Bilingual Youth Environmental Education Program Coordinator

Bilingual Youth Environmental Education Program Coordinator

Open Until Filled- Review begin July 8th, 2022

Aves Compartidas “Shared Birds” Program Coordination

Our partnership offers a remote opportunity, approximately 30 to 40 hours (part-time hours are negotiable) with competitive wages and prorated benefits. Our partnership intends to grow this position to full-time by 2023.

Who We Are

The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership (WLTP) is a binational peer-to-peer learning experiment developed in 2015 to bring together conservation professionals, university students, and youth. Our youth education program, Aves Compartidas, connects students in bilingual (English-Spanish) elementary schools in the Willamette Valley with students in Guanajuato, Mexico through the themes of migratory birds, watershed conservation, and environmental education. We have resources to expand this program in the Willamette watershed (Oregon) and Laja watershed (Guanajuato, Mexico). With newly formed partnerships in the Portland-Metro area, we are planning international exchanges for professionals, university students, and primary school teachers.

Who We Are Seeking

We are looking for an individual who possess the following personal and professional traits:

• Passion for youth education, especially outdoor learning.
• Open-mindedness, flexibility, and adaptability.
• Independent thinking, authenticity, self-exploration, and commitment to innovation.
• A warm and welcoming personality to engage our partners.
• Passion for working in multicultural networks at all levels.
• Deep appreciation for and connection with the natural environment and conserved public areas.
• Cultural humility - a commitment to learning about diverse cultures and solving shared challenges.

Job Description

• Coordinate with teachers to schedule and teach monthly in-person lessons at participating schools throughout the Willamette Valley.
• Develop new school partnerships by meeting with principals and teachers.
• Work as part of a team with other Aves Compartidas instructors in the Willamette and Laja to develop lessons and facilitate exchanges between students (including artwork, letters, photos and videos).
• Coordinate with partnering organizations to provide annual field trips and restoration planting events for schools.
• Help us expand our program in the Portland area by developing and maintaining partnerships with new schools, universities, and community groups.
• Assist in the supervision and training of university students, including interns and students in the Environmental Leadership Program.
• Participate in weekly meetings, assist with grant writing, plan outreach events, and travel internationally to Guanajuato, Mexico (as needed).

Preferred Skills and Experience (listed in order of priority)

• Proficiency in Spanish (fluency or first language preferred).
• Experience or interest in working with teachers, schools, and elementary-age students. Background in outdoor education or conservation science is preferred, but not required.
• A willingness to work as part of a team and collaborate with teachers, community organizations, and international partners.
• A willingness to participate in field habitat restoration activities in urban and rural natural areas with students and teachers.
• Multicultural literacy — preferably sharing lived experience with our students.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and by various media, manage multiple tasks, and coordinate events and meetings.
• Familiarity with community groups in the Willamette Valley.

How to apply:

To apply, please email your resumé and cover letter to Tara Davis: willamette.laja@gmail.com 

See the full job announcement on our website: https://www.willamette-laja.org/opportunities