This is an OUTREACH notice to gauge interest from candidates for a permanent, full-time environmental educator position on the Monongahela National Forest in Elkins or Seneca Rocks, West Virginia.

About the Position

The position is located in the Forest Supervisor’s Office of the Monongahela National Forest. The incumbent is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, evaluating, and managing delivery of the Forest’s Conservation Education program, including building partnerships and writing grants that support the program.

Duties include:

Education Outreach Program Planning, Development, Coordination, and Administration

Provides professional natural resource and education guidance and expertise for the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Forest’s conservation education strategies and programs.

Ensures natural resource conservation education programs and projects include, describe, and explain the Forest Service mission, history, and current management within the context of the best scientific information. Ensures programs and projects meet accepted standards. Recognizes problems that may develop in the program and recommends preventative or mitigating actions. Coordinates natural resources conservation education activities with Forest leadership and resource areas to ensure effective explanation of agency science, management activities, and recreation opportunities. Develops conservation education strategies designed to attract target audiences.

Responsible for the administration, direction, management, and control of the education outreach programs for visitors.

Assists in development of and oversees the implementation of education outreach programs provided to visitors and special groups, such as schools and professional groups, by employees, seasonal employees, interns, volunteers, and staff. Occasionally provides off-site programs to colleges, schools, and civic groups.

Responsible for budget estimates for all education outreach activities. Inspects physical education facilities such as nature trails, wayside exhibits, signs, interpretive, information, and audiovisual installations. Coordinates with others in the preparation of articles for publication in newspapers and magazines outlining the various programs that are available.

Serves as the Forest’s Education Outreach Coordinator. Coordinates with senior staff and oversees Forest participation in education activities such as local shows and fairs and assists with special events at field office locations. Responsible for coordination and execution of major outreach events within the Forest.

Natural Resource Education Materials Development, Studies, and Evaluations

The incumbent develops and implements criteria and tools to evaluate program/project effectiveness in meeting state and national educational standards and collaborates with partners to evaluate the Forest’s conservation education materials. Develops conservation education materials and programs that meet educational standards. Investigates potential program improvement projects and conducts special studies.

Natural Resources Conservation Education Coordination, Partnerships, and Contract Work

Serves as Conservation Education partnership coordinator. Develops guidelines, translates regulations to the field level, administers agreements, ensures procedures are followed, provides technical expertise, and ensures records are maintained.

Responsible for seeking natural resource conservation education outreach-related grants, and for coordinating and screening forest grant applications.