Coordinator, Experiential Learning

Summary: Leads the development and implementation of experiential learning initiatives that equip students with leadership skills, real-world experience, and pathways toward careers in environmental and plant science fields. Coordinates Garden-wide internships, manages the Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship, and organizes the annual Youth Career Summit. Builds and maintains partnerships with high schools, colleges, and community organizations to recruit students and promote hands-on learning opportunities across Garden divisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Leadership:

• Designs and implements experiential learning opportunities for high school and college students aligned with the Garden's mission across all of the sites
• Oversees the Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship program, mentoring students through project development, leadership roles, and career exploration.
• Coordinates the annual Youth Career Summit, connecting students with Garden professionals and community partners to increase awareness of career pathways in plant science, conservation, and education.

Experiential Learning Coordination:

• Collaborates across all Garden divisions to identify internship needs and supports recruitment, matching, and onboarding processes.
• Develops a centralized system to track Garden-wide internships and experiential learning participation.
• Designs strategic recruitment efforts targeting diverse, underrepresented student populations.
• Plans, coordinates, and hosts an end-of-internship gathering for interns and staff mentors c; interns present their experiences, share key takeaways, and reflect on their learning in a culminating showcase.

MBG Teen Network

• Coordinates and facilitates bi-monthly virtual MBG Teen Network meetings for program leads from Eco-Act, SAGE, Outdoor Youth Corps, MANTIS, and the MBG Youth Fellowship to support alignment, collaboration, and shared planning across teen-focused programming at the Garden.
• Plans, organizes, and implements opportunities for MBG Teen Network youth participants to engage in cross-program outings, gatherings, and shared experiences that build community among teens from different Missouri Botanical Garden programs and foster a broader sense of belonging within the Garden's youth initiatives.

Student Mentorship and Leadership Development:

• Supports Youth Fellows and interns through progressive leadership opportunities, including mentoring peers, leading projects, and presenting research or findings.
• Organizes workshops and trainings on professional skills, environmental leadership, and project management.

Community and Educational Partnerships:

• Builds and maintains relationships with high schools, colleges, and universities to create strong recruitment pipelines.
• Cultivates relationships with community organizations and employers to enhance internship placements and career exposure opportunities.

Program Evaluation:

• Develops and implements assessments measuring student learning outcomes, internship effectiveness, and program impact.
• Collects data for grant reporting, future funding opportunities, and continuous program improvement.
• Creates and maintains a centralized database in Tessitura for all MBG teen program participants (current and alumni), tracking long-term outcomes, maintaining up-to-date contact information, and supporting continued engagement beyond program completion.

General Education and Administration:

• Supports field trips and educational programming, as needed, as part of the School Programs and Partnerships team.
• Supports School Programs events such as Family Nights and contributes to the refinement and development of offsite programming to ensure lessons are standards-aligned, experiential, and hands-on.
• Manages budgets, systems, and reporting processes for experiential learning initiatives.

Other:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises Facilitator of Experiential Learning. At times, this position may be responsible for overseeing volunteers.

Core Competencies:

• Communication - Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.
• Collaboration -Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.
• Accountability - Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues' concerns.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.
• Stewardship - Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Qualifications / Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years' experience working in education, experiential learning, career and technical education, or environmental education.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience managing internships or coordinating student leadership programs.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong interest in the outdoors, ecology, environmental education, or plant science.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse high school or young adult populations.
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience managing or coordinating internship programs, preferably in a science, environmental, or botanical setting.
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience in developing and delivering educational programming focused on leadership development and environmental education.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in supervising staff or similar leadership role.
• Experience working with a diverse group of high-school aged students and young adults preferred.
• Knowledge of principles and processes of experiential learning, career development, and environmental education required.
• Demonstrates flexibility, efficiency, and compassion during educational programs, including problem solving and/or responding to emergencies.
• Excellent ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must have the ability to work well with a diverse group of community partners and program participants.
• Ability to travel , within Missouri and Illinois surrounding areas, as needed to perform essential job duties; Travel required >25%
• Scheduling flexibility is required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in natural science, environmental science, science education, environmental education, ecology, career and technical education or substantial experience in experiential learning programs required.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience may be considered.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Event planning and coordination skills preferred.
• Experience with program evaluation and assessment preferred.
• Knowledge of best practices in internship program development and management.
• Experience with recruitment, interviewing, and placement of interns.
• Familiarity with educational institutions and their internship requirements preferred.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with Missouri Botanical Garden staff, educational institutions and community partners.

Communication and Language Skills:

• Ability to effectively communicate in English (oral and written).

Mathematical:

• Proficient basic math aptitude; requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, calculate percentages and decimals, etc.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and take appropriate action.

Computer Skills:

• Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to use smartboard and/or computer projector.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and clean, insurable driving record (prior to employment).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid class E license within (2) months of hire date is required.
• First Aid and CPR certification.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to walk up to three miles on uneven terrain and on and off trails.
• Work outdoors, with unavoidable variations in temperature and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. wet, mosquitoes, ticks, insects, etc.)
• Some weekend programming requiring long hours.
• Must be able to drive a 15-passenger van.

Work Environment:

• Some weekends and evenings are required.
• Ability to travel is required.
• Inside classroom and outside at various garden sites and off-site locations.
• Classroom and outside instruction at school or informal institution sites.
• Quiet indoor office setting, shared by multiple staff; cubical work area.
• Work outdoors, with unavoidable variations in temperature (100F or more and less than 32F) and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. humidity, rain, snow, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc).

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Education Division colleagues and volunteers
• Garden Employees High school and college students, teachers, and parents
• Local high schools, colleges, and universities
• Career services and internship offices at educational institutions
• Local school, teen, environmental, and outdoor education professionals
• Community partners and businesses providing experiential learning opportunities.

Supervisor (title not person):

• Manager, School Programs and Partnerships