Propagation and Education Coordinator 2

Description: The Institute for Applied Ecology (appliedeco.org) is seeking to hire a full-time ecological education coordinator, level 2, to help lead efforts in our ecological education program. This person will be based in Corvallis, OR, though occasional travel within and outside the state will be required.

Responsibilities: This position is primarily responsible for serving as the plant propagation coordinator for our Conservation in Prisons program. This includes the development and upkeep of growing guides for various native plants that we grow, troubleshooting issues across prisons where plants are grown, and coordinating bulk orders. Additional roles include working with incarcerated crew members, teaching within prisons and juvenile detention, and sharing other duties with department staff from our Corvallis office. Travel to remote sites and states is a requirement of the work. Job duties will also fluctuate seasonally, but here is a general breakdown of what to expect out of the work:

Project Coordination – 60%

Plant Propagation Lead

Sagebrush in Prisons Project – This is our largest program, growing around 500,000 sagebrush seedlings per year at 9 medium and minimum security prisons across the West (Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Oregon). Corvallis staff collaborate with our remote staff on program-wide projects. This includes consulting with colleagues at other prisons where we raise native plants in association with incarcerated crews and may include bulk ordering for supplies or subbing in when needed.

Conservation in Prisons Projects – At three prisons near Corvallis, we grow Viola adunca, Plantago lanceolata, Lupinus oreganus, and Castilleja levisecta in support of three endangered or threatened butterflies. At one facility, incarcerated crew members raise butterfly larvae of Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly which are then released in pupae form. Corvallis staff visit often to provide training and ongoing support for the program. This position is intended to keep our growing guides up to date (based on experiences), participate in partner meetings, collaborate with colleagues on experiments to improve our practices and write reports.

Teaching – 20%

Juvenile detention – We provide ecological education lessons to two juvenile detention centers in the Willamette Valley. You would be responsible for preparing and delivering one or two lessons a month.

Adult and Outreach Education – Education is also an important part of our prisons work and the work in Park-ify, another Corvallis-based program focusing on natives in home landscapes. This includes classroom settings, hands-on training, coordinating guest speakers, developing unique online teaching assets, and other approaches.

Administration and other projects – 20%

Admin – As an IAE employee, you will participate in staff-wide meetings, conferences, and other professional development opportunities. Administrative work may include collaborating with other IAE departments, supervising 1-2 staff members, relationship building with IAE’s many partners, writing grants, creating outreach materials like blog posts or media releases, developing new projects, etc.

Other partnerships – We may have ongoing partnerships with funding partners, local schools and nonprofits that sometimes result in shorter-term programs. Occasional participation at volunteer events and other public outreach events are also possible.

Specific Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Work with colleagues and Program Director on issues that may arise with a crop; make recommendations, refine growing practices through observation, experimentation and write reports.
• Lead development of processes toward improving growth of crop, including assembling, updating and disseminating plant propagation protocols/guides. Work with coordinators and seed techs to learn from their practices and incorporate their experience into products useful to the team.
• Troubleshoot issues that arise with regard to the growth of crops including recommendations for overcoming issues that might prevent fulfillment of contracts.
• Report on metrics of social media success; adjust efforts accordingly.
• Share expertise in the growth and development of native plants with colleagues.
• Coordinate with the media for earned press and press releases for events.
• Design and deliver classroom and field trip lessons to prison audiences and juvenile detention centers, develop curriculum, design and manage educational evaluations, and process, analyze, and report data.
• Supervise specific staff, volunteers and subcontractors, and participate in the hiring of contractors and or other staff.
• Participate in and contribute to partner meetings; assist in grant or funding development.
• Develop and write reports, newsletters, and publications with support from supervisor; effectively communicate in appropriate format to multiple audiences and write for blogs and websites in English.
• Participate in identifying and developing grant proposals/agreements (with assistance), develop proposal budgets, and cultivate relationships that result in project funding.
• Other duties as assigned, which may include conducting tours, workshops and presentations for funders, partners, and the public, assist with other EE projects as requested, and participate in inter-department education programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of one year of educational teaching (formal or informal) experience.
• A strong background in horticulture, crop/soil science/biology/ecology or related field.
• At least one year experience in plant propagation, agriculture, horticulture or related experience.
• Able to pass a background check and Department of Corrections background check.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite.
• Ability to work some weekends and ability to lift 25 pounds.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Experience managing and coordinating several projects
• Positive attitude and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Current U.S. driver’s license.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Experience working with incarcerated people, or other marginalized groups.
• IPM certification.
• Herbicide/pesticide applicator’s license.
• Native plant propagation is preferred.
• GIS skills or certificate
• Strong creativity skills.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish.