The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks an Islands Environmental Education Program Assistant Manager/Educator in the Education Department to be based at one of CBF’s Island Environmental Education Centers.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.
CBF has a staff of approximately 210 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
Environmental Education
CBF’s Environmental Education program introduces students, teachers, and other citizens to the wonders of the watershed and works to heighten sensitivity, increase knowledge, and empower people to take positive action toward the Bay’s restoration.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks three Assistant Manager/Educators to reside at one of CBF’s Island Environmental Education Centers. These positions are full-time, year-round, and require staff to live on site from March – December (spring, summer, fall seasons). Applicants must be able to start fulltime work in January/February 2022.
During the spring & fall field seasons, the Island staff typically lead 3-day field programs for students ranging in age from middle school through high school. In the summer, and occasionally during the rest of the year, the center hosts a variety of trip participants including adult groups, teacher groups, and student leadership programs. Housing is provided and the Assistant Manager must live on-site for the duration of Spring, Summer, and Fall field program seasons. The centers are winterized from December – February and no housing is provided during that time.
The Islands Assistant Manager will live and work at one of the following centers: The Smith Island Education Center, located in Tylerton, Maryland, is the largest inhabited offshore island in the Bay. The three island communities have a total population of 300 people. CBF owns two houses in the community of Tylerton, from which we operate a residential environmental education center for groups of up to 30 students and/or adults. The center incorporates canoes, a skiff, and a 40-foot workboat into the program.
The Karen Noonan Memorial Environmental Education Center is situated on 20 acres of marsh in southern Dorchester County, Maryland. Once one of the great Chesapeake hunting lodges, the Karen Noonan Center was completely renovated in 1995 to create an environmentally sound, state-of-the-art residential center. Participants in our program can see how a “green building” can function not only as a learning tool but as a home. The center has a 40-foot workboat, canoes, a pier, and approximately 100 feet of beachfront.
The Port Isobel Education Center is a 250-acre island that is situated in the heart of the Tangier Island archipelago. The island showcases a variety of estuarine habitats such as: marshes, a pine forest, and a ¼ mile beach. The program is focused on understanding the delicate relationship between the ecosystem and the watermen community of Tangier. The center has a 50-foot workboat and a fleet of canoes that are used with all participants.
Essential functions include:
- Professionally serve as an Educator on the Island Environmental Education Programs, and other CBF field programs
- Assist the Program Manager with developing and teaching 3-day/2-night inquiry-based field programs using multiple field-based methods such as conducting biological sampling, water quality testing, and canoe-based activities for middle and high school students, teachers, and other participants
- Continually adapt program content based upon grade/age level of the group, weather, group dynamics, and feedback/evaluations from teachers/supervisors
- Ability to communicate ecosystem and watershed concepts to a wide range of audiences
- Plan & execute summer courses for Chesapeake Classrooms Teacher Professional Development and/or Student Leadership Program
- Safely and professionally serve as a course/field leader for the Islands Environmental Education Program, and other CBF programs
- Ability to communicate safety instructions to all participants and ensure a safe learning environment
- Program staff are responsible for the safety of all field participants, ensure that all safety protocols are rigorously followed, and are required to respond to medical emergencies that may arise
- Program staff are responsible and accountable for performing maintenance to keep all education related equipment and gear (work truck, canoe trailer, canoes, education materials) in proper working order
- Consistent ability to perform programmatic administrative duties which include:
- Complete all relevant administrative tasks in a timely manner
- Provide timely communication and updates to supervisors and other CBF departments
- Develop and implement one-year program plan that is in alignment with CBF’s strategic plan
- Attend all safety and professional development trainings
- Other duties as assigned
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Successful Candidate should possess the following:
- Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience required
- 1+ years’ experience teaching in either a formal or non-formal setting
- A strong desire to teach in the field/outdoors and inspire students on a daily basis
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
- Collaborative work style
- Knowledge of environmental issues
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to live on-site at one of CBF’s Island Education Centers for the duration of the term
- Physical ability to lift and carry heavy objects-at least 45 pounds (canoes and other equipment)
- Ability to become a First Mate according to CBF’s required skills checklist
- This physically demanding position involves frequent exposure to the elements
- Ability to travel to attend trainings & meetings
- Ability to have reliable transportation to travel to other CBF field programs & locations as needed
Other:
- Must pass a criminal background check
- Must possess a valid driver’s license, submit a driving record, and have an acceptable driving record
- All education staff participate in a pre-employment & random drug screening program per the requirements of the US Coast Guard
- Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
- Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
- Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
Salary Range: $40,000
To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website no later than December 17, 2021.
CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution.
CBF requires that all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
- Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
- Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
- Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
- Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.
CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
