Responsibilities

• Direct Teaching (60%) – Facilitate and teach school programs, Blooming Butterflies public classes, Toddler Story and Stroll programs, and other education programs as assigned. In conjunction with the Youth & Family Programs Manager, develop, implement, and evaluate educational curriculum and lesson plans for school groups, K-12 community groups, youth, and family programs and activities, using current learning theory and methodology and informal education best practices. Develop, procure, prepare, maintain, and inventory teaching materials and supplies; set up and clean up of classrooms and program spaces.
• Supervisory Responsibilities (20%) – Assist with scheduling, training, coaching, supervising, and evaluating education program interns, contracted educators, and volunteers; plan and prepare work schedules and assign duties.
• Blooming Butterflies (100% before & during event) – Coordinate and facilitate educational components of the Blooming Butterfly event as part of the event’s team; this includes assisting in training adult volunteers, supervising adult education volunteers throughout the Blooming Butterflies event, maintaining education displays and activities, providing high quality interactions with visitors, direct teaching of education classes, and administrative duties.
• Education Program Coordination – In coordination with the Youth & Family Programs Manager, oversee aspects of youth and family programs; develop program offerings to best match Olbrich’s visions, mission, and strategic, education, and facilities plans.
• NatureNet Passport Program – Maintain summer family passport program and supplies.
• External Partners – Collaborate with local, state, regional, and national partners on education initiatives so as to multiply the resources available for youth and family educational opportunities.
• Program Marketing – Assist in developing and distributing education marketing materials, maintaining databases, and acting as a positive advocate for the education department.
• Internal Collaboration – Contribute to building productive and cohesive relationships with colleagues, members, volunteers, donors, and partners.
• General Office Duties – Administrative tasks; maintain and organize education materials, such as teaching aides, education supplies, and resource files; fulfill various administrative tasks.
• Interpretive Growth – As part of a team, actively participate in the planning and development of an educational teaching garden(s) and informal education facilities; benchmarking areas for new programming and audience expansion.
• Long-range Vision and Education Planning – As part of a team, actively participate in the development, facilitation, maintenance, and evaluation of the Education Department’s long-range vision, goals, and activities to fulfill the Olbrich Botanical Gardens (OBG) vision and mission.
• Perform Related Work as Assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, horticulture, botany, environmental education or related field, or hold a Bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in the sciences.
• Two years, minimum, experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting and/or planning and managing educational programs in a botanical garden, nature center, museum and/or similar institution.
• Two years, minimum, supervising staff and interns or volunteers and leading a team in program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience in the non-profit sector preferred.
• Ability to fulfill the Essential Functions listed in extended description on webiste: www.olbrich.org/about/jobs.cfm

Work Schedule:  This is a part-time, regular (hourly) position (25-27 hours/week) for approximately ten months out of the year and a full-time (40 hours/week) position for approximately 6 weeks during the summer (July and August) for the Blooming Butterflies event. The summer work schedule is Wednesday through Sunday, eight hours each day. The part-time, regular work schedule is Tuesday-Friday, approximately 6 hours each day and includes weekend and evening work times as program needs dictate with an adjusted schedule.

Olbrich Botanical Society is an equal opportunity employer.