Outdoor School Regional Coordinator

The Division of Extension and Engagement is seeking applications for an Outdoor School Regional Coordinator for Southern Oregon. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position. Refer to the Working Conditions section for information on work location options.

About the Division:
The Division of Extension and Engagement is core to Oregon State University’s mission. The Division helps create real solutions and positive impact across Oregon and beyond. The Division is aligned under the leadership of the Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement. To learn more about our Division and its core units and initiatives, please visit our website: https://engagement.oregonstate.edu/.

The OSU Extension Service (OES) engages the people of Oregon with research-based knowledge and education that strengthen communities and economies, sustains natural resources, and promotes healthy families and individuals. The Extension Service has a presence in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.

OSU Extension programs, partnerships, and volunteer opportunities are focused on:
-- Healthy communities and economies
-- Resilient and productive forestry and natural ecosystems
-- Sustainable agriculture, food systems, and gardening
-- Thriving youth, individuals, and families

The Outdoor School Southern Regional Coordinator position is within the Division of Extension and Engagement, Extension Service Outdoor School Program. This position will be located in and serve the southern region of Oregon.

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence:
Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors, and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations. In addition, this individual will design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Extension programs to ensure that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.

OSU Division of Extension and Engagement’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion https://extension.oregonstate.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion

OSU Moving Forward Together
https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/president/moving-forward-together

Office of Institutional Diversity
https://diversity.oregonstate.edu/

About the Position:
The Outdoor School (ODS) program resides within the OSU Extension Service and advances the Extension Service’s vision, mission, and goals through the statewide engagement of School Districts and Education Service Districts (ESDs) in outdoor school programs. The ODS program helps Oregon’s youth develop leadership, critical thinking, and social skills; and exposes them to the role of scientific inquiry and applied learning. The long-term goal of the ODS program is to integrate placed-based programs into the Oregon school system that build upon youth’s skills in hands-on science and their abilities to be effective environmental stewards and leaders in their communities.

Outdoor school is intended for all 5th or 6th graders in the state of Oregon. The ODS program’s Regional Coordinators work with school districts in their regions to maximize participation by providing support in the funding application and reporting process, promoting inclusive community engagement, and working with districts to implement creative, community-specific solutions to outdoor school participation barriers.

There are four Regional Coordinators within the ODS program: Northern, Southern, Central, and Eastern. The Southern Regional Coordinator will be a key position in moving to ensure full (100%) participation in inclusive and equitable outdoor school programming by ESDs, districts, and schools.

The main responsibilities of the ODS Southern Regional Coordinator will be:
-- Liaise with local school districts, ESDs, outdoor school providers, and local communities to support inclusive and equitable outdoor school programming.
-- Lead the activities of the Southern Region and participate in consistent interaction with the Eastern, Northern, and Central Region Coordinators.
-- Collaborate with the ODS Team to develop projects that support outdoor school in the region, eg. professional development workshops, EDAI (equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion) initiatives, application and reporting process, high school leadership program development, etc.

The individual in this position will report to the OES Director of ODS and work closely with the ODS team. This person will contribute to the ODS program’s mission to serve all students from all backgrounds.

Summary of Benefits: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/prospective-employee

To calculate our Total Rewards Package use this link: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/new-employees/benefits-calculator

Position Duties 
This ODS Regional Coordinator of Southern Oregon supports outdoor school programs in equitably serving diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation in outdoor school. As part of the ODS program team, this individual approaches their work through an equity lens and commits to ongoing learning and professional growth in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

40% – Outreach
-- Liaise between local ESDs, districts, schools, service providers, and community partners to support the development, implementation, and improvement of equitable and inclusive outdoor school programs.
-- Meet with and build relationships with district administrators and staff and seek to identify and address barriers to outdoor school participation.
-- Visit with outdoor school providers to learn about their programs, observe trainings, and support their continued efforts towards program improvements.
-- Help coordinate school district outreach through marketing, workshops, and communications with and between schools, stakeholders, providers, parents and families, and researchers.
-- Operate within travel and budgetary parameters set forth by the OES Director of ODS.
-- Travel to meet with district administrators, teachers, and partners in Oregon, and attend team meetings.


30% – Partnerships
-- Build partnerships and provide support to local ESDs, school districts, service providers, community partners, and formal and informal educators associated with ODS. Collaborate with these stakeholders in the development, improvement and understanding of outdoor school to support all students having high-quality, equitable and inclusive outdoor school experiences.
-- Build partnerships with historically marginalized individuals/populations as related to outdoor school to assure the programs are including, if not centering their interests and concerns.
-- Review school districts and ESD grant funding applications and reports annually and build relationships with their outdoor school coordinators to support their continued efforts towards program improvements.
-- Report directly to OES Director of ODS and collaborate on projects with the Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Coordinator, Outreach and Inclusion Coordinator, Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, Grants Coordinator, and High School Leader Coordinator.
-- Collaborate with the other Regional Coordinators (Eastern, Northern, Central) and present activity summaries for the Southern Oregon region at statewide coordinator meetings.
-- Support outdoor school providers, school districts and ESDs in adhering to EDAI principles in their outdoor school programming, and promote programs that are inclusive, welcoming, and equitable for all students. This includes providing guidance on resources, professional development, and evaluation.
-- Identify training needs and develop/facilitate professional development trainings/workshops and materials for Southern Oregon region stakeholders to support the consistency and quality of Oregon’s outdoor school programs.


20% – ODS Team Special Projects
-- Participate in research and evaluation activities including preparing presentations, collecting and reviewing data, and writing sections of the biennial ODS program report in partnership with the ODS Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Coordinator.
-- Present information at various internal extension functions, ODS Program Advisory Committee meetings, and external stakeholder events.
-- Suggest personal, professional, and ODS program improvements at the end of each evaluation year.
-- Coordinate with the ODS program Advisory Committee as deemed necessary by OES Director of ODS and coordinate with applicable resource groups.
-- Assist with overall ODS team vision, annual goals, and professional development activities.
-- Attend regular ODS team meetings virtually and in-person quarterly meetings.
-- Supervise student workers and provide lead work for 4-6 Outdoor School Professional Faculty co-workers if taking lead on projects or tasks. This will include assigning, planning, and approving work on projects or tasks.


10% – Service and Engagement
-- Contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity of the ODS program.
-- Serve as an effective team member of the ODS program by practicing and contributing to a welcoming and respectful workplace culture.
-- Serve on university, state, local, and other committees appropriate to position responsibilities and as time is available and participate in professional organization activities.
-- Stay up to date with EDAI research and approaches, particularly those related to outdoor and environmental education of secondary youth.
-- Maintain professional competencies through membership in professional organizations, by attending and presenting at annual conferences, local or regional meetings, and staff development opportunities. These professional organizations include but are not limited to the National Science Teachers Association, Oregon Science Teachers Association, North American Association for Environmental Education, and Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP).
-- Participate in professional development opportunities.
-- Promote Oregon State University as a statewide institution of higher learning.

Minimum/Required Qualifications 
-- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Community Engagement, Natural Resources, Science, or related field.
-- At least five years’ experience in educational systems (formal and/or nonformal).
-- Demonstrated experience communicating with multiple stakeholders in a community setting, which includes schools and educational programs.
-- Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills.
-- Experience building partnerships with different types of organizations (such as school districts, nonprofits, government, private, etc.)
-- Demonstrated experience with decision-making, problem-solving and program management.
-- Demonstrated life experience, education, and/or training in promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through work with historically marginalized populations.
-- Proficient use of common computer software (word processing, data spreadsheets, email, direct communication, etc.).
-- Ability to include, elevate, and incorporate multiple perspectives when working collaboratively with communities and educators.
-- Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
-- Ability to maintain the strictest confidentiality and professionalism.


This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred (Special) Qualifications 
-- Experience designing and delivering educational/training sessions.
-- Demonstrated experience with an outdoor educational program.
-- Demonstrated experience delivering excellent customer service.
-- Bilingual/bicultural (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Somali, or Arabic) proficiency.
-- Ability to measure and report on programmatic outcomes and impacts.
-- Ability to adapt to the changing technological environment.
-- Valid teaching license.

Working Conditions / Work Schedule 
-- This position will be located in Southern Oregon. The ODS office is located in Ballard Extension Hall on OSU’s campus in Corvallis, Oregon. Since this position will serve the southern region of Oregon, the work location will be within the southern counties in that region (Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Lake Counties).
-- A flexible work arrangement can be established via OSU’s Flexible Work Arrangements Agreement Form (FWAA).
-- Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
-- Travel, including overnight, will be required to meet with partners, collect data across ODS programs in Oregon, and attend team meetings.


This position requires a clear and unambiguous commitment to compliance of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations for Division I (FBS) universities. 
-- No