Youth Outdoors strives to meet the developmental needs of youth through involvement in outdoor adventure and nature exploration activities. Programs serve underrepresented audiences and are offered in collaboration with youth-serving organizations located in or near the City of Cleveland. 

1. Regular and predictable attendance is expected and required. All Cleveland Metroparks employees must be prepared to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, and/or holidays as required.
2. Plan and develop Youth Outdoors career fellowship program to provide teens ages 14 -18 exposure to the field of parks and recreation, environmental education, nature-based education, natural resource management, and/or related fields.
3. Plans, designs, schedules, promotes, outfits, and leads activities including, but not limited to the recruitment and selection of youth, career exploration programs, team building activities, outdoor recreation, resume building, service learning, and summer work placement.
4. Engages and collaborates with different units across Cleveland Metroparks to provide career, service learning, and summer work opportunities for participating youth.
5. Ensures that the Youth Outdoors career fellowship program serves to enhance the mission, vision, and values of Cleveland Metroparks.
6. Creates and revises program material including descriptions, brochures, flyers, handouts, program outlines and plans. Assists in evaluating programs, offers recommendations for improvement and actively participates in development of new programs and revision of existing programs.
7. Maintains frequent contact with youth at participating summer work locations to provide coaching and coordinate logistics including youth transportation and proper work attire/gear.
8. Maintains accurate records of attendance and program evaluation data.
9. Seeks new youth groups and organizations to form program collaborations with Youth Outdoors career fellowship. Provides presentations and pilot programming to assess potential for ongoing collaborations.
10.  Provides support for special events, large programs and projects involving numerous partners (both internal and external) with complicated logistics.
11. Purchases equipment, program materials and supplies in accordance with park district policies and procedures, under the direction of Youth Outdoors Manager. 
12. Maintains, cleans, repairs, stores, organizes and inventories equipment, outdoor clothing and program supplies. Sets up and tears down program outposts in conjunction with fellow staff.
13. Drives Youth Outdoors vans, park trucks and trailers to transport youth or equipment in support of programming.
14. Creates and contributes to staff and volunteer training and in-services to enhance their skill sets and increases the awareness of Youth Outdoors programming.
15. Keeps direct supervisor promptly informed of key/significant issues or concerns.
16. Carries out duties and responsibilities in a safe and efficient manner to maintain a safe work environment and surrounding area for oneself, co-workers and public. Responds to hazardous situations and/or potentially unsafe conditions by taking corrective action as capable and promptly notifying supervisory personnel.
17. Updates and enhances own knowledge by involvement in continuing education for professional growth (i.e., attends relevant conferences, seminars, in-service trainings, and certification programs)
18. May participate in cleaning and light maintenance of buildings, offices, facilities and grounds as needed. 
19. May serve on park committees, reservation planning teams or others as approved.
20. Performs related duties as assigned or apparent.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, outdoor recreation, K12 education, youth/leadership development, or related discipline. Minimum three years full-time experience in youth development/leadership programming, or equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this job.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license under the laws of the State of Ohio. Must possess or successfully obtain CPR/AED certifications and Wilderness First Aid. Must obtain and maintain a minimum of one additional certification in a relevant program area. Must attend Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter training and updates as required.
• Ability to design, plan and implement career/leadership development programs related to parks, recreation, conservation, or related fields for teens. Preferred skills areas include, but are not limited to, initiative/team-building activities, nature exploration, service learning, career coaching.
• Demonstrated passion and experience working with urban youth ages 8 – 18 years.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing volunteers in programming is preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability and understanding of how to utilize career or workforce readiness programming to impact youth development in individuals and groups.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that meets the needs of participating youth organizations, including weekends, evenings and holidays as required.
• Ability to safely drive vans and trucks, including trailers, to transport gear and youth program participants.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, community-based organizations, including employees, volunteers, program participants and the public.
• Ability to speak and write clearly, concisely and persuasively using proper grammar, spelling and punctuation with ability to communicate one-on-one or in group settings.
• Ability to perform work with a high degree of accuracy and organization.
• Management skills and strong business acumen, including problem solving, vision, ability to manage multiple programs and meet deadlines, collaboration, leadership, decision making and ability to analyze diverse facts and develop clear and concise reports and recommendations.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Proficiency in software programs including all Microsoft Office programs.
• Mature professional attitude and considerable discretion, including ability to manage confidential information.
• Ability to perform with considerable independence and initiative.

Salary:  Commensurate with experience

Work Schedule:  Varies