Naturalist

Salary: $55,636- $66,549 (G.S. 10)

Work Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments, or projects.  Some weekend or event work may be required. *

Work Location: 1250 Market Street

FLSA Status:  This is an Exempt position.

Department: Parks & Outdoors

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY: 
The City of Chattanooga Department of Parks and Outdoors is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Naturalist to serve as an environmental educator, interpreter, and ambassador for the city’s natural spaces and green stormwater infrastructure. This position is responsible for planning and leading inclusive environmental programs, supporting land stewardship efforts, and helping connect all Chattanoogans with meaningful experiences in nature.

SERIES LEVEL: 
This is a stand-alone position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Plans, instructs, and leads environmental education programs and interpretive activities for diverse audiences in parks, preserves, schools, and at community events.

Oversee the creation and continuous improvement of program curricula and materials, ensuring alignment with educational standards and community needs.

Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timelines and goals are met across diverse audiences and partner organizations.

Develops and presents engaging programs related to water, stormwater management, soil, native plants, ecological horticulture, wildlife, urban canopy, habitat restoration, climate, and more.

Leads activities such as wildlife viewing, citizen science, invasive species management and green stormwater infrastructure management volunteer work days and workshops, green infrastructure  guided walks, Every Kid Outdoors camp sessions, and plant identification hikes.

Maintains a collection of topic-specific presentations ready for delivery at public speaking engagements with groups such as UTC, Wild Ones, Hamilton County Master Naturalists, Tennessee Stormwater Association, etc.

Strives to increase access to nature and ensure equitable participation in outdoor experiences for all Chattanooga residents.
Participates in annual city-wide environmental events such as Weed Wrangle, Parks for Pollinators, and City Nature Challenge.

Supports departmental environmental programming efforts including public and professional workshops and stormwater-related outreach events.

Collaborates with departments and teams such as Outdoor Chattanooga, Therapeutic Recreation, Natural Resources, Stormwater Resources, and Community Development on joint initiatives and shared program goals.

Assists in the creation and maintenance of educational literature, website and social media content, brochures, signage, and interpretive exhibits.

Assists in creating educational materials and conducting trainings for City staff and professional groups.

Helps communicate the goals and outcomes of ecological restoration, green stormwater infrastructure management, environmental protection efforts, and nature programming to the public.

Conducts field-based data collection, scientific observation, and/or research on City lands in support of ecological management, policy development, or community awareness.

Partners with local universities, schools, and organizations to facilitate research and educational studies in parks and preserves.

Activates and manages citizen science projects and contributes to regional and national environmental data efforts.

May serve as an in-house subject matter expert in areas such as ecology, environmental education, or biodiversity.

May support land management or city planning teams through research-based consultation and ecological insight.

Requires regular work in outdoor environments, including evenings and weekends.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in biological or environmental sciences, natural resources, education, or a related field. A background or degree in education is preferred. At least 3 years of experience in environmental education, interpretation, field research, or related public engagement roles. Or any equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:  
Valid Class D Driver's License required. 
A relevant environmental education certification, such as Project WILD, preferred. 
Bilingual or multilingual (especially Spanish) preferred.
Proficiency in digital tools used in citizen science (e.g., iNaturalist, eBird, ArcGIS, etc.) preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of ecology, biology, and environmental science; southeastern U.S. flora and fauna, urban environmental issues, and conservation practices; administrative planning, digital content creation, and data analysis
Skilled in identifying plants and animals and explaining urban ecological impacts and mitigation strategies; communicating complex natural science topics to broad and diverse audiences; strong communication and public speaking skills across a wide variety of settings and audiences; demonstrating creativity and adaptability in developing programs and materials

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Requires regular standing, walking, lifting, speaking to groups, and working at public events; involves hiking, lifting, and extended periods of physical activity in natural settings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Medium Work: Exerting up-to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up-to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or up-to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, oils, extreme temperatures, and infectious diseases.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: N
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check / lift test 

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.