Lecturer and Environmental Center Coordinator

Job Title: Lecturer and Environmental Center Coordinator 

Location: McDaniel College (Westminster, MD) and McDaniel Environmental Center (New Windsor, MD) 

Employment Type: Full-Time (11-Month) 

About McDaniel College: 

McDaniel College, recognized nationally among “Colleges that Change Lives” and U.S. News and World Report top-tier liberal arts colleges, is a four-year private college of the liberal arts and sciences offering more than 60 undergraduate programs of study, including dual and student-designed majors, plus 20 highly regarded graduate programs. At McDaniel College we value our employees by offering our full-time employees tuition remission, 403B retirement accounts, paid time off, medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and paid maternity and parental leave. Visit College website for details. 

About the McDaniel Environmental Center:  
The McDaniel Environmental Center is a 58-acre property that supports the college’s mission and has become a student-powered hub for collaborative research, experiential learning, and outdoor service opportunities. The property is a 15-minute drive from McDaniel’s main campus and features three historic residences, two ponds, a creek, and several acres of fields and forested land. Since McDaniel College acquired the property in the late 1980s, it has transformed into a creative space for students to make an impact in landscape management, sustainable agricultural production, wetland restoration, student-faculty research, and community engagement. The property is used by classes from multiple disciplines for educational immersion as well as for community building experiences during new student orientation and beyond. 

Job Summary:  

The Environmental Studies Department (ENV) at McDaniel College invites applications for a Lecturer and Environmental Center Coordinator beginning Fall 2024. This is a hybrid position that includes a teaching appointment in the Environmental Studies Department as well as overseeing the coordination and execution of maintenance activities as well as experiential learning opportunities at the McDaniel Environmental Center (MEC). This role requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and a passion for environmental sustainability and education. This role involves working closely with the McDaniel Environmental Center Governance and Program Committees, the Directors of Grounds and Physical Plant, the Coordinator of the McDaniel Gardens Program, student employees, community partners, and other stakeholders, as applicable, to manage the physical and fiscal resources of the MEC as well as foster a sustainable, safe, and inclusive educational environment. The ideal candidate should have experience in environmental education as well as a strong background in landscape management, project management, and a passion for promoting sustainable practices in a way that supports the experiential learning and community outreach goals of McDaniel College. The ideal candidate will also live on site in a college-provided residence. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.   

Key Responsibilities: 

Undergraduate Teaching: 

• Offer a range of courses in environmental studies, with a particular focus on introductory courses in the ENV major and McDaniel’s general education program, with opportunities to teach upper-level ENV courses in their field.
• Provide a safe learning environment for the students in the field, classroom, and laboratory.
• Provide mentorship and advising to ENV majors and minors.
• Teaching load is 2/2.

Environmental Center Coordination:  

• In partnership with the Director of Grounds, design and execute a comprehensive property management program, including vegetation management, pruning, planting, irrigation, trail maintenance, physical space maintenance (e.g., pavilion, parking lot, outbuildings), and management of pests and invasive species.
• Coordinate with McDaniel Physical Plant, Grounds, and external contractors on property maintenance needs and schedules.
• Support the McDaniel Gardens Program in basic maintenance of all production spaces, including irrigation, infrastructure, and weed and pest management activities, as needed.
• Ensure all trails and gathering spaces are safe and readily accessible for College and community activities.
• Routinely mow areas around the pavilion, manor house, trail and driveway during growing season.
• Promote and integrate environmentally friendly practices in all property maintenance, such as water and energy conservation and native planting strategies.
• Maintain an inventory and ensure proper use and storage of tools, equipment, and supplies necessary for property maintenance.
• Update, post, and enforce property rules and regulations for all MEC visitors and promptly respond to any safety concerns.

College & Community Engagement:  

• Collaborate with College faculty, staff, and students to support educational visits, research projects, service and community-building events, admissions and alumni events, and other tours, as requested.
• Engage with community partners to create experiential learning opportunities for students, existing classes, and other community groups.
• Work with the Environmental Studies administrative assistant to manage space reservations and property calendar requests.
• Participate in marketing, development, and external funding application activities.

Qualifications:  

• Masters’ degree (minimum) in Environmental Science or Studies, Natural Resource, Environmental or Landscape Management, Recreation and Parks Management, Applied Ecology, or a related field.
• Experience with outdoor and/or environmental education or outreach, especially at the high school or college level.
• Experience in project management and/or landscape or property management preferred.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable horticultural or landscaping practices, plant identification, and pest management.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed.

Working Conditions: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a variety of conditions including but not limited to typical office and classroom settings, and outdoor weather conditions at the MEC. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Exposure to operating machinery consistent with care of an environmental center.

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to work in outdoor temperatures ranging from extreme cold to extreme heat.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to 30 lbs. without assistance as well as being able to kneel, squat, reach above the head, at the waist, and below the knees.
• Ability to repetitively push and pull equipment such as a push-mower, weedwhacker or rake without assistance.
• Ability to repetitively grasp and manipulate objects of varying size and weight requiring fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Ability to exert oneself physically over sustained periods of time to complete job activities.
• Ability to stand a minimum of 6 hours during the workday.

Additional Information: 

McDaniel College, an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, and employment of students, faculty, and staff in the operation of any of its educational programs and activities. McDaniel College will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment on basis of any protected status including race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, military status, genetic information, marital status, veteran’s status or any other legally protected status. For more information on the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, please visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion.