NATURALIST
Metro/Oregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon
Closes: Thursday, October 9, 2015 @ 5:00 pm

Salary: $24.28 – $32.54 hourly

This is a limited duration position funded by the natural areas levy. Minimum duration of the position funding is June 30, 2018, but duration may be extended if funding is available. Limited duration positions are eligible for benefits.

The naturalist in this position works as part of a team of four naturalists to deliver conservation education programs that: 1) Are grounded in science, fact-based and credible, 2) Promote nature connection and give people the tools to connect to nature, 3) Build social capital by being inclusive and welcoming and by making participants the priority, 4) Provide for unique and personal experiences and 5) Are accessible, affordable and reach diverse audiences. The naturalist is the conservation education program lead for community partnership programs, site-based outreach and park planning projects.

Community partnerships engage equity-focused community-based organizations across the Portland metropolitan region to increase those organizations’ capacity to enable their diverse clients to access, enjoy and learn in nature. The naturalist, working with other Metro staff and partners, helps create curriculum and leads field outings with partner organizations. Site-based outreach increases public engagement with specific parks and natural areas. The naturalist works with other staff to build stronger connections between people and a particular Metro park in their community through engaging, site-specific natural history programming. The naturalist also serves as the conservation education representative on teams designing future nature parks. The naturalist brings important interpretive perspective to the table and supports public involvement processes throughout the design process.

The naturalist also leads and/or supports conservation education programs as part of the naturalist team. These may include public and group programs covering topics such as bird identification, botany, geology, wilderness skills, etc. and annual events such as the Salmon Homecoming and Raptor Road Trip. The naturalist also develops interpretive materials (printed materials, website content, props); purchases equipment and performs maintenance as needed.

Visit www.oregonmetro.gov/jobs for the complete job announcement and a link to our online hiring center.

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