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Mountains Core Instructor

Muddy Sneakers
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ob Title: Mountains North Carolina Core Instructor

Supervisor Title: Mountains Program Manager

Location:

  • Hybrid: Blend of Work-from-Home and In-person Work including teaching in the Field (see counties served below)

Term of Position:

  • Full Time, Temporary/Seasonal: Full-time 12 month

Muddy Sneakers operates at the crossroads of outdoor science instruction, public education, and conservation to awaken in children a deeply felt connection to the natural world – one that inspires curiosity, stimulates learning, and brings new life to classroom performance. Muddy Sneakers instructor teams guide place-based, experiential learning expeditions on nearby, protected lands.

The Core Instructor is responsible for delivering high quality, science and nature programming in an outdoor setting while maintaining safety, managing student needs, leading expedition logistics and team communication, developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with teachers, collaborating with the leadership team in administrative projects, and maintaining a healthy work experience for all team members.

Core Instructors will work between in the NC Mountains region, serving counties including: Henderson, Transylvania, Jackson, Polk, Rutherford, Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Watauga, and surrounding counties.

Essential Roles & Responsibilities

Strong candidates will be committed to the Muddy Sneakers mission and possess relevant experience and key skills including:

  • Strong leadership capabilities and interpersonal skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Love of working outdoors and significant experience in child/youth education; excellent facilitation skill with children, adults, and educators
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with external partners
  • Basic knowledge of, or ability to learn independently and rapidly about
    • local natural history of the Mountain region
    • science concepts represented in 5th grade curriculum
    • educational pedagogy
    • map/outdoor navigation skills
  • Skill with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), digital meeting spaces (Zoom, Google Meet)
  • Current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder Certification, and Child and Adult CPR, completed before the first day of work. Training may be available through Muddy Sneakers, but it is the responsibility of the Field Instructor to ensure certification.
  • Willingness to enroll in NC Environmental Education Certification (or already certified)
  • Ability to interpret results of feedback and evaluation; implement changes to maintain high quality programming
  • Special consideration may be given to applicants with experience and interest in virtual instruction.

Core Instructor Essential Functions

  • Connect socially with students and adults, building rapport to facilitate safe learning outdoors; recognize and respond positively to social cues of children and adults
  • Navigate outdoor settings to ensure safety of children and adults
  • Be prepared to make difficult decisions in stressful situations with full knowledge of organizational policy and procedure
  • Use discretion when faced with sensitive issues that could impact individual parties involved in/with MS or the organization as a whole
  • Respond in a timely manner to changes in logistics by phone, email, or text
  • Act as a mentor to Field Instructors and collaborate with Program Manager (PM) and other Core Instructors to plan and facilitate instructor training sessions
  • Work individually, cooperatively, and respectfully within the administration and organization to deliver instruction and contribute to administrative projects
  • Participate in supporting a strong and inclusive professional ecosystem, including: investing in a collaborative staff community with healthy and responsive communication, furtherance of an equitable workplace, willingness to work across differences, and commitment to a culture of mutual support and continued growth.

Specific Duties

Education, Evaluation, and Program Monitoring:

  • Regularly instruct in the field and model exemplary teaching practices in the field
  • Collaborate with other regional management and field instructor team to maintain safety and high quality of program delivery
  • Collaborate with programming team to enact planned field and remote curriculum maintenance; support instructor teams in maintaining and developing curriculum
  • Regularly report on School Programming delivery and field perspective to PM
  • Support efforts to further DEI objectives of recruiting and supporting a diverse group of interns, volunteer chaperones, and community partners

 

Administrative:

  • Report updates, needs, successes, and opportunities regularly to Program Leadership
  • Assist in all other administrative tasks necessary for successful implementation of programming
  • Collaborate with Program Leadership in one or more of these administrative areas as assigned:
    • Gear supplies and distribution
    • Program vehicle fleet maintenance
    • Site permit processes and routine communication with site partners
    • Community Programming
    • Development, Communications, or Marketing
    • Curriculum & Pedagogy
    • Muddy Sneakers Classroom Curriculum and Live! Online virtual sessions

Financial:

  • Support the PM during budget evaluations with inventory, price quotes, and other data

 

School/Community Relations and Programming:

  • Act as Lead Instructor for 3-5 partner schools, developing effective communication channel with partner teachers and:
    • Schedule and lead school orientations at the beginning of the year
    • Process school-specific and student paperwork
    • Communicate logistics of each lead school expedition to field instruction and teaching team in a timely and efficient manner
    • Lead the instructor team in successful delivery of programming
    • Support supplemental science needs for each lead school including, but not limited to: attendance at STEM or science nights, parent
    • Lead EOG reviews at the end of the year with partner schools
  • Represent Muddy Sneakers at community outreach events, school/district functions, and other events in furtherance or regional programming as needed
  • Support Teacher Development training programs with school partners
  • Support long-distance partner schools by instructing on some expedition days with long carpool commutes
  • Occasionally work at weekend events

Evaluation of Impact

  • Assist in collecting qualitative feedback from partners, parents, and students

TO APPLY
 

Please Submit a Resume and Cover Letter through our Breezy Hiring Platform.

HIRING STATEMENTS

Muddy Sneakers is an NC-based 501(c)3 non-profit environmental education organization.

Muddy Sneakers, Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Muddy Sneakers, Inc. makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Muddy Sneakers Outdoor Classroom

P.O. Box 10971

Raleigh, NC 27605

828-862-5560

www.muddysneakers.org