**TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE SUBMIT AN APPLICATION BY VISITING THIS LINK: https://www.mansfieldtexas.gov/332/Job-Opportunities

Must be able to work flexible hours and days including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Part-time up to 19 hours per week.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Nature Education Naturalist reports directly to the Nature Education Supervisor and will work at various parks within Mansfield and at the Mansfield Activities Center (MAC). The Nature Education Naturalist will be responsible for planning and teaching nature education classes, organizing and teaching outdoor activities, and leading field trips for individuals of all ages. Additionally, the specialist will provide support with basic office and support tasks to ensure the smooth operation of our programs and a remarkable experience for our participants.

EXAMPLES OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED:                      

• Plan and execute nature education classes for participants of all ages, incorporating hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences.
• Teach outdoor recreational activities for participants of all ages including archery, kayaking, hiking, fishing, camping events, and more, ensuring safety protocols are followed at all times.
• Lead nature education field trips at Oliver Nature Park and at school sites, guiding participants in exploring and appreciating the natural environment.
• Develop and maintain educational materials, including lesson plans, activity guides, and informational resources.
• Communicate effectively with participants, parents, volunteers, and staff members to provide remarkable experiences and welcoming spaces, through daily interactions, programs, events, and marketing booths.
• Ensure the cleanliness and organization of education spaces and equipment used for classes and activities.
• Maintain discipline at all times using appropriate behavior management techniques.
• Operate city-owned 15 passenger van for local day trips and field trips as well as other city-owned vehicles and trailers.
• Attend mandatory staff training and meetings.
• Assist with administrative tasks such as scheduling, registration, and record-keeping to support program operations. Perform basic office duties such as answering phones, making copies, faxing, filing, and gathering data.
• Enforce and maintain all Parks and Recreation policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contract a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of theory, principles, natural sciences, land stewardship and environmental education programming and techniques, interpretation of ecological concepts, land and wildlife management, local flora and fauna, soils, hydrology, geology and current environmental issues.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Ability to work outside in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.
• Enthusiasm for learning and teaching about nature.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Windows applications.
• Knowledge of Google Drive, Sheets, Docs, and Mail applications.
• Good communications skills, both written and verbal.
• Flexible, energetic and outgoing.
• Must be comfortable around animals used for nature programming.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Experience leading programs for preschool and school age children.
• Experience working outdoor recreation or education setting instructing guests of all ages.

DESIRED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience developing curriculum for classes.
• 1 year of experience working in a Nature Center, zoo or similar.
• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental education, environmental science, biology, botany, outdoor recreation or related field.
• Master Naturalist preferred.
• Master Gardener preferred.
• NAI Certified Interpretive Guide preferred.
• Additional work experience in related field.
• CPR/First Aid Certification.
• USA Archery Level 1 Instructor or Certified NASP Instructor.
• Basic kayak skills training.
• Texas Outdoor Family camping skills training.
• Growing Up Wild/Project Wild/Project Wet or other environmental curriculum trainings.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS:

1. The physical activity of this position

• Climbing. Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Balancing. Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces.
• Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
• Kneeling. Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching. Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling. Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing. Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Pushing. Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling. Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling. Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

2. The physical requirements of this position

• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

3. The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception, and field vision.

• The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.

4. The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position

• The worker is subject to environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions. No effective protection from the weather.
• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

The City of Mansfield complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and it is our policy to ensure that no person is discriminated against based on their disability.  The City of Mansfield offers equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals and strictly prohibits the discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability.  The City of Mansfield shall provide reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential job duties when doing so does not create an undue hardship for the city.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Mansfield  provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  The City of Mansfield is mandated by federal law to provide a drug-free working environment for the safety of its employees and the public.  All employment is contingent upon passing a post-offer employment drug test and /or physical.