SELA Program Coordinator

Part-Time (25-30 hours/week)
Non-Exempt/Hourly Rate: $20.00- $22.00
Location: Based in South Gate and surrounding areas
Reports to: OEP Southeast Los Angeles Program Manager

Position Summary
The Program Coordinator is a key member of Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Outdoor Equity Program and an integral player of the Nature for All team. The most qualified candidates will possess a desire to increase outdoor access for historically marginalized communities, demonstrate strong public speaking ability, and must be able adhere to standard operating procedures. This Program Coordinator will collaborate with the program manager to implement Outdoor Equity Programs across Southeast Los Angeles, throughout Los Angeles County, and local forest areas during a two-year period. Responsibilities include supporting program development, outreach and recruitment, and program delivery. The program coordinator position will support day-to-day tasks related to SELA Outdoor Equity program deliverables including but not limited to participating in professional development, facilitation of interpretive programming,  facilitation of environmental education workshops, leading trips to our local mountains and beaches, and setting a model example of environmental stewardship.
This position balances time between coordination and facilitation of Nature for All’s Southeast LA community workshops and outdoor equity access program. The Program Coordinator must be comfortable speaking and presenting to large audiences composed of youth, adults, and/or a combination of both in both English and Spanish. The role requires a highly responsible, organized, detail-oriented individual who takes initiative and possesses a strong desire for learning. This position must be able to work independently and as part of a team. The Program Coordinator will regularly exercise independent decision making, good judgment, high ethical  tandards, and a high degree of diplomacy and discretion in all matters of significance and confidentiality at all times.

Key Responsibilities

• Works closely with the OEP-SELA Program Manager and Director of Programs on the day-to-day implementation of the program.
• Support the Program Manager in development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of program activities; including scheduling transportation, meals, coordinating additional support, and post-event reporting and follow through.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate workshops on a variety of topics including but not limited to environmental education, the Los Angeles river, public lands, climate resilience, cycling safety, and outdoor recreation.
• Maintain standards of excellence for all programs, ensuring high-quality implementation and achievement of goals for participation and desired outcomes.
• Strictly follow standard operating procedures around event planning, post-event reporting, risk management, and documentation on Google Workspace.
• Evaluate and adapt programming to ensure it is engaging, relevant, and meets the emerging needs of the communities we work with.
• Provide recommendations, alterations, and improvements to program implementation and development.
• Seek out and utilize tools and resources for streamlining program planning, delivery, and follow through.
• When program activities require it, prepare and share knowledge about specific points of interest such as natural history, flora, fauna, and geology of the San Gabriel Mountains, Watersheds, and other locations as presented (will be trained if needed).
• Participate in networking and community outreach opportunities.
• Ensure collection of liability and media release waivers physically and virtually as needed for programs and outings. Follow through with documentation on Google Drive.
• Ensure collection of program evaluation through use of data collection tools such as Google forms and other online survey platforms. Data include; participation and trip data, participant pre and post-program questionnaires, and other data collection tools.
• Support in the ongoing review and development of program curricula and training materials.
• Attend meetings and maintain positive, punctual, and clear communication with team members regarding updates and announcements.
• The Program Coordinator may be assigned to support related work to the organization’s mission.

Community Engagement and Outreach

• Ensure community engagement, outreach and recruitment of a diverse group of stakeholders that includes but is not limited to residents, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, youth groups, parent centers, neighborhood associations, schools, advocacy groups, businesses, public agencies and public officials.
• Maintain and engage relationships with community partners that continue Nature for All’s mission and strategic vision in mind.
• Implement outreach strategy to increase participation of Nature for All programming in Southeast Los Angeles.

Operations

• Maintain and modify calendars with up to date information in the Google Workspace.
• Ensure programs operate in compliance with funding sources so that intended results are achieved, and seek guidance as needed.
• Track deliverables, maintain files up to date, and ensure expenditures, receipts, and all other program related work is organized and safeguarded.
• Ensure the tracking and safekeeping of program advances, invoices, check requests, purchase requests and travel and expense reimbursements, for accounting, invoicing and audit purposes.
• Attend required staff meetings, program meetings, one-to-one meetings, training, professional development, and other events that support program goals.
• Work closely with team members to represent Nature for All at existing partner events, and assist with the development of new strategic collaborations.
• Execute administrative and standard operating functions in a timely fashion and according to Nature for All protocol, including time recording, expense reporting, internal and external correspondence, and vendor management.

Communications

• Work closely with staff responsible for communication to push out effective content, photos, and program highlights.
• Maintain and provide accurate information about past and planned events for planning and external communications purposes.
• Provide information about the SELA Outdoor Equity Program to community members and stakeholders.
• Maintain a regional contact list that will help advance communication and achievement of goals.
• Create educational and promotional materials around Nature for All programs and offerings.
• Coordinate marketing and communications efforts with support for the Program Manager and communications staff at Nature for All.

Desired Qualifications

• A commitment to Nature for All’s mission, vision, and values.
• Experience leading workshops, training, and creating experiential lessons.
• Experience with community engagement and relationship building.
• Experience with participant recruitment.
• Experience facilitating/presenting programming.
• Ability to work well with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Bilingual: Ability to read, write, speak, and communicate in English and Spanish, or another dominant language as it relates to the service population in the region.
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to write, read, and speak, and engage with diverse audiences.
• Ability to deliver effective and engaging age appropriate programming with youth and young adults.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Creativity and flexibility to capture interpretive moments and modify programs.
• Ability to be an effective independent leader in wilderness environments while also being a resourceful team-player.
• Maintain open and consistent communication with coworkers and supervisors.
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments with little or no supervision.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback and interact with a variety of people working on diverse levels across the organization and extended network.
• Must possess reliable transportation, a valid California Driver’s License, and insurance coverage to travel within Los Angeles County and potentially beyond.
• Ability to pass a background check including fingerprinting/live scanning.
• Must have or be willing to obtain within 2-months of starting a first-aid/CPR certification.
• Exemplifies and uplifts Leave No Trace ethics.
• Exemplifies and uplifts diversity in the outdoors.

Highly Desirable

• Strong experience in social justice centered organizing and working at the grassroots level.
• Strong desire to increase outdoor recreation access and opportunities for Los Angeles’ most vulnerable and park poor communities.
• Experience leading or supporting outdoor experiences such as hikes and/or overnight camping trips.
• Knowledge of California cultural history, tribal history (Tongva/Gabrielino/Kizh, Chumash, Tataviam), conservation, and climate issues, environmental justice, flora, fauna, ecology, and geology of the LA area
• Experience writing educational curriculum.
• Significant coursework from an accredited college or university.
  ○ Related fields of study include natural resource management, natural sciences, history, archaeology, anthropology, social sciences, behavioral sciences, sociology, or
  other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.
• Certified Interpretive Guide.
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR), or advanced medical training.
• 1-2 years of professional experience working with issues related to conservation, public lands, regional habitats, environmental justice, and other environment-related experience, including internship or volunteer experience.
• Experience with digital media content creation such as photography, videography, Canva, and other digital media software.

Workload and Physical Demands
Work is accomplished in outdoor and indoor settings, and includes sitting for extended periods. Travel to work sites, workshop sites, and events in the greater Los Angeles area which includes the local parks, local mountains, watershed areas, and the coast is expected and required. Note that not all job sites are accessible via public transportation.
This position requires weekend and evening work, local travel, and occasional overnight travel. Nature for All provides a mileage reimbursement for individuals with a valid drivers license operating a registered vehicle.

While performing this position, the employee is regularly required to operate a personal computer for up to 8 hours a day, talk on the telephone or webcam for multiple hours per day, and to have the ability to talk and hear. The employee is required to support outdoor events and on occasion lift and move up to 40 pounds. The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions Because this position has responsibilities requiring direct interactions with others, the employee
will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, although reasonable accommodation requests will be considered.

Equal Opportunity Policy
Nature For All is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, hire, upgrade, train and promote for all positions without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws. We value a diversity of experiences and welcome BIPOC+ and LGBTQI+ community members as part of our team and extended network. Learn more about Nature for All at: https://lanatureforall.org