Teacher Naturalist I

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
Are you passionate about nature, science, and the urban environment? Would you like to share that passion with others in a hands-on, minds-on, culturally responsive way? The Boston Nature Center (BNC) is hiring an enthusiastic and educator to support innovative programs for teens and middle schoolers.

In this full-time, 40-hour position, each week you will design and implement public programs for participants both at the sanctuary and in green and blue spaces throughout the city of Boston. This position will expand the existing nature & science public and school programs offered to teens and middle schoolers including working with Boston Public School teachers to integrate citizen science, climate change content, and civic engagement into their curriculum. The Teacher Naturalist will track participant attendance, implement evaluation and grow outreach. This position will have a special focus on climate change education including working with the State-wide Education team to implement Mass Audubon's Youth Climate Leadership Program (YCLP) in the Boston Region. YCLP is a youth-led, action-oriented climate action program.

This position will supervise the Willow Tree Youth Leaders, Boston Nature Center’s leadership training program for seven teens. The Youth Leaders work 8 to 12 hours a week throughout the school year leading educational activities, greeting visitors and working on projects for the wildlife sanctuary. You will design and implement a yearlong schedule of workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on work that introduce the teens to both the conservation and education fields and that provide opportunities for the teens to practice professional and leadership skills.

BNC is a collaborative, forward-thinking team that values sharing information and life-long learning. As a community, we hold ourselves to high standards of performance. Equity and inclusion are guiding principles in every aspect of our work.

Application Instructions
Please include a resume and cover letter with your ADP application.

Responsibilities

• Teach environmental education programming that is age-appropriate and culturally responsive
• Develop curricula, instructional materials, and other educational resources
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate a full complement of public teen programs
• Supervise Willow Tree Youth Leadership program during the school year
• Evaluate educational programs based on Mass Audubon and BNC philosophy and priorities
• Collaborate with other Mass Audubon educators to deliver quality programming and actively participate in statewide education meetings, work groups and professional development trainings
• Assist in sanctuary ecological research, inventories and monitoring, and incorporate knowledge into programs

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Must Haves

• BA or BS in environmental education, environmental studies, biology or earth science with a minimum of 2 years of experience in environmental education or Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 years of experience or any equivalent combination of education and experience
• Familiarity with inquiry-based learning and be able to develop curricula aligned to city and state standards
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work cooperatively and independently, along with demonstrated interpersonal skills and commitment to helping others grow in understanding of and concern for the environment
• Demonstrated ability to promote, embrace, and respect ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity and to accommodate physical and intellectual disabilities

Nice to Haves

• Fluency in other languages (Spanish, Haitian Creole, or other)
• Preference given to candidates from the Boston community

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $19.50-$21.60/hour; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements.

Benefits eligible staff at Mass Audubon may elect to enroll in medical, dental, and vision plans. Mass Audubon also offers disability and life insurance plans, a retirement plan through MetLife, and Flexible Spending Account options. Mass Audubon employment also includes access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the Reciprocity Agreement through the Consortium of Non-Profit Arts/Cultural/Environmental Organizations of New England. Mass Audubon employees also enjoy 13 paid holidays (holidays may shift annually due to where days fall within calendar).

Work Schedule
Full time schedule of 40 hours per week, Tuesday through Saturday

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.