Park & Resource Management/Sustainability Education Graduate Position

Position Description: The Macoskey Center for Sustainability Education & Research (MC) is Slippery Rock University’s campus hub for sustainability and environmental education. We are seeking an active and enthusiastic graduate student to join our leadership team to assist in helping us to maintain the facilities and homesteading aspects of our property as well as assist with Summer Camp administrative tasks and programmatic planning and delivery during the summer semester. The property features a 70-acre forested landscape with hiking trails, a permaculture garden demonstration site, an ecotherapy garden, chickens, a LEED-certified house with classroom and office space, and much more. We aim to create accessible and equitable opportunities for SRU students and community members to benefit from and learn about all that the site has to offer. We are seeking a highly motivated student with a positive attitude and teachable spirit who can make strong connections between The Macoskey Center and their chosen field of study. 

Weekly Work Hours: 20 (Fall & Spring 2024-2025), 37.5 (Summer 2024) 

Expected Start Date: Negotiable start date with a strong preference to start mid to late May. Must be able to work during the Summer 2024 semester. The graduate student worker position will continue through the following Fall & Spring semesters

Job Functions/Responsibilities: 

Summer:

• Assist with the creation and implementation of sustainability education/environmental education lesson plans for MC Summer Camps (4 weeks of camp total; 2 in June and 2 in July)
• Supervise and mentor Summer Sustainability Education Interns
• Assist MC Director with summer camp paperwork and registration materials organization, medical supplies and information organization, and professional communications with parents 
• Create, implement, and analyze MC Summer Camp program evaluations 

Fall/Spring:

• Assist MC Director with writing the MC’s Annual Report
• Assist in recruiting and training undergraduate Homestead & Trails Management Interns
• Assist with planning and implementation of fundraising campaigns and events for the MC
• Create a short-term strategic plan each semester that focuses on facilities and trail management that aligns with the overall Macoskey Center strategic plan and is approved by the MC Director 
• Manage care for chickens and quail including egg collection, feeding, coop cleaning, and enrichment  
• Manage the completion of daily and weekly facility maintenance tasks  
• Maintain the organically-grown Learning Garden including planting, weeding, harvesting, and other gardening/landscaping spaces
• Implement regular trail maintenance tasks and ongoing habitat management projects
• Perform general construction, landscaping, lawn care, and maintenance activities at the MC including carpentry and painting   
• Provide excellent customer service and professional communications via email, phone, and/or in-person with various stakeholders about programming, events, updates, activities, and more. 
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements: 

• Pursuing a Park & Resource Management (M.S.) and/or Environmental Education (M.Ed.) degree at SRU
• Clear background check from SRU Payroll System BEFORE start date
• Must meet eligibility standards of the graduate school including unconditional acceptance into the graduate program and a class load of 6 credit hours (Fall & Spring) and 3 credit hours (Summer) of graduate coursework
• Earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 each semester
• Must be available to work all hours in person
• Must be available to work all 2024 Summer Camps (June 10th-12th, June 24th-26th, July 15th-27th, July 29th-July 31st) – Week of July 4th is a holiday week for the MC staff and GAs can work up to 15 hours (2 work days) each that week if desired.
• Experience with lesson planning and teaching in informal and/or formal settings
• Comfortable with public speaking and working with groups of all ages and sizes
• Arrives to work on time exhibiting professionalism, a positive attitude, flexibility, an ability to adapt to new challenges, strong interpersonal skills, and a desire to learn
• Willingness to give and receive both constructive and positive feedback
• Microsoft applications skills (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook)
• Committed to and passionate about the Mission/Vision of the MC
• Committed to the MC’s work culture of creating an inclusive, respectful, equitable, and welcoming environment for all 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of sustainable practices, gardening, agroforestry, and ecology
• Environmental/Sustainability education experience
• Light carpentry skills and landscaping equipment experience
• Seeks tangible opportunities to connect the responsibilities of this position to coursework requirements in the student’s chosen field of study
• Highly organized with attention to detail
• Ability to work autonomously or as a part of a collaborative team
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Professional work ethic and a teachable spirit 
• Experience supervising others
• Valid Driver’s License