Binational Youth Education Program Coordinator

Hartleynature; Remote; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental partnership seeks a Binational Youth Education Program Coordinator for the Aves Compartidas program. This remote role will engage with teachers, students, and community groups in the Portland-Metro area, focusing on bilingual education and environmental awareness. Applicants should exhibit multicultural literacy and possess Spanish language skills, with a commitment to fostering community involvement and educational outreach.

Benefits

Benefits included

Mileage reimbursement

Paid exchange opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating educational programs.
• Strong communication skills with various stakeholders.
• Ability to engage and collaborate with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Engage dual-language immersion schools in the region.
• Coordinate outreach to families and community partners.
• Plan and lead meetings for the Aves Compartidas group.

Skills

Multicultural literacy

Spanish language skills

Job description

Binational Youth Education Program Coordinator

The Willamette-Laja Partnership seeks a Coordinator for our Aves Compartidas youth migratory bird education program. While remote, this position will require interactions with teachers, students, and community partners in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, with a focus on the Portland Metro area. Multicultural literacy and Spanish language skills are required. Our partnership is with the Laja watershed schools and conservation groups in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Summary

The Willamette-Laja Partnership seeks a Coordinator for our Aves Compartidas youth migratory bird education program. While remote, this position will require interactions with teachers, students, and community partners in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, with a focus on the Portland Metro area. Multicultural literacy and Spanish language skills are required. Our partnership is with the Laja watershed schools and conservation groups in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Who We Are

The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership (WLTP) is a binational peer-to-peer learning experiment developed in 2015 to bring together conservation professionals, university students, and youth. We have resources to expand our Aves Compartidas youth education program in the Willamette and Laja watersheds. With new partnerships in the Portland-Metro area, we are planning cross-cultural exchanges for professionals, university students, and primary school teachers.

The Partnership is eager to expand into the Metro area. We currently serve schools with the Aves Compartidas program in North Clackamas, creating opportunities to form new community partnerships and habitat restoration efforts with 3rd-5th graders. We aim to expand to 1-2 bilingual elementary schools in East Portland and Gresham, focusing on schools supporting large BIPOC/Latinx communities and near restoration sites. We also plan to expand in Eugene/Springfield.

We partner with University of Oregon Environmental Leadership Program students (8-12 per class) to develop and implement curriculum and engage Oregon State University with interns. As the program expands, we are working with Portland State University’s LSAMP to develop volunteer and paid internship opportunities. We also have university partnerships in the Laja region, Mexico, with successful internship exchanges.

Community Partners

The WLTP has engaged over 50 conservation groups, governments, NGOs, and schools in the Willamette and Laja basins. After one pilot year in 2018, the program doubled participating schools and increased private donors and grants. During COVID-19, we adapted quickly, maintaining flexibility with funders. Our programs are supported by individual champions, whose stories are available on our website.

This position will be housed and supported by the East Metro STEAM Partnership (EMSP), which will serve as the employer of record and handle administrative issues. The WLTP will be the direct contact for program implementation, with support from our committees. EMSP’s leadership will connect us with community groups across Portland. Details about their community involvement are available here.

Challenges and Opportunities

Aves Compartidas empowers students in dual language programs along the Willamette River Basin, emphasizing cultural and linguistic connections for Latinx students. The program includes exchanges through writing, art, videos, and postcards focusing on shared migratory bird species. Schools serving underrepresented communities benefit from real-world resource management, peer connections, and habitat restoration activities.

There is an opportunity to grow student engagement and outreach to families about migratory birds and habitats. With support from foundations and donors, we aim to develop more resources and expand outreach to the native plant industry. The coordinator will help create materials highlighting the program’s successes and needs, fostering full community engagement with support from the WLTP team.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

The WLTP was founded by a binational steering committee with diverse racial and cultural identities. We maintain a focus on diversity within our leadership, committees, instructors, and internship programs. We provide multicultural and DEI professional development and share resources regularly. We actively engage underrepresented communities in the Willamette region, emphasizing cultural connection and leadership in watershed health. Our team promotes personal and professional growth in DEI to support our mission of cross-jurisdictional watershed actions, climate change mitigation, and binational collaboration.

What We Are Asking

We are creating this position to advance the youth program and expand family outreach in the Portland-Metro area. The coordinator will:

• Solidify participation of dual-language immersion schools in the region.
• Engage university partners to support school instruction through a cohort model.
• Consider professional development opportunities for emerging watershed health professionals.
• Lead the coordination of the Aves Compartidas group, including planning meetings, strategic planning, and maintaining student exchange materials.
• Conduct outreach to students’ families with support from our team.
• Assist in pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities for local professionals.

How to apply:

Review our webpage here. Submit your cover letter, resume, and three references in a single PDF by April 12th to [e-mail]. The position is salaried, starting at 0.5-0.8 FTE with benefits, based on a $50,000/year full-time equivalent. We aim to grow the position to full-time as funding allows. Details will be provided during the interview process.

As a remote position, WLTP provides a computer, necessary software, mileage, and supplies reimbursement. The employee should be based near Portland-Metro to support local schools but will travel 1-3 times monthly within the Willamette Valley. Participation in a paid exchange to Mexico in 2022 is also planned, contingent on health guidelines.