Environmental Field Educator

Department: Education Program
Reports to: Education Program Director
Job Classification: Exempt, Full-time, 36 hrs per week
Salary range: $21.5-$24 hourly

The Environmental Field Educator assists BRN’s Education Program serving the Mexico-USA borderlands between Sonora and Arizona. Our Education Program is fundamental to fulfill our mission of connecting communities to the land through shared learning. BRN’s Education Department is composed of place-based educational programs built around a common curriculum that covers the restoration of watersheds, ecosystems, and communities in a culturally-relevant context.

This position works closely with the Education Program Director along with other staff to maintain and deliver robust place-based environmental education programming.

This position will be responsible for providing outreach, engagement, facilitation, and instruction for BRN Education Programs including, but not limited to, Borderlands Earth Care Youth internship for youth in southern Arizona, and the Borderlands Field Course for young professionals in northern Sonora.

The ideal candidate will have an academic background in education and the environment, as well as professional experience developing and delivering experiential learning modules for culturally diverse youth and adult audiences in outdoor, field-based settings.

Geographic Location: Patagonia, AZ.
Employee must be based in, or able to travel to Patagonia throughout the work week, and for occasional weekends during program execution. In alignment with our vision to support a healthy environment, remote work is an option when under supervisor approval and compatible with the work tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Co-Lead and Co-Facilitate educational programming and multi-day field courses.
• Work a Tuesday-Saturday work week.
• Interface with the public at community outreach events in Patagonia and Tucson and other places as needed and requested in the US and Mexico.
• Co-develop and deliver education learning modules in place-based ecological restoration and literacy.
• Assist with program evaluation and reporting.
• Greet visiting groups and lead tours at BRN properties in Patagonia
• Manage program camping gear, field equipment, and tools; clean, organize, and store in- between use.
• Maintain contact and communication with Education Program staff when working in the field.
• Other tasks and duties as required.

Requisite Education and Experience

• Associate’s degree or higher in Environmental Studies, Education, or other closely related field
• 1-2 years of experience working with diverse audiences in interpretation, group facilitation, environmental or outdoor education, or similar.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience delivering field-based environmental education programs with a high degree of enthusiasm and professionalism.
• Demonstrated cross-cultural experience and competency.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather, including desert heat.
• Valid Driver’s license and reliable transportation Possess a current passport or the ability to obtain.
• Fingerprint Clearance Card or ability to obtain.
• Spanish/English-language proficiency.
• WFR or WFA certification or ability and interest to obtain.
• Possession of a smart phone or willingness to use one for navigation and communication.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Experience with Environmental Education, Ecological Restoration, or similar field, preferably in arid landscapes.
• Experience and comfort leading outdoor, multi-day, field-based educational courses, including, but not limited to, driving vehicles with course participants and serving as course medical co- lead.
• Experience and comfort interfacing with a wide range of constituents, including volunteers, students of various ages, program partners, and other community members from varied backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Experience working with hand tools.
• Experience supervising volunteers.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to hike at least 5 miles over uneven and rocky terrain in remote work locations.
• Ability to conduct intense, physical work in potentially extreme weather conditions and rough terrain while carrying up to 50 lbs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit, reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Borderlands Restoration Network is an equal opportunity employer that works in the culturally diverse, multinational borderlands. We invite and support strong voices from diverse groups of people to join us as board members, staff members, and volunteers. As an organization, we will consider all applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, economic circumstances, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.