Arboretum Education Coordinator (Part-Time)

• Schedule and implement a calendar of educational programs and tours. 
• Facilitate children’s group educational arboretum tours with the help of a docent team. Assist with executing and facilitating children’s educational programs. 
• Coordinate and take the lead with the Education Committee of the Arboretum Board. 
• Provide training and orientations for tour guide docents and interns to assist the Education Coordinator with leading educational tours, children’s camp and assigned projects. 
• Manage the docent and intern volunteers to increase retention of program volunteers from season to season. 
• Coordinate with Marketing/PR Specialist staff to market children’s education programs to the public and target populations, and with managing an events calendar. 
• Plan and direct one two-week children’s nature camp and one 1/2 day children’s festival. 
• Compile and organize resources and educational materials. 
• Maintain tour demographics and prepare annual tours and children’s programs visitor usage report. 
• Develop program by building relationships and forging partnerships with local public and private education agencies including schools, homeschool groups, girl scouts, children’s museum, public libraries, JMU professors, etc. 
• Assist in updating docent training and group tour program content and materials. 
• Develop interpretive internship program for JMU students and provide training and supervisory support. 
• Perform light front office duties as needed, including answering the phone, greeting visitors and assisting with occasional sales transactions.

• Possess professional experience working with pre-K to high school children, and the public to meet situational challenges as they arise. 
• Ability to sight-identify several common and native trees, shrubs and perennial wildflowers. 
• Possess an interest in naturalist fields of learning such as entomology, herpetology and ornithology. 
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills to propose, design and develop, interpret and execute new and current children’s education programs. 
• Ability to comprehend, retain and interpret a variety of educational program content. 
• Possess basic computer skills including operating Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Be willing and able to manage and keep appointment schedule for tours, classes and workshops, including occasional after-hour or weekend events. 
• Ability to manage many project timelines during the busy seasons and take initiatives with new projects. 
• Maintain records and program materials in an organized manner in order to meet calendar deadlines and prepare short reports. 
• Ability to lift and carry program and plant materials to assist in events, seasonal plant sales, spring and fall, and related activities including set-ups and tear-downs. 
• Must be available 1 Sat. in April, May, & Sept. for plant sales; June 13-17 & June 20-24, 2022 for Explore Camp, and October 23, 2022 for Harvest Fest. 

• Bachelor of Science degree in biology or environmental sciences education or related fields preferred.

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.