Description:
The Education Volunteer Program Coordinator serves as the point person for all Education volunteers. This individual creates and develops interactive and engaging in-person and online training for the Wildlife Educator volunteers. This individual is the point of contact for the Education Department’s volunteer and intern recruitment/cultivation efforts, training/enrichment opportunities, and retention/ recognition strategies. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) hourly position with benefits working Wednesday – Sunday. This position is in person and requires all shifts to be onsite — while volunteers are here.
Primary Responsibilities
- Recruits, trains, supports and retains qualified Wildlife Educator volunteers and Education interns in sufficient numbers so that LWE maintains exceptional guest interactions for field trips, exhibit hall interpretation, Natural History programs, and community outreach efforts.
- Supports volunteers and interns, providing clear and consistent information related to LWE’s program logistics, scheduling, training, and program coverage.
- Coordinates Wildlife Educators’ participation in events where volunteers are requested or needed, such as community outreach events, field hikes, and other special events.
- Creates, and leads the museum’s volunteer onboarding training, seasonal training, and yearly refresher training, tracking volunteers’ progression.
- Writes and edits exciting science-based seasonal (3 times a year) Exploration Stations that the Exhibit Hall volunteers use to interpret during their weekly shifts.
- Works with Animal Encounters and Natural History to ensure all volunteer-run Exploration Stations have required animal ambassadors and natural sciences specimens needed.
- Manages Exhibit Hall volunteers, leading daily huddle meetings and assisting volunteers as needed.
- ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
- Serve on the Volunteer Council to discuss and address organization-wide issues and needs related to volunteer recruitment, cultivation, enrichment, retention, and recognition.
- Assists in leading field trip programs and daily programs as needed.
- Creates, edits, and maintains online training videos for volunteers.
- Assists the Youth Programs Coordinator with managing the Teen program and Scout Programs.
- Direct animal handling with the museum’s animal ambassadors for programming, as well as overseeing that the volunteers are handling animals correctly (with the support of the Animal Encounters Volunteer Coordinator).
- Develop creative solutions to enhance volunteerism and sustain a volunteer-centric organizational culture; maintain a safe, organized, and professional work environment.
- Ensure that all program volunteers are current on health and safety and animal and specimen handling training.
- Attend trainings and meetings as required.
- Willing and able to support Education Department efforts not specific to this position should the need arise and when appropriate, such as exhibit floor programming, content development, classes, and workshops. This is an essential part of the Education Department’s culture of support and teamwork.
- Other duties as assigned. The Curator of Education reserves the right to modify duties and responsibilities of the Education Volunteer Program Coordinator.
Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in education, ecology, biology, or a relevant field.
- Previous experience working with volunteers, preferably in a museum, zoo, or nature center.
- Demonstrated skill in coaching, supervising, and leading volunteers.
- Strong knowledge of K-12 learning and teaching strategies, curriculum, and standards and museum education theory and practice.
- Strong knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and methods of integrating NGSS concepts into structured science / environmental education curricula.
- Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to providing exceptional experiences for volunteers and guests.
- Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.
- Proficient in using Apple computers, MS Office, and Google for Work Apps.
- Working knowledge of the natural world.
- Ability to handle and present program animals including, but not limited to, raptors, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
- Display sound judgment, problem-solving, and diplomacy at all times; courteous and respectful interactions with supervisors, co-workers, and volunteers.
- Flexibility with regards to schedule, with the understanding that members of the Education Department will be required to work nights as needed.