Seasonal Environmental Educator

New York City Audubon is seeking two seasonal, part-time staff members to assist with our public engagement, education, and events on weekends from Spring-Fall 2024. The Seasonal Environmental Educators will play a vital role in helping the organization raise awareness and educate New Yorkers about urban biodiversity and sustainability. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, outgoing “people person” with a passion for public engagement and an interest in environmental education and conservation.

View PDF version of this job listing here.

ABOUT NYC AUDUBON

Founded in 1979, NYC Audubon works for the protection of wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. NYC Audubon’s conservation and science activities, education and public programs, and advocacy and outreach efforts on behalf of urban and migrating birds and wildlife are more critical than ever due to climate change effects and the devastating, steady loss of the natural environment in the City over many decades.  

NYC Audubon serves a diverse community of 10,000 members, with a team of 15 staff supported by seasonal scientists, hundreds of advocates, and thousands of volunteers. It is an exciting time for the organization. We will be changing the organization’s name in Spring 2024, dropping “Audubon” and choosing a new name that is more inclusive and better represents our work. We will remain an affiliated chapter of National Audubon. Learn more about our name change at nycaudubon.org/audubon-name.

NYC AUDUBON’S COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY 

NYC Audubon believes all people have the right to a close connection to the natural world and the right to a healthy environment. Preserving our environment is only possible if we all feel that connection. We commit to building an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible NYC Audubon, dedicated to protecting nature for all of New York City’s people and its wild birds.  For more information, including our complete EDIA statement, visit nycaudubon.org/edia.

JOB DESCRIPTION

NYC Audubon manages a seasonal environmental center on Governors Island, engaging thousands of island visitors a year and providing a “home base” for the organization’s work on the island. The center is housed in one of the island’s historic houses and includes studios and exhibitions for our seasonal Artist-in-Residence program, activities for visitors (including kids), and a lending library of books and binoculars. The Seasonal Environmental Educators will staff the house, interacting with Island visitors, answering questions, and representing the organization’s work. 
As members of a small, dynamic team, there will also be opportunities to build skills by supporting other public engagement and education activities, including public festivals around the City. The position reports to NYC Audubon’s Advocacy and Engagement Associate. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Staff NYC Audubon’s seasonal environmental center on Governors Island once a week (either Saturday or Sunday), including opening and closing the house and setting up activities.
• Engage visitors at the environmental center, including setting up and leading family-friendly craft activities, welcoming visitors, and answering questions from the public about birds, NYC Audubon, and the island.
• Assist with public art workshops, interpreting art works for visitors, and interacting with the artists-in-residence.
• Represent NYC Audubon at select public community, parks, and wildlife festivals around the city approximately once a month. Tasks include staffing NYC Audubon’s activity tables, talking about NYC Audubon’s work with the public, and answering questions about birds and conservation.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent communications skills with comfort speaking to strangers
• Proactive problem-solving skills
• Customer service mindset
• Course work or degree in environmental education or similar field preferred
• Ability to work independently

Other Requirements 

• Ability to work outdoors, in all weather conditions
• Comfort traveling on a ferry to Governors Island (ferry fee covered by NYC Audubon)
• Comfort traveling on public transportation to other sites around NYC
• Comfort and desire to work and communicate with people of varied backgrounds
• Flexibility, collaboration, and sense of humor
• Ability to speak multiple languages a plus

JOB DETAILS

These are seasonal, part-time, hourly staff positions. Each Environmental Educator position is expected to work 10am-5pm on either Saturdays or Sundays, from late April – late October. Environmental Educators will work alone most days. We would also consider hiring one candidate to work both Saturdays and Sundays, if that is of interest to the selected candidate. 
This position is entirely in-person.

COMPENSATION

Each Seasonal Environmental Educator will be compensated at a rate of $20 per hour. While no fringe benefits (health insurance, retirement savings, or paid time off) are included in this job, the environmental educators will receive pro-rated paid days off for Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Indigenous Peoples Day, and sick time as provided by NYC law.

New York City Audubon Society provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy, military or military reserve obligations, or any other class or status protected by law.  

NYC Audubon is committed to building a staff that represents the diversity of the New  York City communities we serve. Candidates of all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to apply. Note that the NYC Audubon office is located on the 15th floor of a  building with elevator access, but the responsibilities in staffing the Governors Island house, public festivals, and events require a lot of standing, walking on uneven pavement, and climbing stairs.  

All NYC Audubon employees must be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or medical necessity. If you are offered employment, this requirement must be met by your date of hire, unless an accommodation for exemption is received and approved.