Education Coordinator

Title: Education Coordinator

Classification: Full-time, (40-hour work week)

Department: Visitor Services

Reports To: Director of Visitor Services and Public Programs

Salary Range: $23-25/hour

Schedule: The schedule is typically Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM with occasional additional evening and weekend hours.

Organization

Ganna Walska Lotusland is a 37-acre botanical garden and historic estate located in Montecito featuring a collection of over 3,000 plant species from around the world as well as historically significant Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Since opening to the public in 1993, Ganna Walska Lotusland has grown to become one of the world’s premier botanical gardens and a center for sustainable garden practices, horticultural education, and plant conservation.

Position Summary

The Education Coordinator (EC) manages, coordinates, schedules, evaluates, and reports on education-related programs at Lotusland. This is a dual role that also supports Visitor Services when needed.  The EC’s primary responsibility is to manage, train and facilitate volunteers that support the Junior Botanist/4^th Grade Outreach Program.  In addition, the EC role requires all tracking and coordination of all other educational groups including horticultural clubs, accredited colleges, universities, and Open Pathways.  The EC greets, orients, and concludes the visits for all school groups.  Successful candidates must have demonstrated experience working with students and educators and a strong passion for horticultural and environmental science.  They must be high energy and demonstrate strong social and interpersonal skills while excelling in a collaborative work environment.

Education Coordinator Responsibilities

• Develops, promotes, and oversees all Junior Botanist/4th Grade Outreach logistics including transportation travel, presentations, tours, and volunteer scheduling and correspondence.
• Creates all program handbooks, training manuals, and other digital and print materials, budgets, and communication templates. in collaboration with the Director of VS&PP.
• Serves as the Junior Botanist/4th Grade Outreach Tour Facilitator on tour days.
• Serves as the primary contact for school administrators and teachers and responds to inquiries, and schedules field trips and pre-post visit activities.
• Prepares and plans educational volunteer orientation to include annual training for Junior Botanist/4th Grade Outreach.
• Organizes and tracks all data regarding Outreach education group attendance, and learning outcomes evaluation.
• Tracks inventory and ordering for all education programs.
• Coordinates and develops with the Director of Visitor Services and Public Programs educational curriculum to ensure the program aligns with CA Educational standards.
• Assists with Junior Botanist/4^th Grade Outreach docent recruitment, communications, stewardship, and retention. Provides training and learning resources and creates content for training opportunities in collaboration with the Volunteer Manager and the Director of Visitor and Public Programs.
• Schedules and manages all correspondence of all Junior Botanist/4^th Grade Outreach and other education-related docents and volunteers.
• Reports on visitation and participation data for SB County, internal planning, and grants fulfillment.

Visitor Services

• The EC is cross-trained in Visitors Services roles (KIOSK, Reception Desk, Garden Shop, Garden Monitor) to supplement staffing during shortages, illness or absences.  Supplements Visitor Services team with regular weekly support.
• Participates in all events that the Visitor Service Team supports and attends Administrative Team and all Staff meetings.
• Collaborates and regularly meets with the Director of Visitor Services and Public Programs to report on and coordinate Education Volunteer/Docent activities for tours and events.
• Coordinates emergency response and reports emergencies, if needed.

Essential Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Demonstrates confidence, self-motivation, diplomacy, and a commitment to Lotusland.
• Possesses strong analytical, leadership, and planning skills.
• Maintains a balance of a professional demeanor with maturity, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to guest and visitor service and satisfaction.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills (can be included in the above-highlighted statement)
• Ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Must make do with limited resources and possess a creative solution and positive outlook (these 2 combined)
• Excels with an exceptional work ethic.
• Promotes diversity and remains flexible and non-judgmental with a welcoming approach to people.
• Ability to work. as part of a team, combined with the ability to act independently with good judgment
• Experience in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel  Volgistics preferred
• Demonstrated communication skills – written and verbal.

Work Experience and Education:

• Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree preferred, AA or High School diploma or GED at minimum
• Non-profit administration or educational program development or work experience desired.

Work Environment:

• General office environment within the garden setting of Lotusland
• Being outdoors, in the gardens, subject to weather, dust, dirt, and plant allergens.
• Constant engagement with the public, staff, and volunteers by phone and in person.
• Reliability and willingness to work seasonally for special events are required.
• Frequent work with computers (repetitive movement – typing).
• Frequent standing, sitting, extended walking, climbing stairs, and bending with occasional lifting of light to moderately heavy loads (25 lbs.).

The Educator Coordinator must be able to perform each requirement of the position as outlined in the job description. Essential Requirements are representative and essential for satisfactory job performance. The Work Environment characteristics are representative of those that may be encountered while on the job.  Lotusland will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Lotusland is an equal-opportunity employer.

The responsibilities and deliverables listed above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the individual in the position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and/or skills.  Other tasks may be assigned as needed.