General Summary: The School Programs Coordinator coordinates the planning, implementation, and instruction of all teacher, school, and fee-based programs.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

1. lesson planning
2. program delivery
3. coordination of all interactions with other Audubon Nature Institute departments
4. marketing of all programs, and
5. direct supervision of volunteers and interns who assist with programs.

The School Programs Coordinator develops programs, maintains budgets, assesses and coordinates supplies and physical space needs for programs, and assists in the hiring, training, supervision and evaluation of volunteers and interns.

To deliver on the Audubon mission, the School Programs Coordinator will:

Provide a guest experience of outstanding quality

• • Coordinate all activities surrounding school, teacher, and public programs
• • Prepares for all programs by developing a program plan, coordinating staff and volunteers needed, maintaining inventory of supplies, and securing all physical space, as needed
• • Conducts analysis and evaluations of programming and of the public to meet the changing needs of the audience and offer a diverse cluster of quality programs
• • Conducts administrative duties including: developing assessment tools, maintaining budgets, and scheduling programming informational/organizational meetings
• • Communicates issues or concerns to the Education Programs Manager in a timely manner
• • Works in a cooperative manner with Animal Staff and respects the educational animal protocols, equipment and space
• • Assists in any Audubon Nature Institute education program, as needed by the Department
• • Supervises volunteers and interns who support school programming to ensure successful animal handling, conservation messaging, and customer service

Weave quality entertainment through the guest experience

• • Develops and implements evaluation tool(s) for programs to reflect visitor interest and satisfaction and to identify future areas of growth
• • Utilizes diverse animals, biofacts, and educational tools to deliver programming that engages multiple learning styles
• • Train staff, volunteers, and interns to successfully handle and interpret animals and biofacts

Educate our diverse audience about the natural world

• • Develop and conduct teacher, school, and public programming throughout the year
• • Maintain timely and accurate records of program statistics. Share this information, as necessary, with departmental supervisors, Development, and Marketing
• • Actively collaborates with the education department team to design and implement programs and presentations directly related to our collection and conservation issues
• • Actively collaborate with Marketing, Development, Membership and Special Events to support non-routine special events
• • Actively seeks up- to-date information in informal educational methodologies and informal education trends
• • Actively seeks out and participates in professional development opportunities as approved by supervisor

The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.

To deliver on the Audubon service promise, the School Programs Coordinator will:

Welcome

• • Make eye contact with every customer encounter, smile at every person, offer friendly phrases and greetings.
• • Walk individual to destination instead of pointing; offer assistance to people who look confused.
• • Assume ownership of potential safety hazards (wipe-up spill, pick up trash). Always have the camera-ready look.

Share

• • Maintain positive attitude, pleasant tone of voice (remember it is not what you say, but how you say it).
• • Coach coworkers on service expectations.
• • Be self-motivated with team building and conflict resolution abilities.
• • Utilize the power of teamwork to give excellent service.
• • Know when to involve management.

Inspire

• • Know the answers to questions or seek out the answers.
• • Ensure work area is free of food, drink, socialization, and personal business.
• • Follow Dress Code Policy on clothing and grooming.
• • Keep unpleasant concerns behind closed doors (vent backstage).

Supervision: Volunteers who assist with programming

Experience:

• • 2-5 years working in an informal learning environment and demonstrated experience in planning and implementation of school and teacher programs.
• • Experience handling animals or ability to learn to handle animals including mammals, birds, aquatics, reptiles and invertebrates (all classes).
• • Demonstrated ability to relate and communicate effectively with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds.
• • Experience maintaining a budget, including ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• • Ability to read, interpret, and communicate documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of guests and employees.

Education: Bachelor’s degree required in Education, Biology, Zoology, Communications, Ecology, or Environmental Education and/or equivalent work experience.

Physical Requirements:
1. Ability to speak loudly to crowds in a variety of situations included moderate to loud crowds.
2. Ability to perceive visual, odor, or behavioral changes in animals to determine changes in animals’ stress level or general well-being. Must have excellent peripheral vision, depth perception, and quick motor response for animal and audience control during presentations.
3. Must be able to reach above shoulder level, stoop and squat to retrieve kennels and animals, which also may require stepping on stools. Must be able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
4. Must be able to stand or walk for up to 2/3 of the day
5. Constant adequate range of motion and mobility required.
6. Typical ability to collect and analyze numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions and ability to determine the time, place and sequence of operations or actions required.
7. Regular talking and the ability to express and exchange ideas by means of language expected.

Environmental/Working Conditions:
1. Working long hours between breaks or meals required.
2. Ability to work under and handle stress in an appropriate manner required.
3. May be exposed to high, medium, or low noise intensity.
4. Works effectively in a moderately noisy office.
5. Constant contact with co-workers required.
6. Affinity for animals preferred.
7. Exposure to fluctuations in temperatures is required.
8. Exposure to extreme heat and outdoor conditions is required.
9. Must be able to work holidays and weekends