Education Field Coordinator

Reports to: Education & Leadership Manager
Classification: Part-time, non-exempt
Compensation: $25.00 per hour
Locations: Treasure Island, Heisler Park, and Crescent Bay Rocky Intertidal Areas, and other locations as necessary, in Laguna Beach, CA

Job Summary:

LOF is currently seeking a Part-time Education Field Coordinator to develop a K-12 marine conservation education program for Orange County schools. The Education Field Coordinator will coordinate and implement the program and lead engaging environmental education programs for diverse participants throughout Orange County. The coordinator promotes and encourages conservation and responsible use of natural resources by providing high quality educational programs and resources to the public. The coordinator and other educators provide education, outreach, and communications on issues key to LOF’s mission including marine conservation, climate change, and sustainable management of marine resources.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate, schedule, and carry out engaging lessons and activities at schools and at Laguna coast sites to Orange County K-12 schools.
• Work in collaboration with the Education and Leadership Team to develop and update curriculum
• Disseminate information to local school districts, stakeholders, and teachers via email and phone to promote program opportunities
• Assist the Education and leadership Team in community outreach and engagement through informational fairs, markets, and events
• Write and contribute content for internal and external publications, including social media, flyers, and website
• Support youth in developing and implementing community conservation projects
• Foster positive relationships with school district staff and community partners
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all education and outreach programs, including pre-and post-survey responses, attendance, quotes and testimonials, and other metrics
• Assist the Education and Leadership Manager in identifying potential funding sources and writing grant proposals
• Serve as tidepool educator as needed

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 18 years of age.
• Legal permission to work in the US.
• Minimum Bachelor degree in science, marine biology preferred, or equivalent experience with knowledge of marine biology, oceanography, rocky intertidal habitat, local organisms and interpretive techniques
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in teaching/training others about environmental issues particularly on marine conservation, tidepool education, climate change
• Successful track record of supervising and teaching others in a public setting
• Enjoys interacting with the public, inspiring employees and volunteers, and being a proactive member and mentor of a team.
• Ability to manage and perform administrative tasks such as scheduling and reporting using online computer programs and spreadsheets.
• Confident in leading oral/visual presentations and training sessions.
• Knowledge of marine ecosystems, tide tables, and marine protected areas.
• Experience with non-profit organizations
• Proficiency with shared Google Drive documents
• Ability to manage multiple email and social media accounts including Instagram and Facebook
• An ideal candidate would have skills in: teaching students of different ages through innovative teaching; problem solving; leading a team in delivering an engaging curriculum to schools; leadership and mentoring others; strong verbal and written communication.
• Knowledge of LOF’s mission, education programs, materials, and strategic plan.
• Familiarity with Laguna Beach marine organisms, marine ecology, marine protected areas and ‘leave no trace’ initiatives (responsible exploration). Maintains professional knowledge in one or more of the following: marine biology, oceanography, rocky intertidal habitat, local organisms, and survey/interpretive techniques.
• Competent in statistics, word processors, and spreadsheet systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Confident in leading oral/visual presentations and educational sessions.

Work Environment:  

The Education Field Coordinator requires a driver’s license and a dependable vehicle as the position requires frequent travel to schools. For teaching on-site, the work takes place outdoors during low tides in the rocky intertidal areas of Laguna Beach. As such, the Coordinator is exposed to variable weather and water conditions, including sun, rain, wind, and waves. The Coordinator may at times expect to be surrounded by large numbers of people, as is typical of summer beach visitation in Laguna Beach. Weekend and some evening work will be required. Administrative tasks may take place at the Coordinator’s remote office or at LOF’s office using personal equipment, including personal phone, computer, and printer. LOF allots a stipend to cover some expenses. As such, the ELC’s physical demands will be as follows:

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to be outdoors for shifts or outreach events of two to seven hours long.
• Ability to lift and transport outreach materials such as tables, chairs, canopies, banners, and materials.
• Ability to stand and traverse over rocky, wet, and uneven surfaces.
• Ability to withstand extreme and/or changing seasonal weather conditions (e.g., heat, cold, and wind).

LOF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. LOF considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

To Apply:

Please submit CV and cover letter summarizing your experience and desire to work at Laguna Ocean Foundation to apply@lagunaoceanfoundation.org with the e-mail subject line, “Education Field Coordinator Position”.

TideWater Docent

Reports to: Education and Outreach Coordinator
Classification: Volunteer
Location: Goff Island, Wood’s Cove, Shaw’s Cove North and South, and Crescent Bay South Rocky Intertidal Areas, and other locations as necessary, in Laguna Beach, CA

Job Summary:

The TideWater Docent works within the Laguna Ocean Foundation’s Education Program and educates visitors of all ages about the tidepools, the plants/algae and animals that live there, and the proper way to explore this valuable ecosystem without harming the natural resources within the Laguna Beach Marine Reserve and Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Areas. Shifts are scheduled during low tides on both weekdays and weekends, year-round.

Essential Duties:

• Provides onsite education to the general public by informing visitors of the flora and fauna of these rocky intertidal areas and interpreting the natural surroundings, including the ocean, geology, and surrounding habitats, as well as by directing the public to nearby points of interest.
• Provides interpretive information in a friendly, polite, and professional manner.
• Counts and records the total number of tidepool visitors.
• Interacts and cooperates with the City of Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department Lifeguards and Protection Officers for their enforcement of State and local laws, as well as patron safety. The TideWater Docent does not conduct enforcement activities.
• Promotes conservation efforts by increasing public awareness of the laws within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the proper way to act in tidepools as defined by the “good tidepooler rules”.

Qualifications:

• Interest in the natural world and enthusiasm for the environment.
• Enjoys teaching and interacting with the public.
• Enjoys being a proactive member of a team, including being dependable and responsible.

Requirements:

• TideWater Docents are representatives of Laguna Ocean Foundation and must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times.
• Minimum 18 years of age.
• Performs according to the Docent Standards of Conduct.
• Communicates via email and accesses SignUp.com.
• Receives and follows directions from the Laguna Ocean Foundation’s Education and Leadership Manager.
• Ability to work outside in an uneven, rocky, wet, sandy and exposed environment with changing weather conditions.
• Performs duties in a safe manner, follows all protocols for safety, and chooses the safest

This is a non-paying part-time position (hours flexible). To apply please send a cover letter, resume, and your general schedule of availability to rlee@lagunaoceanfoundation.org with the subject line ‘TideWater Docent’.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT INTERN

Reports to: Education and Outreach Coordinator
Classification: Part-time (Hours Flexible)
Compensation: Non-Paying
Locations: Laguna Beach, CA

Job Summary:

LOF is currently developing plans to grow and improve the organization through strategic, administrative, and financial efforts. As part of these plans, we are seeking interns who are interested pursuing a career in the non-profit environmental sector.

As a Program Development Intern, you will work collaboratively with the Managing Director and other members of the LOF team to assist on administrative and communication efforts (e.g., financial reports, donor reports, develop proposals, HR). This is a great opportunity to gain experience in one of the most in-demand skills in development, programming, partnership-building, research, and finances in the non-profit industry.

This internship requires fifteen to twenty hours of work per week and lasts from September until late December or longer for those interested in a longer commitment. Most of the work can be done remotely. However, the intern must meet in-person or via Zoom once a week with the Managing Director and occasionally with other team members.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be eligible to work in the United States. 
• Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited university. 
• Interest in and knowledge of environment, conservation, and natural or social sciences.
• Interest in pursuing a career in the non-profit sector, particularly administration and development.
• Strong and multifaceted communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to details.
• Ability to work independently and achieve regular deliverables with strict timelines.
• Values that align with LOF’s mission.
• Familiarity and comfort with Google docs, Powerpoint, spreadsheets, social media, and databases.
• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age.

This is a non-paying part-time internship (hours flexible) starting Fall 2022. To apply please send a cover letter, resume, and your general schedule of availability to rlee@lagunaoceanfoundation.org with the subject line ‘LOF Program Development Intern’.

COMMUNICATION INTERN

Reports to: Education and Outreach Coordinator
Classification: Part-time (Hours Flexible)
Compensation: Non-Paying
Locations: Laguna Beach, CA

Job Summary:

The Communications Internship aims to provide educational and practical experience  to students in the field of science, communications, journalism or related fields. Interns will work with our team to supporting outreach programs, with the goal of engaging, influencing, and generating public support for our efforts. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in one of the most in-demand skills in social media engagement, content production, and public relations in the non-profit industry. 

This internship requires five to ten hours of work per week and last from September until December or longer for those interested in a longer commitment. Most of the work can be done remotely. However, the intern must meet in-person or via Zoom once a week with the Managing Director and occasionally with other team members. 

The intern will: 

• Create and comment on social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter) posts including events, blogs, stories, Instagram Takeover, Ask Me, quarterly newsletters, advertisements, report on local conservation/marine issues.
• Assist with existing fundraising social media campaign (e.g., Protect and Preserve)
• Help create an e-brochure
• Work with the webmaster to maintain LOF’s website (e.g., updated information per page, user and mobile friendly)
• Assist with visual content editing, organization, labeling, and storage
• Assist with various communications projects, school, and community outreach activities

Requirements:

• Must be eligible to work in the United States or Canada
• Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited university. 
• Interest in and knowledge of environment, conservation, and natural or social sciences. 
• Must be able to commit to 5 hours of work a week
• Previous experience and/or coursework in environmental journalism, marine science, communications, journalism, or related fields
• Strong experience in social media (samples of communications pieces are encouraged).
• Fluent in spoken and written English (Ability to speak another language is a plus)
• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age

This is a non-paying part-time internship (hours flexible) starting Fall 2022. To apply please send a cover letter, resume, and your general schedule of availability to rlee@lagunaoceanfoundation.org with the subject line ‘LOF Communication Intern’. 

RESEARCH INTERN

Reports to: Education and Outreach Coordinator
Classification: Part-time (Hours Flexible)
Compensation: Non-Paying
Locations: Laguna Beach, CA

Job Summary: LOF is currently developing plans to explore efforts to have a greater impact on Laguna’s coastal and marine conservation. As part of these plans, we are seeking interns who are currently natural science majors (in particular ecology, marine science, or environmental planning) who are interested pursuing a career in marine research and conservation.  

As a Research Intern, you will work collaboratively with the Managing Director and other members of the LOF team to carry out background or original research on key LOF priorities (e.g., ecosystem restoration, watershed management, climate change, coastal management). This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on research experience working with educators, volunteers, and LOF’s Board.

This internship requires five to ten hours of work per week and lasts from September until late December or longer for those interested in a longer commitment. Most of the work can be done remotely. However, the intern must meet in-person or via Zoom once a week with the Managing Director and occasionally with other team members.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be eligible to work in the United States. 
• Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited university. 
• Interest in and knowledge of environment, conservation, and natural social sciences. Experience on databases, statistics, and GIS is a plus. 
• Interest in pursuing a career in ecological or conservation research. 
• Strong and multifaceted communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to details.
• Ability to work independently and achieve regular deliverables with strict timelines.
• Values that align with LOF’s mission.
• Familiarity and comfort with statistics, scientific literature, science databases,  spreadsheets.
• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age.

This is a non-paying part-time internship (hours flexible) starting Fall 2022. To apply please send a cover letter, resume, and your general schedule of availability to rlee@lagunaoceanfoundation.org with the subject line ‘LOF Research Intern’.