Community Engagement Coordinator

Tennessee Aquarium•Chattanooga, TN

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Engagement Coordinator advances the Tennessee Aquarium’s (Aquarium) freshwater conservation mission by building community stewardship opportunities, ensuring equitable participation, delivering science-based community initiatives, watershed education, and strengthening long-term support for restoration priorities. The Community Engagement Coordinator develops, delivers, and evaluates public engagement approaches to fit the needs of active conservation projects, focusing on Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) areas, and areas where species are being restored and released. The Community Engagement Coordinator will collaborate with Aquarium Educators to lead professional development opportunities, such as River Teachers, and will conduct community science watershed monitoring training to targeted audiences with the goal of improving freshwater literacy in the state. The Community Engagement Coordinator advances and maintains relationships with other conservation organizations to create partnerships focused on protecting freshwater animals and habitats and represents the Aquarium at regional and local events to effectively communicate conservation actions and increase public participation environmental stewardship initiatives.

Requirements

Effective communication, public speaking, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of key freshwater conservation issues.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Organization and ability to track progress on multiple projects independently and simultaneously.
Computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft 365 applications.
Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, or a related field is required.
Driver’s license required.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of two years in community outreach, volunteer coordination, event planning, or environmental education, preferred.
Certification in Project WET, Project WILD, and/or Georgia Adopt-A-Stream or similar programs, preferred.

Responsibilities

Initiate and maintain relationships with communities throughout the state, including but not limited to, landowners and managers, local leaders, universities and high schools, nonprofit organizations, and other state or federal agencies.
Develop, evaluate, and adapt community engagement plans to fit the needs of active conservation projects.
Collaborate with other departments and communities to host Conservation Night at the Chattanooga Lookouts, Laurel Dace Day (The Race to Save the Laurel Dace) in Spring City, TN, and other conservation celebrations.
Compile and share information about land use practices and ways to protect freshwater health on working lands with communities, landowners, and land managers in high-priority watersheds.
Collaborate with Marketing & Communications departments to contribute content to social media, newsletters, and web updates.
Prepare and deliver key conservation messages and consistent content to host guests who tour the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.
Collaborate with conservation partners to develop a Tennessee statewide water quality monitoring (community science) program.
Assist with tracking and evaluating outcomes of community engagement programs and adjust programs accordingly.
Collaborate with the Department of Learning and Evaluation to deliver educational programs at Aquarium facilities and other venues, using conservation storytelling to inspire guest action.
Support the supervision of volunteer, seasonal, and/or part-time community engagement positions.
Collaborate with departmental staff to incorporate freshwater conservation messages into ongoing educational programs and media.
Participate in watershed cleanups, species celebrations, and other awareness events in support of departmental and partner initiatives.
Assist with research, habitat restoration, and species restoration programs in the field or laboratory, as needed.