Education Director

Overview

Sycamore Land Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and well-qualified individual to direct and implement Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program, and the opening and operation of our upcoming Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, Sycamore is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that has been preserving land, restoring habitat, and connecting people to nature since 1990. We protect and care for over 11,000 acres and growing, offer free public hiking trails and educational opportunities, and are accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

This position is responsible for managing and presenting Sycamore Land Trust’s Environmental Education Program, which serves adults and children across southern Indiana. This position will also oversee the opening and use of our new Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center in Monroe County, which is currently in the planning and pre-construction phase.

The Education Director is an integral member of a team of eight full-time professional staff, along with part-time staff and interns, who are supported by our board of directors, dozens of dedicated volunteers, and over 1,200 annual donors. This position reports to the Executive Director, supervises volunteers, and works closely with all other Sycamore staff. This position is currently based at Sycamore’s headquarters in Bloomington, and will have an office at the new education center on the north side of Bloomington upon opening.

Responsibilities

• Develop, present, and promote engaging, nature-based and conservation-focused programs for students and the general public at Sycamore’s nature preserves, the new Carl Zeigler Wetlands and Education Center, and other locations.
• Coordinate the opening, operations, and ongoing programming at the new wetlands education center.
• Communicate knowledgably about natural resources in southern Indiana, and land conservation, and land trusts in general.
• Advance Sycamore’s land protection work through networking, relationship-building, media coverage, and fundraising.
• Recruit, train, and supervise qualified volunteers to assist with programming.
• Organize and lead volunteer events and occasionally assist with land management at Sycamore nature preserves, in coordination with the Land Stewardship Director.
• Write articles and take photos for The Twig, Sycamore’s membership magazine, and other Sycamore communication channels.
• Help measure and illustrate the education program’s impact by collecting participation data and feedback.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years’ professional experience in environmental education, nature interpretation, or related fields.
• Enthusiasm for conservation and the mission, goals, and values of Sycamore Land Trust.
• Strong knowledge of the natural history of southern Indiana including native plants, wildlife, natural features, conservation threats including invasive plants, as well as broader national and global environmental issues.
• Ability to teach and interpret natural sciences as they relate to the Indiana landscape.
• Experience building and implementing environmental education curricula.
• Familiarity with state education standards, and ability to tie programming to state standards. Experience working with teachers and classrooms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with schools, other community and conservation organizations, funders, and community members.
• Enthusiastic, personable, and responsive leader with experience leading groups and working with people of varying ages and abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and computer skills.
• Comfort with public speaking and ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Self-directed, organized, reliable, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work for extended periods outdoors, including hiking over uneven terrain.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.

Other Requirements

• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and willingness to travel throughout southern Indiana.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Compliance with Sycamore’s COVID-19 vaccination procedure. Accommodations for disability- and religious-based reasons will be considered.

Compensation

Commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a full-time, exempt position with benefits including health insurance, Simple IRA with employer matching, paid vacation and sick time, travel reimbursement, and a flexible work environment.