EMPLOYER:  Alabama Wildlife Federation

POSITION TITLE:  Habitat Learning Lab Specialist

POSITION TYPE:  Full Time with Benefits

POSITION LOCATION:  Work remotely at mutually agreed upon location in North Alabama

BACKGROUND:  The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) is a 501c3 charity and the state’s oldest and largest citizen’s conservation organization. AWF’s mission is to promote the wise use and responsible stewardship of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources. One of AWF’s primary focus areas is conservation education, and part of AWF’s comprehensive conservation education strategy includes outdoor, inquiry-based learning opportunities on school grounds through our Habitat Learning Lab Program (previously called Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program).

For over 20 years AWF’s Habitat Learning Lab Program has provided a support system and technical assistance to Kindergarten-12th grade schools for the sustainable development and utilization of schoolyard habitats and outdoor learning stations on school grounds as educational tools for teachers and students.  The core outdoor learning stations in a Habitat Lab include sensory, butterfly and pollinator gardens, frog and toad habitats, songbird habitats, log decomposition stations, and weather stations.  To help schools use their Habitat Labs as educational tools, the AWF created the Junior Wildlife Scientist Program along with other educational resources.

For more information and details about the AWF’s Habitat Learning Lab Program, visit our website at https://alabamawildlife.org/about-the-habitat-lab-program/.  

POSITION SUMMARY: The new Habitat Learning Lab Specialist will provide direct support for K-12 schools enrolled in the Habitat Learning Lab program in north Alabama and will be a vital member of the Habitat Learning Lab team who coordinates the details of the HLL Program statewide.

DUTIES: Activities include but are not limited to the following:

1.) Provide assistance and support to schools enrolled in the Habitat Learning Lab Program in north Alabama including the following:

• Basic Information Requests about the AWF HLL Program
• On-site & Off-site Consultations with School Planning Committees
• Customized Habitat Learning Lab Site Maps using Microsoft Word & Google Earth
• Customized Materials Lists and Estimated Budgets using Microsoft Excel
• Habitat Learning Lab Build Days & Work Days Planning and Assistance
• Long-term Maintenance Plan Development
• Faculty Training for Educational Use of Habitat Learning Labs
• Certification Planning & Assistance

2.) Organize and facilitate regional educational training workshops for Habitat Learning Lab schools

3.) Manage and carry out projects included in the Habitat Learning Lab Program strategic plan

Note: Some of these duties require travel to schools, meetings, and workshop locations. Travel reimbursement details are below.

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Wildlife Science, Environmental Science, K-12 Education, or related field

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE / SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of native wildlife, native plants, wildlife habitat, and/or environmental sciences
• Demonstrated project management including developing and carrying out budgets, task lists, and timelines, along with the capability to adjust to changing circumstances with limited notice
• Experience with using Microsoft Word for design work including layout of images and text
• Experience with using basic functions in Microsoft Excel
• Experience with landscaping activities including building, planting and/or maintaining outdoor gardens with native plants
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills (such as writing articles &/or giving presentations)
• Experience in working on projects with partner organizations/businesses in a professional and timely manner
• Demonstrated ability to work with a team
• Experience working with K-12 schools including administrators, teachers and/or students
• Experience with webpage development and/or social media management