Education Coordinator – Youth in Natural Resources (YNR)

Job Title: education Coordinator – Youth in Natural Resources (YNR)

Reports To: Program Manager                   

Location: ELK Office (12680 Albrook Drive, Denver, CO 80239)       

Status: Fulltime, Exempt

Compensation: This is a full-time position with an annual salary of $58,000.00 plus benefits.

Hours: This position is primarily Tuesday-Saturday with hours generally from11am-7pm during the school year. During the summer, hours flex with partners’ project schedules and weather. 

Background

Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) is a local nonprofit that creates a sense of belonging, self discovery, and adventure in the outdoors for underrepresented young people of color and their families, transforming youth into environmental stewards and trailblazers that promote equitable outdoor access, sustainable practices, and community uplift. ELK programs introduce, immerse, educate, and mentor youth ages 5-25 and their families to Colorado’s natural resources and science-related careers. Most return year after year to join ELK’s community of learners. ELK offers a mosaic of programs that serve as stepping-stones for young leaders and engaged environmental stewards of today and tomorrow.

Job Summary

The Education Coordinator is responsible for the development and implementation of ELK program – Youth in Natural Resources (YNR). ELK Education Coordinator maximizes the effectiveness and smooth functioning of the organization by planning, managing, developing, and implementing Youth in Natural Resources (YNR) program and the Urban Rangers – ELK’s Summer Youth Employment program. Youth in Natural Resources (YNR) encourages youth, ages 14-25, to explore career options, gain work experience in the natural resource and science fields and continue their education after high school. This position is directly related to ELK’s core mission of cultivating a diverse community of leaders and environmental stewards. Evening and weekend work is required in meeting the position responsibilities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Programs –95% of employee’s time (95% Programs, varied by position; 5% Admin)

• Responsible for scheduling, planning, managing, and delivering ELK’s Youth in Natural Resources (YNR)/Leadership Corps (LC) Program during the academic school year. This includes monthly meetings, service-learning engagements, college visits, and additional leadership opportunities for ELK youth 14-25.
• Supervises Urban Ranger Program Assistant and may supervise Student Coordinators and/or interns should the opportunity arise.
• Supervises Summer Youth Employment Program (Urban Rangers) during summer months, including hiring, orientation, training, work plan, and work schedule management.
• Assists and supports the implementation of the goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for the following ELK programs: School Based Programs, Student Recruitment and Retention, Community Outreach Events, LEAF, and Denver Youth Naturally (DYN).
• Responsible for Student Recruitment into ELK’s YNR programs through school-based programs, community outreach events, and other student recruiting activities as needed (including school assembly programs, teacher/administrator meetings, parent/student orientation meetings, and training workshops); this includes orientation, and registration of new students and/or families into ELK and management of all participant files ensuring complete paperwork on file for each participant.
• Responsible for Student Retention in ELK’s YNR program through regular communication, check-ins, surveys, and program invitations. This includes maintaining communication with ELK participants via postal mail, electronic mail, telephone calls, text messages, and/or social media to inform them of upcoming program details and logistics; some of this work may occur during off normal work hours.
• Responsible for building genuine relationships with youth and their families
• Assists in the evaluation of YNR Programs through various evaluation tools i. surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc. and carefully tracks and reports program data, evaluation, and assessment results to the ELK’s Program Manager.
• Carefully tracks and reports student scholarships, college information and alumni information.
• Continually connects YNR students with relevant scholarships, internships, jobs, seminars, conferences and other resources that will help students be successful in pursuing a career and higher education.
• With the assistance of the Impact Communications Manager, builds and fosters strategic partnerships, community outreach/marketing, and distribution of information about ELK and our programs to schools, associations, nonprofits, government agencies, and the general public through publications, presentations, and public speaking
• Contributes to a positive, productive workplace through open communication, problem solving, sense of humor, and dedication to achieving ELK’s goals and mission.

Other Duties – 5% of employee’s time (50% fundraising, 25% Administration, 25% Programs)

• Assists in preparation of grant statistics, community outreach, and partnership development.
• Assists in the completion of marketing and reporting materials, maintaining digital photo library and narratives from participants about programs, and contributes to the ELK website, newsletter, and social media sites.
• Builds and fosters strategic partnerships, community outreach/marketing, and distribution of information about ELK and our programs to schools, associations, nonprofits, government agencies, and the general public through publications, presentations, and public speaking engagements
• Performs other duties as

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years experience working directly with students ages 14-18
• Two years experience working with diverse, multicultural youth and families
• Bachelors degree in Education, Youth Development, Higher Education, Zoology, Wildlife/Aquatic Biology, or Natural Resource Management or equivalent science-based degree;
• And/or three to five years’ related experience or training, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience delivering informal education programs through in-school, after-school, environmental education, or summer camp programs.
• Experience instructing outdoor recreation in urban and/or wilderness
• Spanish speaking, writing, and comprehension skills (fluent)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, hike, wade in rivers, paddle, climb through brush, handle wildlife/birds/fish/insects; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with arms and hands; and talk or hear. The employee must be able to lift 50 pounds, hike at least 4 miles (steep grade), safely operate a 15-passenger van & trailer, first aid certification/CPR, and have specific vision abilities required to drive at night, look through a microscope/binoculars, and have close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

CBI/FBI Background check required.

Benefits:

• Subsidized Medical, Dental, Vision, insurance for the employee
• Optional participation in Flexible Spending Account
• Optional participation in group retirement plan with discretionary match
• Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal leave
• Cellphone stipend
• Professional Development Opportunities