Location: Nova Scotia (home office & willing to travel in NS – details below)
The Young Naturalists Club (YNC) of Nova Scotia is a fun, free nature club for kids aged 8 to 12 years old, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During monthly meetings, YNC members hear from fascinating guest speakers about a variety of natural history topics. On monthly field trips, members explore wild areas and natural history institutions on guided hikes and tours. The Club instills a passion for nature in its members, and enables mentors with natural history knowledge to pass on their skills and experiences to the next generation of naturalists.
The YNC has been operating successfully in Halifax for 5 years, and there are now local chapters started across the province. The YNC Coordinator will be responsible for administration and promotion of the YNC at the provincial level, supporting local chapters in their growth, and expanding the Club to other Nova Scotian communities.
The ideal candidate will have a passion for getting kids into nature, will be very self-motivated, be an excellent networker, have strong communication skills, as well as a variety of other skills.
Qualifications:
– Program coordination experience, including experience in budgeting and accounting, report writing, following annual work plans, and outreach and communications.
– Undergraduate degree in environmental education, biological sciences, education, or related field, AND, experience in coordinating envihronmental education projects or programs.
– Experience in, or strong interest in, nature and/or science interpretation.
– Good motivator of youth and adults — the YNC Coordinator must inspire and support volunteers and volunteer leaders in communities.
Assets:
– Experience delivering outdoor educational activities or programs to youth.
– Experience with kids aged 8 to 12 years old.
– Experience with natural history organizations or nature clubs.
– Successful grant proposal writing experience
Responsibilities:
– Marketing and promoting the YNC.
– Writing grant proposals and forging funding partnerships.
– Budgeting and accounting.
– Engaging local naturalists in sharing their knowledge at YNC meetings and field trips by liaising with adult natural history organizations.
– Further increasing the number of chapters of YNC in Nova Scotia by adding regional chapters through recruitment of volunteers. This will be done by distributing “Start-up Kits,” following up with meetings and visits to communities, supporting new YNC chapter leaders, and soliciting feedback from communities.
– Managing the YNC website and aiding new chapters with posting events, and assist new chapters with listserves.
– Participating in planning meetings with the YNC Board and/or past YNC Coordinator.
– Attending monthly meetings for environmental educators.
– Researching nature education resources.
– Showcasing local outdoor and/or environmental education opportunities to YNC families.
Salary, benefits, and working conditions:
– Approximately $15/hour for 25 hours/week (salary negotiable based on experience and number of hours per week the selected candidate can work). This is a contract position (no E.I. deductions, no health benefits) with a 3 month probation period.
– Funding is in place until August 31, 2012. This position can be extended beyond this date contingent on acquiring more funding.
– 3 weeks paid vacation/year (pro-rated based on hours/week)
– Must be willing to travel within the province, and to work occasionally on weekends (this is when YNC chapters meet and go on field trips)
– Opportunities for professional development within the province.
– Currently, there is no office space for this position. The selected candidate would have to work from a home office, or find suitable office space.
– The selected candidate would work under the guidance of the board of directors, and the past YNC Coordinator. The past YNC Coordinator is locally available (Halifax) to help with the transition.
To apply, send a resume and cover letter before October 1st to yncns@yahoo.ca
Interviews will be conducted the following week. Phone interviews, including during evenings, are possible.
