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Environmental Education Assistant, Sante Fe, NM

Job Title:  Environmental Education Assistant

Office Location:  Santa Fe, NM

Status:  Full time, seasonal Williams College Internship (unpaid by IAE other than housing stipend)

Term: June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019 (with flexibility)

 

Application period:  February 8, 2019 – April 5, 2019

 

Spend the summer in unique, exotic Santa Fe, New Mexico where three cultures merge together and the majestic 12,000-foot-high Sangre de Cristo mountains are your playground just outside of the city.

 

The Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) is a dynamic nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research, and education. Our Southwest Program works in New Mexico and Arizona. We cultivate partnerships to facilitate large-scale, regional conservation projects, develop ecologically appropriate sources of native seed, offer native species education opportunities and materials, provide technical assistance to restoration and management planning and implementation, and conduct on-the-ground habitat restoration and applied research.

 

The Southwest Program of the Institute for Applied Ecology (www.appliedeco.org) seeks a Summer Environmental Education Assistant to support SW education and restoration programs in New Mexico. The Environmental Education Assistant will work closely with IAE staff to support Forest Bound (https://appliedeco.org/forest-bound-launches/), a conservation training and immersion program for high school students, and the New Mexico Nature in Prisons Project (https://appliedeco.org/new-mexico-nature-in-prisons-project/), an education and horticulture program with the Penitentiary of New Mexico. The Education Assistant may also assist with seed collection and processing activities for the Southwest Seed Partnership (https://southwestseedpartnership.org/). This position will be based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and may involve occasional travel for fieldwork. This position will be for 5 weeks, from June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019. A 10-week option could be considered on a case by case basis.  Educator orientation, plant identification, seed collection and seed cleaning training provided.

 

 

Specific Responsibilities of the Environmental Education Assistant:

  • Teach high school students lessons from the NM Native Plant Curriculum “From Ponderosa to Prickly Pear” in Santa Fe and Cibola Forests and youth workshops
  • Assist IAE SW education team with Forest Bound outdoor summer program and Native Plants in Prisons Project including: program planning, lesson development, scheduling, and outreach.
  • Work with IAE and Bureau of Land Management seed crews to collect and process seed from native species
  • Provide technical support to greenhouse intern at Sandia High School in Albuquerque
  • Assist IAE SW staff with seed collection, delivery of native seed farming workshops, and potential planting days
  • Local, day travel may be common during summer programs, but overnight trips are not expected.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • At least one year of coursework in environmental science, biology, botany, or a related field
  • Interest in environmental education, botany, conservation biology, and/or restoration ecology
  • Outgoing, energetic, and flexible
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience working on a team
  • Leadership experience or enthusiasm for acquiring leadership experience
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-driven

 

Preferred Skills:

  • Teaching experience or training, particularly experience working with high school students
  • Plant identification skills and experience using dichotomous keys
  • Experience collecting plant vouchers specimens and using a GPS unit
  • Data management experience; experience with Excel
  • Experience developing outreach materials – layout/design software experience a plus.
  • Comfortable in a backcountry setting: ability to work long hours in adverse weather conditions while maintaining attention to the task and crew safety (First aid training a plus)
  • Ability to work in bent-over, kneeling, or standing positions for significant periods of time
  • Ability to lift at least 40 lbs. and hike up to 6 miles per day

 

Compensation and Start Date:

This is an unpaid internship. A housing stipend of $50/week is, however, provided.  The position is full-time and temporary, with no additional benefits.  Employment term runs from June 10th – July 12th (5 weeks).  A 10-week option could be considered on a case by case basis.

 

How to Apply

To apply for this position, submit:

  1. Letter of interest – In your letter of interest, state when you would be available to start work
  2. Resume
  3. Contact information for 3 references

 

Letters of recommendation, writing samples, and/or college transcripts may be requested for top applicants.  Applications must be received by March 31, 2019 but sooner is better.  INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  Applications will be considered upon receipt.

 

For more information about IAE and this program, visit our website www.appliedeco.org. Email (with subject line Environmental Education Assistant) or mail application materials to:

 

Maggie Parrish

Institute for Applied Ecology

1850 Old Pecos Trail, Suite I

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

[email protected]

Questions?   Contact Maggie Parrish, Southwest Seed Partnership Coordinator, at 541-753-3099 ext. 722.