Merrimack River Floodplain Education Program Coordinator

Position Announcement: Merrimack River Floodplain Education Program Coordinator

The non-profit Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests seeks an experienced, enthusiastic, and motivated individual for the position of Merrimack River Floodplain Education Program Coordinator. The successful candidate will have excellent oral communications skills including experience interacting with the public. 

This is a part-time seasonal position based in Concord, NH.  The Merrimack River Floodplain Education Program Coordinator is primarily responsible for the comprehensive design, development and delivery of outdoor education programs and partnerships at the Forest Society’s 103-acre Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area located on the Merrimack River in Concord, NH. The position requires evening and weekend work.

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is a statewide land conservation organization that was founded in 1901 to protect New Hampshire’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its renewable natural resources.  Today, with 9,400 member households and over 40 employees, the Forest Society owns 172 reservations in 102 communities across the state, and has interests and monitoring responsibilities for 818 conservation easements.  With ongoing programs in advocacy, land protection and sustainable forest management, the Forest Society consistently ranks among the nation’s top land trusts and has been a leader in setting the standard for American land protection.    If you enjoy working both independently and in a cooperative team-approach in a challenging, at times fast-paced, but always rewarding, setting you may be the right person for this position.

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the dedicated Forest Society staff email a resume and cover letter by May 3rd, 2019 to Dave Anderson, Senior Director of Education, danderson@forestsociety.org (or mail a hard copy resume and cover letter to The Society for the Protection of NH Forests c/o: Dave Anderson • 54 Portsmouth Street • Concord, NH 03301-5400.The Forest Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.   

No phone calls please.

 

Full Job Description

Reports to:  Senior Director of Education                      

Nonexempt / Part-time / Seasonal

Hourly rate: $20

Position Summary:

The Merrimack River Floodplain Education Program Coordinator is responsible for the comprehensive design, development and delivery of outdoor education programs and partnerships at the Forest Society’s 103-acre Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area (MROECA) located on the Merrimack River and “Eastman Cove” at the mouth of Mill Brook in Concord, NH.  Increase community visitation and public participation in scheduled education programs and special events on a range of topics for broad public audiences; potentially includes youth, families, schools, camps and adult education audiences.  Cultivate cooperative education program partnerships with allied community organizations in the greater Concord community, within the wider surrounding Merrimack Valley region of southern NH.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Attract new creative program partnerships resulting in a vibrant suite of seasonal public education programs at the Concord campus.  Bring new audiences to our facility and open space in Concord.

Design and develop engaging programs including seasonal hikes, walks, tours, special events and community outreach.

Coordinate all aspects of scheduling, promotion, delivery, budget management. Welcome, greet public, plan site interpretation, lead trail walks and special events.

Promote visitation and enjoyment of the MROECA by local residents. Target a wider public audience with a focus on youth education.

Track programs attendance and site visitation.

Research public school visits coordinated by the School District’s “Project SEE” staff.

Represent the Forest Society within Concord’s environmental, sustainability, recreation, fitness and arts communities.

Help to restablish interpretive trail highlighting specimen trees along the existing Les Clark Nature Trail. Opportunity to refine the digital “Forest Explorer” property tour content.

Launch new outreach to camps, schools, youth groups and community organizations to create a framework to encourage partner organizations to use of the Concord campus for their own outdoor learning and recreation events. 

Assist with other Forest Society outreach education programs, hikes, tours and special events.

Contributions/Outcomes:

Successful outcomes will be defined by development of innovative new programs to increase visitation, foster wider community partnerships and engage new audiences within and outside the Concord region.  Design education programs and foster partnerships to both define and shape public perception of the Merrimack River Floodplain as a recreation destination and outdoor learning resource.

Attract people and partnerships to Merrimack River Floodplain property.
Schedule tours and networking for invited community organizations
Develop new interpretive content including trails, signage, written materials.
Promote Merrimack River Floodplain as a destination for natural history education and recreation events (hiking, birdwatching, paddling, picnics, group visits)
Schedule and lead tours, walks and special events.
Track visitation, programs attendance, budgets
Work with Digital Outreach Manager to actively promote the Merrimack River Floodplain programs to wider audiences.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

The successful candidate will be personable, articulate, self-motivated, enthusiastic while bringing a creative, visionary approach to development of the Merrimack River Floodplain as a Forest Society program center.

Prior work experience developing and leading environmental education programs for youth, adult and family-oriented outdoor education programs. Interpretive program experience preferred.

Possess strong oral and written communication skills. Prior public speaking and public presentation experience preferred.

Natural resources background including familiarity with NH forests, wildlife, ecosystem science and ecology.

Community public relations, media relations and community networking experience preferred.

Possess strong organizational skills with a detail-oriented approach to tracking and measuring program outcomes.

Possess strong outdoor leadership and interpersonal skills to ensure successful field trip planning, leadership and safety. Recreation experience hiking and paddling preferred.

Bachelor’s degree or higher education graduate degree candidates preferred.

Driver’s license and personal transportation required.

Established community connections in Concord and the greater Merrimack Valley Region preferred.

Certifications in CPR, ACR Basic First Aid preferred. 

Working Conditions:

Includes occasional evenings/weekend work during the busiest May to October season.  Structure can be flexible, between 10-15 hours per week.

Physical Requirements:

Physical ability to hike, paddle and carry backpack over rough terrain including rocky shoreline and wooded hiking trails. Backpack will contain supplies such as first aid kit, extra clothing layers, rain gear, water, and snacks for self, and could also include additional snacks and water for participants.

Direct Reports: None