Avian Educator Apprentice

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Opportunity:

The Arboretum at Penn State and Penn State’s Outdoor Education Field Lab and Nature Center -Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center – are searching for an energetic Avian Educator that can provide research assistance and informal and formal interpretation to the community. This opportunity is apaid ($17.00/hr.), part-time (20 hours/week) position, lasting up to 52 weeks. The apprentice will gain valuable interpretative skills through experiential learning projects that may include

• Project Nestwatch

• Project Feederwatch

• Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas

• local hawk watches

• the farmland raptor project

• other faculty research initiatives

Experience:

The Avian Educator will work with the Arboretum and Shaver’s Creek staff to develop and facilitate nature-based programs and activities related to central Pennsylvania's avian ecology, geology, history, and culture. The position will also expose the intern to

• public gardens and horticulture

• volunteer management

• public relations

• donor support

The intern will build meaningful relationships with staff, peers, volunteers, and both the University and local community through teamwork and collaboration.

Primary Responsibilities:

Experiential Learning and Landowner Outreach (May–August)

• Assist in on-site and off-site nestbox monitoring to track nesting activity, egg-laying, chick hatching, and fledging success of secondary cavity nesters.
• Develop working knowledge of the Natural History of American Kestrel and American Barn Owls through landowner outreach, nestbox management, and hands-on banding demonstrations.
• Develop working knowledge of the Natural History of central Pennsylvania’s breeding birds by participating in the 3rd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas.
• Contribute to avian research projects led by Penn State Faculty
• Support staff in outreach and interpretation at Penn State’s annual three-day event, Ag Progress Days.

Outreach and Interpretation (September-April)

• Support the Arboretum’s annual Avian Education Lecture event programming, as well as bird walks, and programs organized and delivered as part of the avian education program suite.
• Embrace a growth mindset by demonstrating critical thinking, taking on leadership roles, and seeking opportunities for professional engagement.
• Participate in paid, regularly scheduled community education days designed to support career and self-development
• Enroll in a mandatory 9-week non-credit tuition-free Canvas course (currently titled Upskill Penn State) designed to support reflection on experiential learning.
• Help maintain the Arboretum’s bird feeding stations during peak use.
• Develop a working knowledge of migration ecology and identification through local fall and spring hawk watch sites.

Qualifications:

Applicants should be currently enrolled in or recent graduates from an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management, or a related field and should demonstrate a strong interest in environmental education. Applicants should have a basic understanding of avian ecology and biology and be able to identify common Pennsylvania bird species. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a desire to learn more about avian ecology and explain how this opportunity will help them reach their career goals.

Requirements:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter
• Contact information for at least two professional references. Written letters of recommendation highly preferred.

Application:

• Applications must be submitted online via Penn State Careers Website: https://hr.psu.edu/careers
• Please make certain to include a cover letter, resume or CV, and reference contacts/letters of recommendation with your application materials.
• This position will remain open until filled.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

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