Community Outreach & Environmental Educational Specialist 3

Evergreen State College; Olympia (WA); Remote; USD 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State benefits package

Job summary

Evergreen State College seeks a Sagebrush Steppe Conservation Nursery Manager to lead production, education, and outreach for SPP at WA DOC facilities. The role develops training curricula for incarcerated workers and coordinates with state and federal partners across WA.

The position emphasizes equity, collaboration, and expansion of nursery sites, with a strong focus on safety, program management, and education for diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience with corrections staff and incarcerated individuals is preferred.
• Advanced training or experience in equity and inclusion topics.
• Experience in horticulture, environmental studies, or related education fields.
• Ability to travel and work in off-site locations as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop curricula and training for incarcerated technicians and staff.
• Oversee nursery production, records, and quality control.
• Recruit, hire, and supervise a nursery crew of 10+ incarcerated workers.
• Coordinate partnerships with WA DOC and other agencies for contracts.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance across operations.

Skills

Environmental education

Sustainability

Project management

Team leadership

Communication

Training & education

Equity & inclusion

Education

Advanced degree in horticulture / environmental studies / education

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Position Title

Community Outreach & Environmental Educational Specialist 3

Working Title

Sagebrush Steppe Conservation Nursery Manager

Location

Other

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or status as a protected veteran. For more information regarding Evergreen's non-discrimination policies or to report discrimination, please visit the Affir

Union Represented

Yes

Overtime Eligible

Yes

Monthly FTE

1.0

Salary Step (minimum monthly amount)

$4,563.00

Salary Step (maximum monthly amount)

$6,136.00

Cyclic Position

No

Cyclic Details

n/a

Project Position

Yes

End Date

06/30/2027

Special Note

This is a full-time, overtime eligible, project position remote from the Olympia campus of The Evergreen State College and within the Washington State Department of Corrections in Walla Walla. This position is funded through June 30, 2027 by Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative and a Federal BIL/BAR legislation managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service anticipated to continue through September 2030.

Position Purpose

This position manages program implementation, education, training, and production for Sustainability in Prisons Project's (SPP) Sagebrush Conservation Nursery at Washington State Department of Corrections (WA DOC) Washington State Penitentiary (WSP), Walla Walla, Washington. The incumbent develops curricula, protocols, procedures, and outreach materials to train and inform corrections staff, incarcerated students/workers, and education partners. The position directs and oversees all conservation nursery production at WSP, including record keeping, horticultural health, seed harvesting, cleaning and temporary storage, least toxic and approved methods of insect and disease management, seed and plant deliveries, and reports to project partners at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The position has a high degree of independence managing SPP/WSP-WA DOC cooperation. The incumbent works with a team of WA DOC Corrections Specialists in the Sustainable Practices Lab at WSP to recruit, hire, and supervise incarcerated individuals. This requires considerable experience in maintaining a safe and secure working environment for all participants to ensure educational, vocational, and program goals are achieved. Additionally, the position searches for and develops relationships with community and agency partners to develop new collaborations and contracts. Duties include negotiating contracts, setting program outcomes, and opening new nursery/seed farm sites in Eastern Washington prisons. Education and outreach will expand to multiple prison sites in Washington to include Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell and Airway Heights Corrections Center in Airway Heights.

Nature and Scope

This position reports to the Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4 (working title: Sustainability in Prisons Project Conservation Nursery Manager) and is the primary contact responsible for communication with WA DOC staff and leadership to ensure effective, inclusive, and accessible science and sustainability education, healthy work environment, and operation of the Sagebrush Conservation Nursery. The position directly develops and presents the educational curricula for the Sagebrush-Steppe Conservation Nursery to twenty-plus incarcerated individuals per year. The position may directly supervise part-time student staff, non-permanent staff, and/or volunteers for specific projects. The position makes and responds to inquiries from state, federal, and nonprofit organizations and develops relationships to cultivate new partners in Sagebrush-Steppe conservation. This will include expanding nursery and seed farm sites to additional WA DOC facilities. The position presents program capacities, capabilities, and objectives to new partners and designs production budgets, staffing, and plans for new WA DOC facilities. As part of the SPP team, this position cultivates collaborations with diverse program partners to advance SPP's mission to bring science and nature into prisons and works with an engaged community of incarcerated people, scientists, researchers, technicians, corrections professionals, faculty, staff, and students to provide impactful education and training and resolve complex program management issues. This work requires a high value for equity and inclusion, empowering change, working across differences to increase access to science and sustainability education, and ability to consistently extend respect and compassion to all partners and stakeholders.

Sustainability in Prisons Project Mission

"Our mission is to empower sustainable change by bringing nature, science, and environmental education into prisons. In response to the dual crises of ecological degradation and mass incarceration, we aim to reduce recidivism while improving human well-being and ecosystem health. SPP brings together incarcerated individuals, scientists, corrections staff, students, and program partners to promote education, conserve biodiversity, practice sustainability, and help build healthy communities. Together, we reduce the environmental, economic, and human costs of prisons."

SPP is a partnership founded by Evergreen and WA DOC. With vital input from many additional partners, we develop and deliver a wide range of science, sustainability, and environmental education programs in all 12 Washington State prisons.

Essential Functions

Education and Training of Incarcerated Technicians (~30%)

• Develop, organize, and deliver education and training content from SPP Sagebrush Education Portfolios including education modules (print format lessons on various science and sustainability or supporting topics), workshops, seminars, presentations, learning guides, science lab, etc.
• Develop and utilize tracking systems, templates, procedures, and other resources to support credit-bearing SPP Education Portfolio materials.
• Identify educational/outreach material needs for assigned program; research, develop, update, and distribute educational resources including planning, developing, reviewing, and editing educational content.
• Package education portfolio materials to ensure they receive careful review for content clarity, grammar, formatting, proper citations, and rigor; share materials for review by SPP team, faculty, and dean for credit evaluation.
• Supervise nursery technicians and adapt education, skill development, and training for each individual to ensure each crew member receives the support to reinforce best nursery practices.
• Analyze and interpret educational achievements of participants and develop curriculum in response to learning outcomes.
• Participate in planning, development, complex problem-solving, and capacity building for Evergreen's initiative to expand education in prisons.

Nursery Management (~30%)

• Research, interpret, and analyze appropriate literature for best management practices in the production of nursery plants appropriate to the Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem; create training modules to implement practices and protocols identified.
• Manage multiple plant/seed production schedules simultaneously to achieve production goals for the nursery.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise, with WA DOC staff, a nursery crew of 10 or more incarcerated technicians in a carceral setting.
• Monitor, adapt, and control environmental conditions for the cultivation of nursery plants/seed.
• Collaborate with WA DOC staff to secure and maintain nursery infrastructure, identify needs, and develop replacement budgets as needed.
• Develop soil fertility and an Integrated Pest Management program for the Sagebrush Conservation Nursery.
• Operate under clear environmental regulations and exceed standards for safety.
• Using a collaborative approach, lead communications to effectively address and resolve complex program and/or organization issues and challenges.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with management, supervisors, contractors, and employees on a regular basis and in a timely manner.

Organization, Tracking, and Reporting (~10%)

• Regular, precise, and accurate record keeping of all nursery production under existing protocols.
• Analyze production records to propose, test, and implement adaptive management techniques.
• Collaborate on annual reports to partners, regional funding agencies, and organizations.
• Oversee and mentor graduate and undergraduate students studying SPP programs and supervising credit-bearing internships.
• Participate in meetings, conference calls, and working groups; present to a diverse range of audiences, including conferences, state correctional programs, academic institutions, and community organizations.
• Contribute to an operational office setting by performing clerical tasks, such as paperwork processing, responding to correspondence, manual and electronic filing, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Partnership and Collaboration (~30%)

• Cooperation, documentation, and adherence to health and safety protocols as established by WA DOC and SPP.
• Strong conflict resolution, written communication skills, and adherence to ethical and legal standards.
• Establish and foster positive relationships with all SPP partners, including incarcerated people, WA DOC, Community Colleges, Evergreen, SPP, Federal and State agencies, and non-profit staff and leadership.
• Coordinate program information with various staff, managers, community leaders, and the public, serve on educational committees to research and develop educational/outreach activities.
• Make oral presentations of environmental information to various groups such as press, students, employees, and the community.
• Independently cultivate outreach and relations to create regional partnerships with other Sagebrush-Steppe conservation organizations.
• Collaborate with other SPP managers in developing, implementing, and/or overseeing conservation contracts.
• Interpret protocols, policies, plans, procedures and information for the public, other agencies, and business/industry.
• Demonstrate high value for professionalism, equity, and inclusion, empowering change, working across differences to increase access to science and sustainability education, and ability to consistently extend respect and compassion to all partners and stakeholders.
• Contribute to effective teamwork, model collaborative leadership, and pursue excellence for the SPP and prison education teams at Evergreen.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of and skill in environmental education, sustainability, science, natural resource, or related fields.
• Knowledge and ability to manage a nursery production facility cultivation of plants and seed native to the shrub-steppe ecosystem.
• Ability to effectively supervise, provide productive feedback, and adapt education and training resources to meet varying experience and educational backgrounds of nursery crew members and other direct reports.
• Ability to adapt to continually changing circumstances, address and resolve complex issues, effectively identify and manage project priorities, and develop and maintain effective systems to organize and track programs and processes.
• Skill in leading a secure and safe working environment under complex conditions.
• Skill in developing, delivering, designing, and/or evaluating science and/or sustainability-related education programs.
• Ability to make decisions on complex issues independently with minimal supervision, presenting rationale and objectives to supervisor.
• Ability to manage projects including identifying resources needs and priorities, tracking, accountability checks with partners, and reporting.
• Ability to foster and maintain respectful, productive, and effective working relationships in diverse environments, including the ability to successfully work across differences with people of varying backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs.
• Ability and willingness to make and inform organization decisions; provide and respond to feedback in a positive and productive manner; maintain a personal and professional growth mindset; listen to, learn from, and demonstrate value for lived, academic, and professional experience; and effectively work with all organization partners.
• Exemplary problem solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Exemplary professional integrity and accountability.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft 365, including Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in non-hierarchical and hierarchical institutions.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with corrections staff and/or incarcerated individuals.
• Advanced training, education, or experience in equity and inclusion topics.
• Advanced degree in horticulture, environmental studies, education, or a related field.
• Direct or indirect experience with systems of incarceration.

Conditions of Employment

• Must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility within three days of beginning work.
• This position is part of a bargaining unit and covered by the Classified collective bargaining agreement.
• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Prior to an official offer of employment, a Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct form must be submitted to the college per RCW 28B.112.080. The college will contact current and past employers to verify this information. Applicants who provide inaccurate information in their declaration will be disqualified and, if the inaccuracies are discovered after the applicant has been hired, it shall be grounds for termination.
• Prior to a new hire, must successfully pass WA DOC security clearance; information from these checks will not necessarily preclude employment.
• Must fulfill all Department of Corrections Yellow Badge requirements, including "New Employee Orientation" and "Annual In-Service Trainings" necessary to maintain active access to the corrections center.
• Must be able to travel and work in off-site locations, including carceral facilities throughout the state.
• Must comply with college travel policy.
• Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Benefits

A full state benefits package which includes: paid sick and vacation leave; paid campus holidays; a generous medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; optional deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For more information about Evergreen's excellent employee benefits, please view https://www.evergreen.edu/payroll/benefits-package.