Environmental Education Specialist

We are a great place to work if you love being outside and hiking in the mountains, and teaching and learning about the local ecosystem with 5th grade students, as well as kids and people of all ages. We are in a beautiful spot in the east mountains of the Sandias with pinyon-juniper, Ponderosa, and mixed conifer forests, canyons, meadows, and great scenery. We are a casual work environment where everyone is able to contribute, get creative, and continually help shape our educational programs and other projects.  No day is the same, and you have the freedom to teach everyday somewhat differently, design new activities, and find other projects and partnerships to be part of when not teaching. We are close to Albuquerque, so you can maintain a good mix of rural and urban between your working and personal life. You'll find lots to do in the city, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails close by.

Job Overview

Join the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center in the east mountains outside Albuquerque as an environmental educator!

You will be a part of our small, dedicated staff teaching our outdoor Ecology Field Program for all Albuquerque Public Schools 5th graders, and other area schools, on 8 miles of trails on our APS-owned land and Cibola National Forest. You will also teach outreach programs and events around the state at times, and lead on-site programs and workshops for the public, summer groups, teachers, and other special groups.

Other position responsibilities may include: program and curriculum development, program evaluation, scientific research, working with volunteers, grant writing/management, partnering with other area organizations, trail maintenance, and the flexibility to take on new environmental education-related work as time allows.

This position is through the State of New Mexico, with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) in Albuquerque. The job site is at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, an environmental education facility owned by Albuquerque Public Schools and operated with the NMMNHS.

Contact

SMNHC Director Paul Mauermann with any questions at [email protected]

Full Job Description

The primary responsibility of this position is leading 2 to 3-mile nature hikes at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center and statewide, that teach about ecology and the interconnectedness of nature to mostly 5th grade students. Using New Mexico’s beautiful landscapes and hands on science, this position facilitates students’ exposure to the outdoors, science and ecology. This position also helps coordinate public programming, statewide outreach, and partnership programs. The Instructional Coordinator also gets to develop and expand environmental education programming using best practices in outdoor, classroom and web­ based instruction.

The primary responsibility of this position is safely teaching students about ecological concepts in an outdoor setting using hands-on, inquiry-based, and scientific methods and activities. Knowledge of group management, safety and learning styles are key components of success. Adapting to variabilities in weather, group dynamics and trail conditions is essential.

While most of the work is on site at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, this position will recruit, organize, and provide occasional programs outside of the Albuquerque area with schools and partner organizations. The employee will design, implement, and participate in public programming as resources allow. Position will be responsible for developing lessons aligned with NM Stem Ready! standards and building partnerships with other environmental education organizations to build statewide capacity. Coordinating the volunteer corps at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center is a small but vital part of this position’s responsibilities.

Special Benefits

Paid health insurance, dental/vision insurance options. Paid annual leave, paid sick days, paid state holidays.

Professional development and opportunities to explore places in the Sandia mountains and across New Mexico.

Minimum Requirements