Part-Time Educator

Part-Time Educators are a vital part of the Youth and Family Engagement (YFE) team. Educators facilitate outdoor educational programming for Pre-K to 12th grade students, lead drop-in programming for families, and provide support in horticultural tasks within the Children’s Garden.

The typical work schedule for this position is 8:00am – 1:00pm Monday – Friday.
Responsibilities

• Facilitates nature-based learning programming for Pre-K to 12th-grade school groups, families, and
  summer camps.
• Responsible for daily operations of the Children’s Garden on weekdays, including opening, set-up,
  and clean-up for the Children’s Garden, the Waterway, and program areas.
• Maintains physical spaces within the Children’s Garden:
  - Ensures tidiness of activity spaces.
  - Performs basic horticultural tasks (watering, weeding, planting, harvesting)
  - Participates in staff workdays to support larger projects.
•  Assists YFE staff with additional programming, which may include:
  - Leading summer camp.
  - Support for school group arrivals.
  - Occasional teaching/support of off-site programs at partner organizations in the community.
• Assists with the Garden’s yearly GardenFest of Lights holiday light show. Occasional evening shifts required.
• Completes other duties as assigned, including:
  - Actively participates in staff training and department meetings.
  - Completes American Red Cross First Aid and CPR training.
  - Ensures that guests’ fundamental needs for safety, security, and comfort are met at all times in the Garden.
  -Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday hours.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of formal and informal education principles and developmentally
  appropriate practices.
• Communicates effectively with diverse ages, backgrounds and all abilities.
• Works well independently and in a team environment; adaptable and solution-oriented,
• Energetic and personable; an innovative, creative thinker.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and group
  facilitation.
• Excellent organizational skills; self-motivated with the ability to manage goals and
  productivity.
• Able to work varied hours outside the traditional work week, including weekends, evenings, holidays, and special events, including GardenFest.
• Basic gardening knowledge is a plus.
• Proficiency in conversational Spanish a plus.

Each employee of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

• Must comply with provisions of the current Employee handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
• Must perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals, families in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
• Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
• Must report all injuries and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and to Human Resources.
• Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Ability to carry up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied terrain and all weather conditions.
• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public in a safe and friendly manner.
• The position requires familiarity with all public areas of the 82-acre Garden property.

Note: Duties described above, other duties and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma.
• 2 years college, vocational training, or other work experience; focus on environmental studies a plus
• Demonstrated experience with the design and delivery of innovative, creative, high quality, and developmentally appropriate programs for all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
• Experience in a garden or other nature-based learning setting a plus.
• CPR and First Aid certification a plus.

Please note: This position is represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO. To discuss the specific needs of your group, please reach out to 804-359-4058.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to HR@lewisginter.org.