Education Specialist

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission; Charleston (SC); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Sick Leave

Retirement Plan

Training & Development

Free park admission

Job summary

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission seeks an Education Specialist to develop and facilitate environmental and social studies programs for all ages. You will coordinate the customer experience to ensure exceptional service, and work evenings, weekends, and holidays with on-call status for emergencies.

Responsibilities include designing standards-aligned programs, building partnerships, supervising part-time staff, and ensuring safety and ADA/OSHA compliance across facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interpretation, History, Education, Life Science, or related field with three years experience preferred.
• Associate degree plus four years experience may offset a higher degree requirement.
• General knowledge of park and recreation administration and environmental education.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops education programs aligned to state and national standards.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with educational and government groups.
• Organizes equipment and supplies for programs and events.
• Delivers exceptional customer service and responds to public inquiries.
• Represents the agency professionally in meetings and events.
• Assists with budget preparation and revenue opportunities while controlling expenses.
• Trains part-time staff and volunteers in interpretive techniques and safety procedures.
• Ensures ADA and OSHA compliance and supports the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
• Maintains affiliations with professional organizations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Training staff

Public program design

Part-time staff supervision

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Interpretation, History, Education, Life Science, or related field

Associate's degree +4 years experience

High school diploma or GED +6 years experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

The Education Specialist develops and facilitates agency environmental and social studies education programs for all ages. Coordinates the customer experience to ensure exceptional customer satisfaction. This includes delivering services to the public that are of great interest, value and quality, well publicized, reasonably accessible and adheres to safety standards.Requires evening, weekend and holiday work, and “On call” status for emergency situations. Eligible to work in a hybrid environment with prior approval.

Specialized Duties and Responsibilities

Designs and develops environmental and social studies education programs through standards-based school programs, pre-school programs, public programs, camp programs, external camp programs, and after-school programs, that are aligned to SC State Standards and National Standards, curriculum-based outreach programs, and non-curriculum based outreach programs for preschool to high school students. Builds and maintains healthy professional relationships and partnerships with various individuals and groups as appropriate, e.g. educational and government institutions, home school groups, affiliated associations, organizations, community groups, civic groups, businesses, non-profits, industry professionals, subject matter experts, citizens and others.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Participates in the creation of long and short-term Education program goals.Organizes and maintains the laboratory equipment and education supplies. Ensures that all programs and events are planned and executed in a way that protects the natural resources and environmental quality of county park facilities.
• Assists with the selection and training part time personnel and volunteers.
• Delivers exceptional customer service by responding to public inquiries, suggestions, complaints, and requests regarding the agency's programs and events offered.
• Represents the agency in a highly professional manner through presentations, business meetings, and other business interactions.
• Contributes to the strategic planning process. This includes evaluating, researching, providing input and developing goals and objectives related to park-based and outreach nature, science, cultural, environmental, and historical interpretive programs for the agency.
• Assists in the budget preparation of the Interpretation and Stewardship area of the Recreation division, complies with budget restrictions and provides input regarding revenue opportunities while controlling expenses.
• Participates in training part time staff in interpretive techniques, classroom and lab safety, and education program content. Participates in the execution and monitoring of the safety training, procedures, records, inspections and incident reports for the Interpretation and Stewardship area to ensure compliance with ADA. OSHA, and other regulatory bodies. Participates the proper implementation of certain aspects of the agency Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
• Maintains affiliations and certifications with appropriate professional organizations including the South Carolina Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation and Park Association, and others in accordance with this position's duties.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from a college or university in Interpretation, History, Education, Life Science, or a related field with three years experience is preferred. This may be offset by an associate's degree required plus four years experience or high school diploma or GED and six years total experience required. Supervisory experience preferred. First Aid/CPR preferred. SC DOT Emergency Medical Responder preferred. Must pass a drug test and criminal background check, and shall possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
• General knowledge of park and recreation administration, sufficient formal and philosophical background in Environmental Education, Social Studies Education, or the life sciences, and sufficient knowledge of and appreciation of the local environment and its natural and cultural resources.
• Sufficient knowledge of the cultural and natural history of Charleston and in the fields of Interpretation and Education. Sufficient experience working with area cultural history, and education professionals in developing, supervising, and executing programs, and coordinating historical research.
• Sufficient knowledge of safety regulations and personal protection equipment. General experience in training staff on various equipment and vehicles.
• General experience in interacting effectively with agency officials, elected officials, contractors, inspectors, and vendors.
• Sufficient experience in using Microsoft and other common office technology hardware and software to perform job functions.
• Sufficient experience in actively listening and expressing ideas clearly and concisely, in oral and written form, to small groups.
• Sufficient experience in recognizing, researching, analyzing and solving problems both independently and within teams.
• General experience in recruiting, interviewing and hiring qualified candidates, and developing employees and volunteers through supervising, mentoring, evaluating, and performance improvement.
• Sufficient experience in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with fellow employees, and dealing courteously and effectively with the public.
• Sufficient experience in providing outstanding customer service, internally and externally.
• General knowledge of fiscal management and in applying and monitoring annual budgets.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

This working position requires frequently moving and remaining stationary in an office environment; frequently moving and remaining stationary in indoor park facilities; frequently moving and remaining stationary outdoors; frequently traversing outside terrain such as concrete, pavement, grass, dirt, mud, gravel, and sand; frequently writing, reading, processing and moving documents; frequently operating equipment such as computers, copiers, printers, and scanners; frequently communicating with staff and the public in person, online, and by phone; frequently traveling to central and remote locations throughout Charleston County; frequently operating vehicles such as cars and trucks; frequent exposure to extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, precipitation, wind, sunlight and humidity; frequently moving, lifting, and transporting equipment and miscellaneous items weighing up to 25 pounds and to height of5-6 feet.

Benefits working at CCPRC

Along with competitive pay, we offer some pretty terrific benefits including:

• Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• Optional Life and Disability Insurance
• Optional Medical and Dependent Care Spending Accounts
• Annual and Sick Leave
• South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS) State Retirement Plan - Both agency and employee contribute to the plan
• Optional Deferred Compensation Program - Employer Matching Funds Program Available
• Longevity Pay Increases
• Optional Federal Credit Union Membership
• Professional and Skill Development Training
• Employee Assistance and Wellness Program with free annual onsite screenings
• Free admission to all of our parks and facilities including beaches and all three waterparks
• Free admission to a variety of special events
• Discounts on food, beverage, and gift shop items
• Free beach chair, umbrella, pedal boat and bike rentals
• A Charleston County Parks employee ID also opens doors for you for free admission at more than 25 participating attractions around town