Manager of Engagement at the Botanic Garden of Smith College

Job Description

Job Summary

Develop and maintain relationships with campus and community partners in support of the botanic garden’s mission to foster environmental and social justice through teaching and learning about plants, people, and place. Build institutional capacity in service of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through community outreach and program development. Coordinate the Botanic Garden’s volunteer program, which amplifies the garden’s visitor engagement through K-12 educational tours, front desk support, and assistance during events. Coordinate the development, delivery, and assessment of K-12 programs that utilize the botanic garden’s living plant collections, gardens, spaces, and staff expertise. Administer the Botanic Garden’s summer internship, which provides an experiential learning opportunity for Smith students and other undergraduate and graduate students. Lead student programming engagements, particularly those aimed at connecting with students who are historically underrepresented in botanical and horticultural fields. Develop and deliver “first encounter”’ engagement events in collaboration with the Office of Admission, Office of Student Engagement, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Office of Multicultural Affairs, and Office of Residential Life. Coordinate activities with educators, botanic garden staff, and other public program educators at Smith College. Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Event management and student engagement will require occasional evening and weekend working hours.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

About Us

The Botanic Garden of Smith College spans 127 acres and includes the 12,000 square foot Lyman Conservatory, Church Gallery, arboretum and many outdoor gardens. The garden was founded by Smith College’s first president, Laurenus Clarke Seelye, so that the entire campus could be of scientific, as well as aesthetic, value. Today, it continues to meet those goals.

The Botanic Garden of Smith College fosters environmental and social justice through teaching and learning about plants, people and place.

We do this by:

• Curating plant collections that share stories about plant and human diversity.
• Training students to be informed thought leaders and change agents.
• Helping teachers develop integrative, learner-centered experiences.
• Welcoming visitors to explore, learn and contribute their knowledge.
• Cultivating spaces and landscapes that stimulate thought, creativity, collaboration and well-being.

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential Functions

Program Management and Community Outreach (40%)

• Coordinate the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and management of the summer interns.
• In conjunction with botanic garden staff, and campus and community partners, develop individual projects with summer interns.
• Develop programming that enhances student access to the botanic garden through First Year Orientation and the Bridge program, student engagement fairs, admitted student days, parents weekend, reunion weekend, and events with campus partners like Office of Multicultural Affairs, that specifically cultivate relationships with students historically underrepresented in botanical fields.
• Build relationships within the Five Colleges and with organizations outside of the Smith community to foster collaborative partnerships such as student internships, Special Studies, projects, resource sharing, events and exhibits.

School Programs Outreach and Coordination (30%)

• Coordinate the development of botanically themed, object- and place-based educational experiences for K-12 school groups, with special emphasis on the Smith College Campus School
• Assist visiting educators with logistics, available resources/accommodations including bus subsidies, behavioral expectations, and institution values to ensure effective learning is possible for all learners
• Support coordination, scheduling, and tracking of school group visits
• Provide language, stories, and content that helps to promote and grow the K-12 public education program
• Network with educators from schools that are not currently utilizing the K-12 public education program with a focus on under-resourced communities

Volunteer Outreach and Coordination (20%)

• Recruit for new volunteers, field inquiries, interview, and make recommendations
• Create, advertise, schedule, and monitor volunteer shifts
• Track CORI and safety trainings to ensure compliance with College policies
• Train and communicate to volunteers on/about processes, procedures, expectations, benefits, and visitor information
• Coordinate annual trainings and monthly meetings by developing agendas, making reservations, coordinating educators/guests, and communicating with volunteers
• Assist volunteers with questions in person, over the phone, and through email
• Coordinate trainings aimed at increasing literacy around inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility; visitor service, guest experience, and creating a welcoming environment; and public program delivery, special events, and education activities

Other Functions

Evaluation (5%)

• Collect and prepare evaluation for assigned programs and support general Botanic Garden efforts

Financial (5%)

• Prepare and monitor budgets for assigned program areas; support fundraising efforts as appropriate
• All employees are expected to participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

• Associates degree in education, environmental studies, outdoor education/recreation, botany, horticulture, biology, museum studies, or a related field
• 3+ years’ experience in delivering educational programs in formal or informal learning environments
• 3+ years’ experience with curriculum development and educational assessment
• 3+ years’ experience in nature-based, botanical, or environmental education setting
• Ability to train and work with volunteers and undergraduates on the delivery of educational programs
• Lived and/or professional experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong preference for candidates who are fluent in Spanish
• Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental studies, outdoor education/recreation, botany, horticulture, biology, museum studies, or a related field
• Experience working with learners with a broad range of backgrounds, identities, and abilities
• Experience creating, delivering, and assessing object-based and place-based educational programming
• Experience building strong relationships across college campus units.
• Experience supervising/mentoring student workers and volunteers
• Familiarity with Massachusetts K-12 learning objectives
• Experience exploring different knowledge systems and ways of knowing in formal or informal learning environments
• Demonstrated ability to develop fun, engaging educational programs that use high impact teaching strategies to foster learning

Skills

• Demonstrated experience effectively working with diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ students, cultural organizations, international students, first-generation students, BIPOC students; as well as a substantive understanding of diversity as it relates to the intersections of multiple identities (such as gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, ability, and socio-economic status)
• Demonstrated ability to create an empathetic learning environment where all learners are valued and supported
  Excellent organizational skills and written/verbal communication skills
• Self-starter able to work well independently, but know their own limits and when to seek help
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with others in a team-oriented environment
• Commitment to building strong relationships in the community
• Strong computer skills with experience using Google suite (Docs, Sheets, Calendar), Office Suite (Word, Excel), and scheduling software
• Detail-oriented and proactive in addressing challenges
• Ability to see the big picture, develop work strategies to accomplish long term goals, and balance the needs of today without losing track of the needs of tomorrow

Application Instructions

Apply online with a cover letter and resume: https://smithcollege.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/smithcollege/job/Smith-College/Manager-of-Engagement_R-202400592