Education Associate (Seasonal)

Desert Botanical Garden; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is seeking an energetic facilitator for the Cactus Clubhouse to deliver outdoor, hands-on experiences for children aged 0-12 and their families. The role emphasizes early childhood curriculum and family events within a child-led, nature-based learning environment.

This seasonal, part-time position supports visitors and volunteers, ensuring safety, engagement, and alignment with the Garden's mission and values.

Qualifications

• Bi-lingual optional (Spanish).
• Demonstrate group engagement and management capabilities.
• Ability to implement a "ready to play" attitude.
• Prepared to engage with children ages 12 and under and adult caregivers.
• Possess an optimistic, open-minded attitude.
• Flexible in a wide range of situations.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Teaching experience in an informal education setting preferred.
• A valid Arizona driver's license is required.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays and evenings.

Responsibilities

• Implement and facilitate outdoor, hands-on experiences and programming for children (0-12) and their families.
• Create early childhood curriculum, teach children and family related events and activities not including summer camps.
• Organize daily supply and maintenance of materials and activity areas.
• Monitor space for hazards; respond to emergencies as trained.
• Serve as first point of contact for volunteers.
• Provide excellent customer service to all visitors.
• Maintain knowledge of child development and learning styles.
• Participate in department and Garden staff meetings, planning teams, and events.
• Communicate with parents, caregivers, volunteers and staff.
• Collaborate with Garden staff and volunteers to ensure program excellence and support the Garden's mission.

Skills

Bi-lingual optional (Spanish)

Demonstrate group engagement and mgmt

Ready to play attitude

Engage with children 12 and under

Optimistic, open-minded

Flexible in varied situations

Excellent communications & customer

Teaching in informal education

Arizona driver license

Weekend/holiday/evening availability

Job description

Description

Position Purpose

Implement and facilitate outdoor, hands-on experiences and programming for children (0-12) and their families at Cactus Clubhouse. Create early childhood curriculum, teach children and family related events and activities not including summer camps. Support the philosophy of creating a child-led, experiential, nature-based learning environment.

Position Information

Job Type: Seasonal

Schedule: Weekdays and weekends, some weekends, could include some holidays

Pay: $18.00/hr

Essential Duties

• Implement and facilitate outdoor, hands-on experiences and programming for children (0-12) and their families at Cactus Clubhouse
• Create early childhood curriculum, teach children and family related events and activities not including summer camps.
• Organize daily supply and maintenance of materials and activity areas
• Monitor space for obvious hazards; respond to emergency situations as trained
• Serve as first point of contact for volunteers
• Provide excellent customer service to all visitors
• Maintain practical knowledge of stages of child development and learning styles
• Participate in department and Garden staff meetings, planning teams, and events
• Effectively communicate with parents, caregivers, volunteers and staff
• Work collaboratively with Garden staff and volunteers to ensure program excellence achieved at all levels while promoting and implementing the mission, values, and philosophy of the Desert Botanical Garden.

Requirements

Competencies

• Bi-lingual optional (Spanish)
• Demonstrate group engagement and management capabilities
• Ability to implement a \"ready to play\" attitude
• Prepared to engage with children ages 12 and under and adult caregivers
• Possess an optimistic, open-minded attitude
• Flexible in a wide range of situations
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Teaching experience in an informal education setting preferred
• A valid Arizona driver's license is required.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays and evenings
• Bi-lingual optional (Spanish)
• Demonstrate group engagement and management capabilities
• Ability to implement a \"ready to play\" attitude
• Prepared to engage with children ages 12 and under and adult caregivers
• Possess an optimistic, open-minded attitude
• Flexible in a wide range of situations
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Teaching experience in an informal education setting preferred
• A valid Arizona driver's license is required.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays and evenings

Equipment Used

Multiple toys, games, and tools to facilitate outdoor learning and enjoyment.

Internal Communication

Frequent communication with Garden employees and volunteers.

External Communication

Limited

Working Conditions

Must be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read, and type. Manual dexterity and the ability to lift up to 25 pounds required. Much of this role will be outdoors and subject to extreme weather.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Desert Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law.

The Garden fosters and supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.

All employees will help add to the Garden's diversity and fully embrace it.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.