Environmental Education Coordinator

This position supports Blue Thumb volunteer trainings and is called upon to support field staff and participate in data collection activities when needed. It supports critical program functions, including program promotion and reporting. This position determines much of their own scheduling to meet with volunteers and the public. Overnight travel is frequently required, and the workweek often consists of irregular hours, including weekends and evenings. Job activities occasionally involve physical exertion with some heavy lifting. Since many educational activities occur in or around water, candidates must be able to swim. The area of responsibility is statewide. The position is supervised by the Blue Thumb Director.

Basic Purpose

This is an advanced education position, working largely independently, that manages education and outreach efforts for the Blue Thumb Program.  Job duties include serving as the statewide coordinator for Project WET and Project WILD, organizing and executing large and small education events, and coordinating work on environmental education committees. This position assists partners with event facilitation and provides recommendations about audience-appropriate activities, modifications for unique populations, and alignment with Oklahoma Academic Standards. This position supports Blue Thumb volunteer trainings and is called upon to support field staff and participate in data collection activities when needed. It supports critical program functions, including program promotion and reporting. This position determines much of their own scheduling to meet with volunteers and the public. Overnight travel is frequently required, and the workweek often consists of irregular hours, including weekends and evenings. Job activities occasionally involve physical exertion with some heavy lifting. Since many educational activities occur in or around water, candidates must be able to swim. The area of responsibility is statewide. The position is supervised by the Blue Thumb Director.

Typical Functions

• Educate the public about stream ecology, nonpoint source pollution, and behaviors Oklahomans can adopt to minimize the impacts of nonpoint source pollution;
• Manage the Project WET Program;
• Manage the Project WILD Program;
• Organize and execute education events of all sizes and for all audiences;
• Assist other programs within the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) and partner organizations external to OCC with facilitation of education events;
• Respond to inquiries about modifications of educational activities and alignment with Oklahoma Academic Standards;
• Plan and execute professional development opportunities for teachers;
• Chair the Oklahoma Environmental Education Coordination Committee;
• Assist with volunteer training;
• Promote educational activities on social media;
• Effectively document program activities (video and photo);
• Promote program to potential sponsors (particularly conservation districts) and increase media attention on program activities and water pollution prevention;
• Represent Blue Thumb at various meetings to promote water quality education and volunteer recruitment;
• Develop curricular materials to support programming;
• Fulfill other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in education or a bachelor’s degree in biology, geology, environmental science or a related science is required. Two years teaching experience is required. A master’s degree in education may be substituted for two years teaching experience. OCC requires the successful applicant to be a legal resident of the United States and hold or obtain a current driver's license for the state of Oklahoma.   

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

required for this position include a thorough understanding of learning styles, the ability to design engaging experiential learning opportunities, and the ability to tailor educational experiences to the needs of diverse audiences. This position must have the ability to coordinate between many partners to effectively execute education events. This position requires knowledge of biology, stream ecology, pollutants, watersheds, and both urban and rural nonpoint source pollution issues. This position is an integral part of many collaborative teams but will often work independently and must be able to do so with limited supervision. Staff at this level are responsible for largely setting their own schedules to coordinate with volunteers and attend events that occur outside the traditional workweek.  Since this position works closely with the public, individuals must have excellent relationship skills, including verbal and written communication skills. Individuals should be detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills and be proficient with computers and contemporary software packages (particularly MS Windows and Office).

APPLY AT: 
https://okgov.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/okgovjobs/details/ENVIRONMENTAL-PROGRAMS-SPECIALIST-LEVEL-III_JR32700-1?hiringCompany=7a8d2de4e0861000cc592ab20e1b0000

Special Requirements

• Understanding of water quality, stream ecology, and the relationship between land use, pollution, chemical and physical water quality parameters, instream habitat, and the biota of streams
• Knowledge of education and outreach principles, methods, and techniques;
• Must be a legal resident of the United States and possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license;
• Individuals must be able to swim;
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR and first-aid certifications is required;
• Must be willing to travel to meet program needs – including frequent overnight trips
• Requires irregular work weeks involving long workdays and potential weekend work to meet sampling requirements
• Requires some heavy lifting and ability to work outside during all types of weather conditions.