partners
• Lead the development of Denver Mountain Park’s “ParkScience” program in collaboration with partners
• Develop a volunteer education and docent program, including recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers in a wide range of education and outreach activities
• Develop interpretive themes and messaging for the Denver Mountain Parks
• Develop a Junior Ranger activity book for the Denver Mountain Parks
• Represent the Denver Mountain Parks at outreach events and conduct field-based tours and programs
• Develop the program budget, approve, and process pre-approved expenditures, and assist with preparing grants
• Develop year-round interpretive program to satisfy the broadly diverse interests of all major elements of the visiting public including special populations, family groups, children, and adults
• Develop and present formal and informal interpretive and educational programming to a variety of age groups on natural, cultural, and recreational resources
• Use a variety of informational and educational delivery styles and methods (such as talk, walk, slide program, lecture, demonstration, experimental, laboratory, hands-on, etc.)
• Plan and organize special events
• Train and coach park ranger staff in interpretive practices and principles
• Prepare print and digital materials for education programs, including writing, editing, and updating
• Organize and present training workshops for teachers and others
• Train, mentor, and coach fellow staff in operations and procedures
• Supervise seasonal staff, volunteers, and/or interns as the program grows
• Perform research to gain a greater understanding of a topic and use the information to prepare original educational or interpretive programs
• Engage youth in outdoor environmental stewardship activities, service learning, and/or service projects
• Use word processing, desktop publishing, and presentation software to support lesson plans, program outlines, or other educational materials
• Research and write interpretive text for articles to be published in newsletters, local neighborhood papers, webpage, social media, etc. based on the interpretive themes for the park system
• Create and/or lead the creation of interpretive and informational content that meets standards of communication, design, graphic identity, content, accessibility, and sustainability
• Develop projects and seek alternate funding from a variety of fund sources
• Serve as a team member and coordinate activities with cooperating association partners, other program managers, peers, and outside partners

We are looking for a seasoned professional with strong verbal communication skills and a love for the outdoors. The successful candidate will also have experience in formal and informal education and outreach. Additionally, our ideal candidate will have:

• A Certified Interpretive Guide certificate through the National Association for Interpretation
• Experience independently developing and delivering high-quality curriculum-based educational programming using Colorado Science Standards
• Strong professional background in natural sciences (biology, ecology, geology, etc.), cultural resources (history, archaeology, etc.), or a related field
• Experience researching and delivering interdisciplinary programming outside of the candidate’s area of expertise
• Experience recruiting, training, and supervising seasonal staff, volunteers, or interns
• Experience working in a park or natural setting
• Strong drive to move beyond field-based content delivery to build a sustainable, multi-staff program

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

• Education: Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET, or TASC Certificate
• Experience: Five (5) years of technical or administrative experience performing standard research and evaluation, case management, and/or implementing work processes
• Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of education may be substituted for each required year of experience

How to apply:

To apply, go to:

https://denver.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CCD-denver-denvergov-CSC_Jobs-Civil_service_jobs-Police_Jobs-Fire_Jobs/job/Greater-Denver-Area/Education-and-Outreach-Program-Coordinator---Denver-Mountain-Parks_R0047437