Early Childhood Environmental Educator, full-time

Job Title: Early Childhood Environmental Educator

Reports To: Environmental Education Manager

Status: Exempt, Full-time (1.0FTE)
Work Location: 100% in-person onsite
Schedule: Monday to Friday, in the mornings (usually 8-12 or 9-1)

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Position Summary: As the Early Childhood Environmental Educator, you will engage early learners in nature and environmental science. The early childhood environmental educator aligns teaching with partner organization and classroom curricula requirements. Creative design, passing for working with young children and enthusiastic implementation of innovative, inquiry-based programs for children from infant to 6 years old is compulsory. The educator will develop and lead child-centered and nature-based activities with a focus on outdoor recreation and ecological sustainability. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Preschool Environmental Education Project (PEEP)

• Plan and teach outdoor, nature-based, environmental science programs for groups of early learners. 
• Communicate with partner organizations and teachers about scheduling and program logistics. 
• Collaborate with colleagues to design and implement innovative new programming for the Center, including workshops for teachers and caregivers. 
• Develop and facilitate evaluation materials alongside programs. 
• Prepare and send contracts to PEEP partner schools and programs.
• Coordinate schedules for PEEP partner schools and programs; communicate with school liaisons to ensure alignment.
• Gather invoicing information for UEC accounting function; ensure all invoices are prepared and sent to PEEP partners. 
• Drive 14 and 28-passenger buses to transport students.

Summer Programs 

• Develop and co-teach child-centered, inquiry-based experiences for summer camp and PEEP students, including potential overnight experiences and adult-accompanied experiences. 
• Mentor college and high school interns and summer staff during the summer term
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to prepare materials for summer educational activities. 

Other Activities

• Collaborate with the education team to organize and maintain educational equipment and classroom spaces.
• Assist with conducting special weekend events 1-2 times a year.
• Contribute content to the Center’s website, social media or newsletter, as needed and assist with publicity.
• Assist with training and working with volunteers.

TEAM AND SUPERVISION

• As a member of the Environmental Education team, you will be managed by the Environmental Education Director. 
• Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with NEEP educators.
• In this role, you may participate in other circles and committees as your work requires or as your schedule and interests allow.
• All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, and youth participants.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

• All team members of the Urban Ecology Center work a minimum of 1-2 weekend or evening events each year. Our events are a great way to engage with our communities and see our mission in action; examples include Urban Candlelight Hike, Autumn Celebration, and HKE MKE. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.
• All team members are asked to support our building hours by providing building coverage, which may include opening/closing the building, communicating with staff on-site, and welcoming visitors or guests. You may sign-up for an ongoing shift or provide backup support.

OUR EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. Many of our staff serve on cross-departmental committees for internal and external events, employee engagement, our equity, dignity, and justice (EDJ) focus, and safety initiatives, to name a few.
• We host a 2-day all-staff retreat each fall, with quarterly all-staff meetings, regular department meetings, and ongoing communication in between. We make frequent use of Slack and utilize the Google platform for email and cloud computing.
• All UEC staff work on-site a minimum of twice per week at one of our 3 branches, though many choose to work in person more frequently. Several of our roles do not have remote capabilities by the nature of their responsibilities.
• Urban Ecology Center staff can attend all programs and events at a low or no cost. Children of staff members attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

• Full-time staff at the Urban Ecology Center are offered competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance rates, a 3% 403(b) matching contribution, 24 days of PTO in year 1 (29 in year 2), 7 additional paid holidays, discounted UEC merchandise, and other great benefits.  
• The expected starting compensation for this role is $40,685 to $43,940 annually.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Skills and Abilities

• Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. You have the ability to deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers while providing guidance on organizational processes.
• Growth Mindset: You have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and incorporating feedback; you are optimistic about future opportunities. 
• Relationship Development: you have the ability to identify and initiate working relationships and to develop and maintain them in a way that is of mutual benefit to both yourself and others.
• Conflict Management: you can navigate interpersonal challenges with a high degree of empathy and a commitment to resolution.

• Resilient under pressure: you have the ability to handle crisis or high-stress, immediate response situations in a calm, direct manner.

• You have the ability to teach science and nature-based programs with an exceptional grasp on group management and youth engagement strategies; the ability to develop and teach programs in both English and Spanish is preferred.

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• You have at least two years of teaching a broad range of ages in a formal or non-formal setting. 
• A degree in early childhood education, natural sciences, environmental education or related fields is preferred; other experiences will be considered.

• Experience teaching urban youth from infants to school age is preferred.
• Lifeguard certification or the ability to gain certification is required.
• You must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to meet the requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Center’s commercial vehicle insurance policy.
• A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or ability to obtain CDL within 6 months of employment (training provided by UEC) is required.

WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Condition & Location: A majority of staff time is spent outdoors in all types of weather conditions on land, near water, and on water; time may be spent working at each of our 3 branch locations and at partnering organizations in the Milwaukee area and/or delivering programming virtually.
• Physical Requirements: Being active outdoors in all weather and indoor; lifting and handling outdoor recreation equipment, lifting up to 50 lbs with or without accommodation, using a computer, presenting content virtually. 
• Equipment Used: 14 and 28 passenger buses, outdoor recreation equipment, teaching tools and materials, computer equipment.
• Schedule: Standard business hours with occasional evening and weekend events.

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.