The Anacostia Watershed Society seeks an Environmental Educator to engage watershed communities (primarily youth) in learning about, experiencing, and restoring the Anacostia River and its watershed through environmental education programs. This full-time, exempt position will teach watershed education in area classrooms, lead field studies on the Anacostia River, conduct teacher trainings, and engage students as well as other volunteers in service projects. The Environmental Educator will also provide information to and recruit area schools and teachers to participate in programming. The Environmental Educator is a critical part of the Education Team, works directly with the Manager of Education, and works collaboratively across the organization.

The Environmental Educator is an integral part of the organization and is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the watershed’s restoration and the engagement of diverse communities, partners, and other stakeholders to deliver on our mission to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed by bringing partners and communities together to achieve a clean and safe Anacostia River for the benefit of all living in its watershed and for future generations.

About the Anacostia Watershed Society

Since its founding in 1989, the Anacostia Watershed Society has worked to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed communities. Over the past 30 years, AWS has grown and developed from a small group of concerned individuals into an award-winning non-profit, with an annual budget of $3 million, that is deeply involved in a cause that affects many different Washington, D.C. metro area communities within the 176 square-mile watershed.

As part of its mission, the Anacostia Watershed Society works with schools and students throughout Washington, D.C. and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, engaging them in an experience that educates them through hands-on service and allows them to play a part in the continuing improvement of the Anacostia River watershed. In addition, AWS serves as a voice for the river; advocating for and actively involving itself in policies, actions, and programs that protect its ecological health, improve water quality, and work to mitigate the negative effects of stormwater, bacteria, and trash.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Implement meaningful environmental education program activities as needed to support achieving Education Team objectives.

1. Facilitating classroom-based programming, leading interpretive boat tours, and engaging students and community members in hands on restoration activities.

2. Assist with program development, evaluation, and fundraising, as requested.

3. Participate in other special projects, organization-wide efforts, and other tasks as assigned.

Key Requirements

· Interest and/or experience in environmental education, conservation, enthusiasm for and comfort in the outdoors, and ability to work with people of all ages, especially experience working with youth in a metropolitan area.

· Demonstrated interest and/or passion for environmental justice and the importance of inspiring diverse communities to action.

· Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills; ability to work with minimal supervision.

· Ability to collaboratively evaluate effectiveness, adapt program design and implementation, develop annual work plans, etc.

· Strong written/verbal communication skills, including persuasive and effective communication that forwards the purpose and mission of the organization.

· A strong and active interest in learning and personal growth, including actively and reflectively pursuing growing self-awareness and receiving feedback from colleagues.

· Self-motivation, innovation, resourcefulness, and a collaborative team player.

· Boating and Paddling experience strongly preferred.

· Willing, motivated, and able to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends, work in the field, often outside in variable weather, travel, and driving to schools and field sites. Some physical work required (i.e. ability to lift up to 30 pounds).

Required Qualifications and Experiences

· Experience in teaching or working with youth in an educational setting, at a nonprofit or through other types of educational programming/project management.

· Experience teaching environmental science and education, or other related science fields; Bachelor’s degree in education an added plus.

· Demonstrated command of the required technical information relevant to environmental science and environmental literacy initiatives, teaching and managing K-12 classrooms, and other AWS education programs.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with virtual teaching preferred.

· Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply.

· Current CPR/First Aid certification strongly preferred and/or required upon hiring.

· Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

· We partner with and support multiple people in the communities we serve, and therefore, require COVID-19 vaccination for all AWS staff.

We are offering a competitive compensation package that includes a competitive base salary and benefits package. Salary range is in the low $40Ks depending on level of experience.

Interested applicants should email a cover letter and résumé formally expressing your interest to askhr@anacostiaws.org.

AWS encourages and embraces diversity.

We seek qualified applicants that reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve.