Occupational Summary
Duke Gardens is a 55-acre public botanic garden on the campus of Duke University, dedicated to learning, inspiration and enjoyment through excellence in horticulture and community engagement. More than 600,000 people visit the Gardens annually. Admission is free, and the garden is open from 8 a.m. to dusk 365 days a year.
Duke Gardens offers a broad range of fee-based and free drop-in educational programs to engage adults, children, families, and schools in learning about interconnections in the natural world, developing an appreciation for horticulture and gardening, and gaining direct experience with natural sciences using culturally responsive teaching methods. The Education Program Coordinator will develop, implement and evaluate programs that focus on children, schools, and families, while assisting with all program areas and audiences.
The school programs at Sarah P. Duke Gardens may include programs occurring at the Gardens, at schools, other community locations, and online, creating a vibrant, dynamic partnership between area schools and Duke Gardens. Program content promotes science literacy by linking the NC Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS), national K-12 Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education, school goals and student knowledge with direct experiences related to Duke Gardens. This position is responsible for regularly evaluating, updating, retiring, and creating programs in response to community feedback.
Programs and classes for children and families may include a full range of offerings to serve Gardens members and visitors, including Saturday, Sunday, intersession and summer camp programs. Programs use the entire Gardens as an outdoor classroom, with a focus on supporting environmental science literacy and interdisciplinary science communication. This position will work some weekend and/or evening hours.
Work Performed:
The program coordinator creates and manages programs from development through implementation, including day-to-day details of the entire program, coordinating class schedules and classroom equipment, training volunteers, managing contract instructors and assisting students.
Primary Responsibilities:
Program planning and implementation (70%):
· Create seasonal programs that share Sarah P. Duke Gardens as a classroom using methods and topics that are relevant to participants’ identities and experience
· Assist in recruiting, training, and helping volunteer garden guides succeed in leading, assisting and preparing for programs
· Write lesson plans, manage program schedules and conduct program evaluation
· Investigate trends to recommend and implement modifications to improve program effectiveness
· Maintain clean and organized indoor program spaces and supplies
Communications and Partnerships (20%):
· Work closely with the Director of Learning and Engagement and other members of the Education and Visitor Services team to establish and accomplish department objectives
· Seek and develop partnerships within Duke University and the Durham community
· Represent Sarah P. Duke Gardens in various committees and attend professional meetings as appropriate
· Serve as liaison with other programs, offices, and departments at Duke to coordinate program business and to accomplish program objectives
· Serve as a link with external organizations to enhance cooperative efforts and utilize available resources
Administrative Tasks (10%)
· Assist in the preparation of budgets and grants
· Work with members of the Education and Visitor Services team to track program participation metrics
· Monitor, verify, and reconcile expenditures as appropriate to manage operating budget
· Perform other related duties as assigned or as incidental to the work described
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.
Education/Training
Work requires analytical, communications and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor’s degree program.
Experience
Work requires one or more years of experience in program administration or involving academic, instructional or counseling activities to acquire skills necessary to plan, coordinate and implement a variety of program activities and events. One or more years experience in a public garden, museum, or outdoor classroom preferred. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.
Additional skills and abilities:
· Ability to provide guidance and direction to others to successfully accomplish programmatic objectives.
· Ability to learn changing technologies and instructional design trends.
· Demonstrated logic, analytical skills, and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to problems.
· Proven ability to evaluate program performance, summarize findings, communicate results, and form an action plan to improve future programming.
· Ability to manage and prioritize multiple competing projects and goals.
· Capacity to communicate effectively and tactfully with many different audiences and constituencies at multiple levels.
· Commitment to developing relationships people and plants.