Watershed Education Specialist

STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER’S MISSION

Stroud Water Research Center advances knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through global research, education, and watershed restoration.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Education Department at Stroud Water Research Center, Inc. is seeking a highly-skilled educator to manage grants and other sponsored projects and to lead education programs for a wide range of audiences. Projects may include creating education curricula, developing and leading professional development programs, developing the use of educational 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 watershed education programs for schools and other youth and adult groups (please refer to the Stroud Center’s Education Department webpages for more information about our education programs). Our primary audiences include grades 4-12 students and formal and non-formal educators in professional development programs. Most programs take place at the Stroud Center campus in Avondale, Pennsylvania. Our Watershed Education Mobile Lab travels to off-site venues to reach underserved audiences. The education department also leads canoe-based watershed education programs on local streams and reservoirs. Other duties include delivery of additional education, 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 workweek is normal business hours Monday through Friday. Our educators also work evening and weekend programs. This is a full-time position renewable yearly 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 Director of Education and collaborates with all education and center staff.

PRIMARY DUTIES

Sponsored Projects:

• Work independently and collaboratively with the education team to accomplish deliverables of sponsored projects such as but not limited to creating and implementing education curricula, training programs, developing the use of educational 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 students. Instructional stations may include macroinvertebrate bioassessment, water chemistry, sustainable building tour, stream habitat assessment, stream and watershed ecology, and other topics designed and selected for school programs.
• Contribute to evaluation, revision, and expansion of programs.
• Provide professional development (PD) to teachers and non-formal educators. Train community scientists and watershed professionals. These programs include advancing knowledge of watersheds, stream parameters, monitoring protocols, water science technologies, etc.
• Staff exhibit tables and present 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 other educators.
• Assist with other department operations as assigned by the director of education.

 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB EXPECTATIONS

Applicants should have demonstrated relevant experience in watershed education, subject matter and pedagogical knowledge, and the ability to interact with diverse participants in an engaging educational and professional manner. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in science education, environmental education, or a closely related field. Applicants with a science degree related to streams and rivers along with experience in education and outreach may also be considered. Our programs include leading hands-on stream study activities so applicants must be physically able to access streams, walk and stand for extended periods, 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, certified environmental educators, interpreters of natural history/science, trainers of citizen scientists and watershed professionals, or who have at least three years of related prior work experiences in water education and outreach, are preferred. Demonstrated experience planning and delivering programs for diverse, underserved, environmental justice, Spanish language, and special needs audiences. Prior experience writing successful grant proposals, managing and evaluating project deliverables, and writing reports is also preferable as is prior experience with instructional and stream technologies (e.g. SmartBoard, mobile apps, GIS, water-quality sensors, and other water-quality data collection instruments). Experience in canoeing and driving vehicles with trailers. Experience creating and managing virtual/online learning platforms.

ABOUT STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER

Stroud™ Water Research Center seeks to advance knowledge and stewardship of fresh water through global research, education, and watershed restoration and to help businesses, landowners, policymakers, and individuals make informed decisions that affect water quality and availability around the world. Since its creation in 1967, teams of scientists have conducted pioneering research on streams and rivers locally, regionally, and throughout the world. Today, the Stroud Center’s research team blends its talents in chemistry, microbiology, aquatic entomology (insects and other invertebrates), ichthyology (fish), hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and ecosystem modeling in collaborative studies of the physical, chemical, and biological processes of streams and rivers. The Stroud Center’s Education staff helps to interpret our research findings and builds education programs about freshwater ecology, management, and stewardship for a wide audience. The Stroud Center’s Watershed Restoration Group develops and implements watershed restoration programs that connect landowners, stakeholders, and the general public with best management practices for conserving, restoring, and protecting watersheds. While we work in watersheds all over the world, most of our ideas are generated and pilot tested at the Stroud Center’s main campus in the White Clay Creek experimental watershed where the Stroud Center has a 50-year research and monitoring record within a unique facility that includes indoor “wet” labs and streamside flumes fed by flowing water pumped in from the creek on our property.

In 2012, the Stroud Center expanded its campus to 50 acres and constructed a LEED Platinum-certified building for education and public outreach, the Moorhead Environmental Complex. Learn more at stroudcenter.org/about/facilities/mec.

Stroud Water Research Center is an independent, nonadvocacy 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and is an equal opportunity employer.