Wildlife Educator

Please note: Applications will be accepted through 4:59 p.m. MST on the posting end date.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is seeking Wildlife Educator to join the MK Nature Center team. This position is stationed at MK Nature Center situated adjacent IDFG Headquarters, the Boise Greenbelt, and the Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park in Boise.

This position will support IDFG's mission by educating the public about Idaho’s wildlife resources in the form of on-site programming to children and adults, creating social media content, designing and building displays, writing publications, staffing outreach events in addition to recruiting and training volunteers to help with educational tasks. This position will also be responsible for administering the Idaho Master Naturalist Program (adult volunteer and education program) by working closely with chapter leaders across the state. Responsibilities include guiding chapters to adhere to program policy and standards, supporting chapter leaders with resources, providing annual awards, organizing occasional online education opportunities for members, and supporting the planning of the state-wide rendezvous.

Why IDFG? We are a premier natural resource agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's fish and wildlife for this great state. We are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence as we cultivate opportunities for our customers to engage with our natural resources and become resource stewards for future generations. We are highly dedicated to our mission, committed to our team, and we know how to balance work/life commitments while loving the work we do. 

What We Offer: 

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance - employee only coverage for PPO $65/month for medical and vision & $11.80/month for dental
• Participation in one of the Nation's best state retirement systems
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start (accumulate approximately 3 weeks of vacation the first year, and increasing with state longevity)
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Multiple saving plans-optional 401k and 457 plans
• Group Life Insurance/Disability Insurance/Supplemental Life Insurance - state provided basic life insurance coverage and affordable supplemental plans
• Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness (eligibility requirements may apply)
• Employee Assistance Program - confidential support, information, and resources for all of life's challenges
• State and Department Wellness Programs
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Potential flexible work schedule  

General Information:

• The incumbents, with or without reasonable accommodation, must be capable of lifting objects weighing up to 70 lbs. and carrying them 200 feet, stand while lecturing up to five hours a day, and work in all weather conditions. 

Responsibilities: 

• Design, plan, and teach lessons to groups of visitors of all ages, both large and small.
• Plan public education events including event content, materials, staffing, advertising, set up-clean up, and event record keeping/budgeting.
• Participate in administering a chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalist Program at MK Nature Center.
• Track programming numbers and volunteer hours for federal grant match requirements.
• Help write, design, and publish the quarterly MKNC newsletter and other publications.
• Assist in the supervision and training of MKNC’s annual AmeriCorps Member.
• Design and construct physical displays about wildlife, wildlife management, and ecological concepts.
• Create online educational resources which may include online classes, social media posts, and videos about nature-related and wildlife content.
• Working with volunteers including recruitment, training, scheduling, tracking and participating in volunteer appreciation events.
• Communicate with teachers and group leaders to book field trips, staff field trips, and conduct evaluations of field trips.
• Oversee the Idaho Master Naturalist Program state-wide program. 

Minimum Qualifications: (These qualifications are required.) 

• Good knowledge of wildlife, wildlife management, biology, or zoology. (Typically gained by successful completion of at least two upper division college courses in fish, wildlife, biology, zoology, or other related field, OR approximately two years of experience in the field of wildlife and/or aquatic conservation. This experience can be with a governmental agency or non-governmental agency that deals with conservation, conservation education, environmental education, or outdoor education.)
• Some knowledge of grants administration. (Typically gained by successful completion of a course or training on grants administration OR six months of experience developing and monitoring grant budgets, scope of work, timetables and reporting requirements and experience reviewing reports, expenditures, budget information, and compiling performance data)
• Experience developing and presenting wildlife educational talks. (Typically gained by developing and presenting wildlife education talks to school, civic organizations, sportsmen's groups, etc., that were given on a regular basis and involved several different wildlife species - animals, birds, and/or fish.)
• Valid driver's license. 

Along with the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have experience managing and working with volunteers and/or administering a volunteer program. Additional consideration may also be given at time of interviews to candidates with experience writing publications, graphic design and managing large programs and projects. Please be sure to include within your application material you submit any training and/or experience that you may have in these areas. 

Thank you for applying with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game!