March 2022

To Apply:  Send resume and cover letter to La’Tanya Scott, Education Director, [email protected]

Call 205-354-4184 for more information.

Position Summary: Provides field education support for the Shane Hulsey CLEAN Education Program and other youth and adult environmental education programs of the Cahaba River Society. Occasionally supports field programs for Stewardship and Recreation. Support staff for stream walks, teacher training, and CLEAN canoe trips.

About the Cahaba River Society (CRS):  Founded in 1988, CRS leads our community to restore and protect the Cahaba River watershed and its rich diversity of life. The diverse lives depending on the Cahaba include the people of Birmingham and central Alabama as well as the River’s globally significant biodiversity of freshwater wildlife. The Cahaba, the heart of “America’s Amazon,” has more fish species per mile than any other river in North America and a similar rich diversity of other river life.  The Cahaba is a major source of the Birmingham area’s drinking water, and CRS’ service area – the “peopleshed” of those whose lives are affected by the River – is larger than the watershed, including Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Perry and Dallas County, stretching from Birmingham to the Black Belt.

Through collaboration, river restoration policy advocacy, and bringing people to the River for hands-on education, recreation, and volunteerism, we have been building community support and making a lasting positive impact for over 30 years. Learn more about the full range of our goals, partners, programs and successes at www.cahabariversociety.org.

Staff and Board Relationships:  Supervised by the Education Director. Field Programs Director leads all canoe trips.

Lead Responsibilities:

• Support staff for CLEAN stream walks, teacher training, and educational portion of canoe trips. Supports CLEAN Education Director and Field Programs Director to provide participants with field instruction about the ecology and natural history of the Cahaba and other local rivers. May support filming of CLEAN virtual learning videos.
• Supports Stewardship volunteer events, such as litter cleanups, stream bank restoration, or forest replanting, and Recreation trips as scheduled by Field Programs Director.
• Supports Field Programs Director to help field trip participants hike and canoe in a safe manner, including unloading and loading of canoes, negotiating obstacles or hazards in the river, and following direction in emergency situations.
• Follows program liability and safety policies including: ensuring compliance with field trip safety protocols as set by Field Programs Director and Education Director, participating in staff safety training opportunities if desired.
• Assist with maintenance and use of CLEAN educational materials and field equipment/supplies, such as nets, chemistry sets, curriculum materials.

Skills, Education and Experience:

• Some educational or professional background in biology, environmental studies, environmental education, education, or related field.
• Interest in natural history and ecology of rivers, Cahaba River, and Alabama.
• Outdoor leadership experience relevant to position is desirable.
• Teaching and/or outdoor environmental education experience is desirable. Experience in working with children, able to safely manage children in outdoor setting is desirable.

Special Requirements:

• Training or certification in first aid or canoe safety, and ability to support water rescues is desirable.
• Physical capability of loading and unloading equipment, including canoes, is necessary. Ability to safely drive a truck with a canoe trailer in tow, including ability to back a trailer with reasonable skill, is desirable.
• Reliability to support scheduled events. Flexible hours will include weekdays and may include activities on weekends and weekday nights.
• Valid Alabama Driver’s License and background check including Child Abuse Screening.
• Cahaba River Society is a drug-free workplace.

Part-time hours and pay:  Pay will be on hourly basis at $13 per hour. Possibility of up to 20 hours a week from April through October.

Non Discrimination Policy: The Cahaba River Society is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and we will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment for any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, gender, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, religion (creed), disability, or military status.  We also will not discriminate in selection of volunteers and vendors or provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and program partners.