Working Title: Wildlife Education Coordinator

Job Class: Education Consultant 1

Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

• Job ID : 82826

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Limited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 12/21/2024

• Closing Date : 1/10/2025

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources

• Division/Unit : Ecological & Water Resources

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes

• Salary Range: $29.78 - $43.82 / hourly; $62,180 - $91,496 / annually

• Classified Status : Unclassified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees / MAPE

• End Date : 06/30/2025 with the possibility of extension

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : No

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Are you passionate about wildlife conservation and education? The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program is currently offering an opportunity for an Education Consultant I to coordinate wildlife education programming opportunities for Minnesota’s youth in schools and informal education settings. These programs will include Bird by Bird and a wildlife career engagement program for young adults. There is also potential for this program to administer and coordinate some Project WILD programs.

Bird by Bird, a relatively new program for Minnesota, connects youth to nature through the joy of birding. The program serves elementary schools selected on a needs basis that are underserved in science and environmental education with the goal of increasing inclusion and representation in nature-based recreation and natural resource careers.

Our wildlife career engagement program for young adults provides urban youth from underrepresented communities, with exposure to wildlife conservation careers. Its participants receive immersive and hands-on field experiences, access to natural resource professionals, and opportunities to work at community outreach events centered around wildlife and conservation, such as bird watching opportunities.

Project WILD, a national program by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education activity guide that focuses on wildlife, fostering responsible actions. Activities support ecology-related Science Standards of Learning, the building of environmentally literate citizens, and fosters outdoor learning.

The person in this position will continue development of the Bird by Bird program by recruiting participation from schools, primarily in the Twin Cities metro area; refining previously developed activities and teaching materials; training, coordinating, and building relationships with volunteers; and building relationships and coordinating with teachers and schools.

This position will also be responsible for refining and continuing our young adult wildlife career engagement programming. They will design and coordinate a series of field trip experiences for participants by coordinating with DNR colleagues and external partners. They will also continue to build upon established relationships and coordinate with our community partners who identify and transport program participants.

This position may also have the opportunity to support a small scale re-launching of Project WILD in Minnesota, which would include program administration and coordination. This position would potentially provide some training workshops for Minnesota PreK- Grade 12 educators who will implement Project WILD activities for their students and/or they may train and coordinate volunteer facilitators to lead these workshops on behalf of the DNR.

Please note that the end date for this grant-funded position is currently June 30, 2025, but there may be opportunity for extension based on continued grant funding.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Develop and lead efforts to bring the learning objectives of Bird by Bird (a grant-funded project) into need-based schools underserved in science and environmental education.

• Train and coordinate teachers, educators, and volunteers to implement the Bird by Bird program in needs based schools, providing environmental education and fostering interest in birds and community science.

• Work with partners to coordinate wildlife career engagement programs for urban young adults, providing them with hands-on outdoor experiential learning and community engagement opportunities.

• Work with Bird by Bird volunteers and teachers and young adult program participants to engage families and community members near Bird by Bird schools in the students’ learning, birds, bird watching, and/or the conservation of birds.

• Ensure Bird by Bird and young adult program grant intent and requirements are met by tracking, monitoring, and reporting.

• Promote Bird by Bird by jointly planning and implementing engagement strategies to recruit schools, teachers, and volunteers to participate in these programs.

• Participate as a member of the Nongame Wildlife Program team by providing expertise in education, and aiding in planning, problem-solving, and programmatic development.

• Potentially develop and lead forward a plan for a small scale re-launch and implementation of Project WILD in Minnesota, providing program administration, coordination, and delivering curriculum training workshops.

This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a full or part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement. Also note that this position is engaged in active outreach and will require travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education (science), environmental science, zoology, ecology or a closely related area of study.

• Two years of professional experience implementing educational programs and/or developing curriculum related to environmental science. *An advanced degree in one of the above areas may substitute for one year of experience.

• Project management skills sufficient to efficiently organize and lead projects, plan workshops, coordinate partners, ensure timely completion of deliverables and to multi-task overlapping responsibilities.

• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills sufficient to coordinate and facilitate workshops, conduct volunteer trainings, create and deliver effective presentations, promote education programs, coordinate effectively with partners, and to write grant proposals.

• Demonstrated experience working with and/or supporting communities who are underrepresented in natural resource careers or recreation through engagement in public programs and/or partnership collaborations.

• Demonstrated experience engaging, recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers.

• Knowledge of bird identification and ecology sufficient to identify common urban/ suburban yard birds and to develop bird-focused curriculum, lesson plans, and supportive materials, tailoring them to Minnesota.

• Strong interpersonal skills sufficient to build and maintain relationships with program partners and colleagues.

• Administrative and budgetary skills sufficient to track a project’s expenditures and metrics for grant reports.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite sufficient to produce and maintain word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in education (science), environmental science, zoology, ecology or a closely related area of study.

• Three years of professional experience teaching science to elementary, middle, or high school students.

• Experience implementing or training others in Project WILD, Growing Up WILD, Flying WILD, or other WILD activities and curricula.

• Demonstrated experience working with and/or supporting specific underrepresented communities through engagement in public programs and/or partnership collaborations.

• Experience participating in programs or projects (either as a professional or volunteer) that involve wildlife watching activities, as described by the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-associated Recreation and the National Wildlife Viewer Survey. These activities include intentionally observing or photographing birds or other wild animals; traveling to parks or natural areas for the primary purpose of observing or photographing birds or other wild animals; maintaining plantings, gardens, or natural areas specifically for the benefit of birds or other wild animals; or engaging in safe and ethical feeding of wild birds.

• Knowledge of bird identification, habitats, and conservation sufficient to identify a diversity of birds by sight and sound while in the field and to integrate conservation actions and ethics that support birds into educational programs.

• Experience in public speaking, including to large audiences.

• Experienced in grant writing and reporting.

• Two years of experience coordinating volunteer programs.

• Knowledge of the structure and function of educational systems sufficient to recommend solutions to programmatic and operational questions.

• Experience designing outdoor, environmental education activities, so that they are applicable to state academic standards and relevant for teachers.

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Conflict of Interest Review

• Criminal History Check

• Education Verification

• Employment Reference / Records Check

• License / Certification Verification

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.