Coordinator, Community Conservation

Colonial Group; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Community Conservation Coordinator will leverage the Missouri Botanical Garden’s core areas of plant conservation, horticulture, biodiversity knowledge, environmental education, and ecological restoration to engage communities in stewarding local lands and waters. About 75% of the role involves office coordination, planning, and reporting on stewardship programs, with 25% fieldwork.

Collaborating with Garden staff and external partners, the coordinator will organize community events, manage

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of working in the conservation field.
• Experience with biodiversity topics including invasive species removal, native plant horticulture, land management, and restoration.
• Ability to engage diverse public audiences and communicate clearly in English.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate community-based projects with ongoing education, public awareness, and stewardship actions focused on biodiversity protection.
• Coordinate timely communications: website updates, e-newsletters, social media to connect people with stewardship opportunities.
• Lead invasive species removal and habitat restoration events, especially in priority communities and during peak seasons.
• Develop and deliver community education programs, talks, and workshops to connect people with stewardship opportunities.
• Foster collaborations with Garden staff, Shaw Nature Reserve, and external partners to translate science into practical land-management strategies.
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteers; organize workdays across the region; occasional transportation of participants.

Skills

Community engagement

Public outreach

Education programming

Volunteer coordination

Event planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in ecology or environmental science

Equivalent combination of skills

Tools

ArcGIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary:

TheCommunityConservationCoordinator willleveragethe Missouri Botanical Garden’s core areas of expertise in plant conservation, horticulture,knowledge of invasiveand native plantspecies,environmental education, and ecological restoration to engage and buildcapacitywithincommunities toactively steward local lands and waters.Approximately75% of this role iscomprisedofoffice tasks to coordinate,planandreport outon ecologicalstewardship programming in the communityand 25% is fieldwork.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinatescommunity-based projects withongoing education, public awareness, and stewardship actions focused on protecting and enhancing regional biodiversity.


• Coordinates strategically timed call-to-action alerts;writesweb-site updates, e-newsletters, digital and social media posts to connect individuals with regional stewardship opportunities.


• Coordinates the Honeysuckle Sweep for Healthy Habitats, to include planning,organizingandimplementing year-round invasive plant removal and native plant establishment volunteer events and ecological restoration activities in priority communities, especially in late winter/early spring (February-April) and fall (October-December).


• Coordinates theannualCity Nature ChallengeandiNaturalist speciesinventorycompetition.


• Collaborateswithsustainability,research, restoration, and education staff from the Garden, Shaw Nature Reserve,Butterfly House,and other external conservation professionalstotranslate best available science and research into practical strategies for invasive plant removal, ecological restoration, monitoring, and land management to increase biodiversity.


• Coordinates and leadslocal volunteer corps focused on invasive species removalprojectsincluding recruiting and training volunteers,setting up workdays at priority locations throughout the community, and collaborating with partner organizations with volunteers.On occasion,transportsprogram participants and/or volunteersto work sites in a15-passenger van.


• Identifiesand recruits target audiences for project activities and stewardship actions including students, teachers,landowners, community groups, municipalities, parks departments,policymakers, and more.


• Develops and delivers community education programs,talks, and workshopsthat connectindividuals to stewardship opportunities toenhancebiodiversity.Promotespublic awareness of conservation strategies, and trains community members in best practices formaintainingand converting land into ecologically valuable habitat.


• Promotes the development and facilitation of collaborative partnerships.Representsthe Garden with regional conservation leaders to enable long term conservationrelationshipslinking the Garden with state and local agencies, professional alliances, and other non-profit environmental conservation organizations.Acts asliaisonwithconservation professionals.


• Identifiesnew opportunities, collaborations, and project sites for stewardship actions.


• Assistswiththe coordination and implementation of the twoRainscapingprograms coordinated by the Department: Deer Creek Watershed Alliance’sRainscapingCost-Share (Rebate) Program and the MSDRainscapingSmall Grants Program as assigned by Sustainability Projects Manager.


• Representsthe Garden in a professional manner at relevant community outreach events and community conservation initiatives, includingMissouriInvasive Plant Counciland Community Stewardship Alliance


• Maintains and updates theBiodiverseCitySTL website andBiomeSTLArcGIS Story Map.Assistswith securing funding opportunities to support community conservation projects.


• Ensures financial and program goals are met in all assigned project activities includingordering supplies, recruiting audiences toparticipate, managing budgets, evaluating outcomes, and reporting project activity results andimpacts.Ensuresthat all applicable safety standards are followed (i.e., informs participants/volunteers of safety guidelines and safe working practices and routinelymonitorsto enforce them. Adapts ormodifieswork methods to reduce hazards. Reports all accidents, injuries, and near-miss accidentsimmediately.)


• Demonstrates the highest level of professional and ethical conduct; knowledge and understanding of organizational policies, procedures, and systems.


• Meets expected attendance guidelines.


• Follows and adheres toestablishedpolicies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.


• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors, and community partners


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:Thisposition does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Core Competencies:

Communication

Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.

Collaboration

Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.

Accountability

Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes,troubleshootsand takesappropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues’ concerns.

Problem Solving

Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor beforetaking actionas necessary; Recommends solutions,demonstratescreativity and resourcefulness;Exhibitssound andaccuratejudgment in decision making process; Includesappropriate peoplein making decisions.

Stewardship

Promotes and adheres to sustainability,safetyand security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect,diversityand inclusion;Demonstrateseffective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum three (3) years of working in the conservation field with preference to those working in ecology, restoration, or forest management.


• Minimum two (2) yearsworking with biodiversity topics including: invasive species removal,native plant horticulture,land management, native plant landscaping, and more.


• Minimum of two(2)years’ experience working with a diversity of public audiences.


• Knowledge of invasive plant species, native plant landscaping, ecological restoration, and environmental educationrequired.


• Experience and knowledge ofecological restoration best practices that enhance regional biodiversity.


• Must have an interest in environmental issues and be dedicated tofairlyrepresentingall sides of such issues.


• Knowledge of community engagement best practices preferred.


• Experience in experiential or investigation-based teaching preferred.


• Experience with ArcGIS mapping preferred.


• Prior experience working for a conservation organization or agency preferred.


• Use of personalcarmaybe requiredtopurchasesupplies and food and transport gear; frequent travel within Missouri and surrounding areas.


• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees,volunteersand guests.All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior tohiredate.The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines.When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.


• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilitiesrequired.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, science education, ecology, forest ecology, forestry, restoration ecology, horticulture, environmentalscienceor related field preferred.


• An equivalent combination of skills, education, training, and practitioner experience may be considered.

Computer Skills:

• Proficient experience using Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Etc.).

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to use andmaintainspecialty tools and gear designed for invasiveplantremoval.


• Ability to use andmaintainbasic gardening tools (trowels, shovels, pruners, etc.)

Communication and Language Skills:

• Ability toeffectively and accurately communicate in English (oral and written)

Mathematical Skills:

• Proficient H.S. basic mathaptitude:requires ability to perform addition, subtraction,multiplicationand division; calculate percentages and decimals; etc.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Ability to exercise independent judgment and take action

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must possessand maintain a valid driver's license.


• Must have or be able to obtain avaliddriver’slicense with a Class E certificationwithin the first two (2) months of employment.


• Must have the ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwritingcriteria.


• AbletoacquirePesticide Applicator License in Missouri upon hiring


• S130/190 Wildland Firefighter Certification preferred


• Chainsaw Safety Certification preferred


• ISA Certified Arborist Certification preferred

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift 35 lbs. and over


• Ability to use specialized and standard land management and restoration tools and technologies


• Ability to stand and move about in indoor and outdoor settings for extended periods of time


• Must be able to drive a15-passengervan.

Work Environment:

• Indoorsharedoffice area with computer and project space for planning, preparing, communications/correspondence, and administrative needs


• Offsite locations for conducting programs, trainings, workshops, conferences/meetings


• Outdoor locations in a variety of locations/sites around the region for actual restoration activities, primarily invasiveremovaland replanting projects in high-priority geographies


• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100°F as well as temperatures below 0°F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Employees, volunteers, visitors, contractors, government agencies, businesses, municipalities, conservation organizations, community-based groups, educators, students

Supervisor (title not person):

Manager, SustainabilityPrograms –Natural Environment Programs