OPS EDUCATION SPECIALIST - FWC - 77904076

State of Florida•APOLLO BEACH, FL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This 40 hour per week, Other Personnel Services (OPS) position is based in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Office of Conservation Engagement and Education’s (CEE) Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN). It serves as an Education Specialist and Field Trip Coordinator at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, a marine-centric year-round education and summer camp facility. The successful candidate works alongside a team of up to seven on-site education, facilities, and leadership staff; interacts routinely with other professionals on and off-site and provides training and education services to numerous youth and conservation partners in the region. They should be able to work in a fast-paced environment, possess critical-thinking skills, work well as part of a team, and maintain a positive outlook. Candidates must be passionate about getting youth outside to create the next generation that cares about fish and wildlife resources and prefer familiarity with the four FYCCN pillars: shooting sports, fishing, boating, and wildlife exploration. The incumbent will exhibit compliance with policies and procedures, ACA (American Camp Association) Accreditation Standards, and up-to-date curricula and recreation program offerings. Excellent communication skills (with leadership, coworkers, parents, school officials, program participants, and other interested parties) are key to succeeding in this position. An ideal candidate is willing to learn the functions of this position and develop a strong understanding of the FYCCN’s mission, future goals, and knowledge and application of FYCCN practices. Persons with strong listening, writing, and critical-thinking skills, and the ability to multitask, to convey FYCCN’s vision are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Six years of professional experience in natural science or education, two of which must have been in the fields of outdoor recreation, wildlife conservation field work or conservation, and/or natural science
Substitution of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and two years of experience in the education fields of outdoor recreation, and/or natural science
Substitution of a master’s degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience in the education fields of outdoor recreation, and/or natural science
Substitution of a doctorate from an accredited college or university can substitute for the required experience
Possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver License and good driving record
Statewide travel is required to perform the duties of this position (1-25%)
Residency within Hillsborough County or one hour travel time of office
Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal history check (fingerprint-based) in accordance with Chapter 435, Florida Statutes. The criminal history check must be completed prior to or within the first three days of employment
Successfully complete the prerequisite swimming skills evaluation required for the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course within five months of employment
Successfully complete a kayaking skills assessment and canoeing skills assessment within two months of employment
Successfully complete the following trainings within the first 8 months of employment: Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, Lifeguard Certification, American Canoe Association Level 2 Kayak Skills Course, American Canoe Association Level 1 Canoe Skills Course, Boater Safety Certification, USA Archery Level 1 Instructor Certification, Hunter Safety Certification, Fishing and Boating Camp Training, and Project WILD Facilitator Certification
Strong program facilitation and presentation skills, and ability to present complex skills and/or concepts to large groups with varying age ranges from elementary through adulthood
Ability to lift 55 lbs.
Clear and effective written communication skills
Excellent public speaking skills
Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments for self and when working with others
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
Work independently and part of a team
Take initiative and work creatively
Ability to adjust to and use new approaches in the performance of their duties
Ability to travel, enter and exit a vehicle, and/or vessel, and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint
Deal professionally and sensitively with varied audiences and a wide range of contacts at different levels
Knowledge of one or more of FYCCN’s Four Pillars: shooting sports, fishing, boating, and wildlife discovery
Comfort working with animal ambassadors including snakes
Possess strong swimming skills; ability to swim without the assistance of a personal flotation device in brackish water conditions
Compile, collect, and organize data
Responsible for following the provisions and requirements in Section 215.422, Florida Statutes, related to the Comptroller’s rules and FWC’s invoice processing and warrant distribution procedures
Work at FWC is cross-functional meaning duties may cross division/office lines. The Commission expects employees to function across FWC’s organizational structure by providing their skills and expertise wherever needed through work on teams or as directed.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in the education fields of outdoor recreation, and/or natural science is a plus
Knowledge of estuarine and marine flora, fauna, and systems preferred
Knowledge of regional ecosystems and sustainable wildlife management practices preferred

Responsibilities

Responsible for coordination of field trip advertising, scheduling, facilitation, set-up/clean-up efforts, record collection, and demographics data keeping
Contribute to and help maintain a positive work environment
Provide a welcoming experience, and positive guest service to visitors to SYCC through program interactions
Respond to email/phone communications for both assigned work email and Suncoast inbox in a timely manner
Provide regular updates to their supervisor
Develop and update field trip announcements, field trip website content, and field trip curricula (as approved by supervisor)
Assist in the preparation for and facilitation of summer camp programming
Provide supervision coverage during summer camp as assigned
Monitor the health and wellness of program participants and provide intervention according to your level of certification as assigned by the SYCC Director
Enforce camp code of conduct; Address minor program changes, behavioral issues, etc. and seek guidance from the Assistant Director or Director where appropriate
Provide species appropriate husbandry to assigned ambassador animals
Immediately report any issues (i.e., replacing supplies, habitat needs)
Cover for other animal care staff when they are out of the office
Provide guidance/training in assigned husbandry duties for new staff, staff assigned as coverage, etc.
Help maintain camp educational supplies and equipment; keep them stocked, clean, organized, and in working order; perform inventory as assigned
Assist as assigned in both off-site and onsite events and programs
Engage with guests in the SYCC exhibit hall as assigned
Assist Director, Assistant Director, and Camp Programs Coordinator with preparations for summer camp, including updating programming, brainstorming ideas, providing feedback from previous year’s camps, inventory, creating materials, etc.
Participate in all required or assigned training sessions throughout the year
Lead recreational and conservation education programs including but not limited to (dissections, archery, fishing, boating, seining)
Assist with onsite animal husbandry
Assist with site maintenance
Stay compliant with FWC training requirements, policies, and procedures
Attend routine SYCC and CEE meetings to stay informed about important topics and stay connected
Contribute ideas to site specific conservation education programs, displays, and informational items
Assist in the integration of FYCCN educational curricula, family activities, and conservation programs into site offerings
Assist in the maintenance of conservation education programs with a focus on marine science (especially Tampa Bay)
Maintain relationships with local teachers to promote onsite field trip programming
Provide qualitative and quantitative analysis of ongoing field trip efforts and makes recommendations to supervisor for future programs Keeps and maintains accurate records of program attendance and statistics
Inventory and maintain field trip program supplies and equipment in excellent and safe conditions and reports any unsafe or broken equipment to supervisor
Comply with and operate according to American Camp Association (ACA)standards
Complete all required training related to ACA standards, risk management, and child protection policy
Participate in outreach and recruitment as assigned
Assist with training and support for seasonal staff and volunteers as assigned
Assist in identifying and reporting to the Director, personal and programmatic training needs, knowledge and ability gaps
Meet routinely with other Youth Conservation Center Education Specialists in a group setting to discuss programming similarities and differences
Complete and submit timesheets and required reports in a timely and thorough manner
Ensure documentation is complete and accurate
Assist with ground keeping as needed (brush pickup, cleaning, etc.)
Assist with janitorial cleaning of the facility as needed (classroom, bathrooms, pavilions, etc.)
Administrative duties: attends staff meetings; completes and submits required reports; participates in professional development courses; completes timesheets in a timely and thorough manner
Perform other duties as required

Benefits

Comprehensive health coverage
FRS Pension Plan or FRS Investment Plan for retirement
Tuition waiver program within the state university and community college systems
Health Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family Biweekly
No Cost $25,000 Life Insurance
Nine Paid State Holidays, One Personal Holiday per year
4 hours Annual Leave and 4 hours Sick Leave accrued Biweekly
Retirement Plan Options
State University and College Tuition Waiver Program
On the Job Trainings
Support for family planning, including paid maternity leave, adoption benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Family Supportive Work Program (FSWP), and paid leave for family and medical responsibilities for eligible employees
Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and other reasons