POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Education Department at Stroud Water Research Center is seeking a highly skilled educator to implement grants and other sponsored projects and to lead education programs for a wide range of audiences. Projects include creating education curricula, developing and leading training programs, developing education technologies, and conducting other outreach to communicate the broader impacts of our education, freshwater science, and watershed restoration activities to expanding audiences. The education specialist will also teach stream study programs for schools and other groups, focusing on stream and watershed ecology (please refer to the Stroud Center’s Education Department webpages for more information about our education programs). The primary audience is PreK-12 students, and most programs take place at Stroud Center headquarters in Avondale, Pennsylvania. There are occasional off-site venues. Other duties include outreach and training programs for audiences of all ages in the community (e.g., scout groups, family programs, citizen scientists, educators, and other professionals).

The typical work week is normal business hours Monday through Friday, but some evening and weekend programs are also scheduled. This is a full-time position renewable on a yearly basis dependent on funding availability and performance. The position is funded by sponsored projects and program revenue and is expected to continue into the future. The position reports to the assistant director of education and works directly with the entire Education Department staff — which includes the director of education, part-time educators, and interns — in addition to all Stroud Center staff.

PRIMARY DUTIES

Sponsored Projects:

• Work independently and with the education team to accomplish deliverables of sponsored projects such as but not limited to creating education curricula, training programs, developing education technologies, and conducting other outreach to communicate the broader impacts of our education, freshwater science, and watershed restoration activities.
• Evaluate sponsored projects, including data collection and analysis.
• Write interim and final reports or sections of reports for funded projects.
• Prepare proposals or sections of proposals for future funding.

Program Delivery and Outreach Duties:

• Teach environmental education programs to a wide variety of audiences, primarily stream study programs for grades 4-12. Instructional stations include macroinvertebrate bioassessment, water chemistry, sustainable building tour, stream habitat assessment, stream and watershed ecology, and other topics designed and selected for school programs.
• Provide professional development (PD) to teachers and nonformal educators. Train citizen scientists and watershed professionals. PD and training programs include advancing knowledge and skills of watersheds, stream features and parameters, monitoring protocols, water science technologies, etc.
• Staff exhibit tables at community events and conferences.
• Write articles for newsletters and press releases and create advertising materials for events.
• Assist in training interns, part-time educators, and level-two educators.
• Assist with other department operations and contribute to revision and expansion of programs.

 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB EXPECTATIONS

Applicants should have demonstrated relevant experience, subject matter and education knowledge, and ability to interact with participants of all ages and types in an engaging educational and professional manner. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in science education, environmental education, or science degree related to streams and rivers with some experience in education and outreach. Our programs include leading hands-on stream study activities so applicants must be physically able to access streams, walk and stand for extended periods of time, and be able to carry scientific equipment to and from streams and events (at least 25 lbs.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants with teaching credentials for PreK-12 who are experienced environmental educators, interpreters of natural history/science, trainers of citizen scientists and watershed professionals, or who have three years of related prior work experiences in water education and outreach, are preferred. Prior experience writing successful proposals, implementing and evaluating sponsored project deliverables, and writing reports is preferred. Prior work with instructional and stream technologies (Smart Board, education and science mobile apps, GIS, water-quality sensors, other water-quality data collection instruments, etc.) is also preferred.