Contract Educators

JOB DESCRIPTION

A Contract Educator is responsible for performing and assisting with a variety of education tasks and interacting with participants on field trips to the Estuarium or local beaches. This position plays a key role in the education program by assisting the Education Coordinator by providing hands-on field trips to K-12 school groups, helping deliver education lessons, leading beach investigations, delivering marine programs for the community, and supporting the Education Team. This contract position is year round with an average weekly hour allotment of 5-10 hours during slower program seasons.

QUALIFICATIONS

Personal traits to include:

• Committed to the Puget Sound Estuarium’s mission to foster learning opportunities that inspire people of all ages to connect with, protect, and enjoy the unique estuary environment of south Puget Sound
• Highly organized
• Excellent verbal skills 
• Ability to educate persons of varying ages and backgrounds
• Exudes a positive attitude
• Excels at working with a wide variety of community members/volunteers
• Interpersonal skills essential for working collaboratively with staff, board, donors, partners, and the regional community.
• Works with on-site educators and staff to de-escalate and redirect participants in an effort to maintain program safety and professionalism.
• While representing the Puget Sound Estuarium Contractors must showcase professional behavior and follow organizational standards.

Education and professional experience desired to include:

• Minimum of four-year degree in education, communications, natural resource management, marine biology, business or public administration, or related field
• or Currently enrolled in college course in environmental or marine biology field 
• Education in marine or biology fields highly desired
• Previous work as an educator and developing STEM, NGSS, and Common Core aligned curriculum
• Must be First Aid certified upon hire for some grant education field trips

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

All Contract Educators are required to attend an initial Education Team meeting and be approved by the Education Coordinator. Thereafter, participation in team meetings that involve training for specific field trips will be paid.

Field Trips (trainings and implementation)

• Estuary Life and Landforms (Oct)
• Classroom Robotics at Bud Bay (CRABB) (Mar)
• On the Water (May)
• Capitol Land Trust (Spring/Fall)
• Estuary Explorers Summer Camp/Spring Tide Camp
• Meet the Beach (Spring/Summer/Fall)
• Estuarium (All year) 
• STEM programs with Thurston Together! (All year)
• Mason County Partnership (Spring) 
• Tiny Tides in Schools (February)

Education Events (trainings and implementation)

• South Sound GREEN Student Congress
• South Sound GREEN Nearshore Program 
• Squaxin Tribe Partnership 
• Partner summer camps 
• Outside organization Education Events ( Prior approval)

Applicants will be subject to a background check before hire. Please email your resume and any other relevant application materials to education@pugetsoundestuarium.org. Applications are accepted year round.

Contract Educators can work a maximum of 80 hours/month and monthly hours depend on the frequency of field trips. This position pays $18.00/hour. This is an independent contractor position for the South Sound Estuary Association, DBA Puget Sound Estuarium. The Estuarium will issue an IRS Form 1099-MISC for the work performed by the Contract Educators.

Contractor shall be solely responsible for any and all necessary business licenses, taxes, Social Security contributions or payments, disability insurance, unemployment taxes, and other payroll type taxes applicable to such compensation.