Education Operations Assistant

Description

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks an Education Operations Assistant in the Education Department to be based at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center located in Annapolis, MD.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

Established in 1966, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally after decades of failed efforts be removed from the Clean Water Act s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 230 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 14 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.

CBF's headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world s first U.S. Green Build Council s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center one of the world s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 200,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Environmental Education

CBF s Environmental Education provides field experiences, teacher professional learning, and student leadership for over 25,000 participants each year. The Bay, and its watershed, is our classroom and CBF environmental educators are responsible for bringing the Bay alive to students. We strive to make a lasting impression about the excitement and vulnerability of the Bay. Each of CBF's 14 education programs has its own individual character. The field experience options run the gamut from our urban boat programs in Baltimore and Hampton Roads to Pennsylvania canoe programs to remote island-based centers. We use hands-on experiential teaching techniques to educate students about the health of the Bay and connect them back to their local environment. Educators promote and develop knowledge about the Bay by providing unforgettable field investigations that inspire participants with a commitment to take action for the restoration of the Bay.

The education department is comprised of Student Field Programs, Teacher and Principal Professional Learning, and Student Leadership. All of these components work closely to educate and empower participants to take action towards \"Saving the Bay.\"

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

The Education Operations Assistant position provides administrative and project support for the Education Operations Team and the Vice President of the Education Department.

This position will be based at The Philip Merrill Environmental Center, in Annapolis, MD.

Requirements

Work as part of the Education Operations Scheduling team:

• Enter information into the database regarding field trip program, date, location, and teacher/school information.
• Compile and transmit scheduling confirmations and pre-trip materials to teachers/group leaders.
• Manage the scheduling team collaborative email, voicemail, and online application system.
• Respond to inquiries about education programs, field and prioritize incoming calls, and process education mail.

Education Operations duties:

• Coordinate and manage education department supply accounts, which includes ordering/coordinating bulk orders.
• Assist the Education Operations Senior Manager with providing timely updates to the website for all audiences seeking information about education programs.
• Work with Operations team on coordinating annual department meetings and training courses.
• Manage procurement of Scientific Collection permits from PA, MD, DC, VA.
• Assist with data entry projects, as needed.

Summer Registration Management:

Communication

• Manage Chesapeake Classrooms email inbox.
• Manage group meetings to collect & share information.

Administrative

• i. Managing summer course materials (rosters, attendance sheets).
• ii. Managing participant registration details (refunds, cancellation, switches).
• iii. Assist with registration reporting.

• Administrative duties: The Education Operations Assistant will provide approximately 6% of their time performing the following administrative assistant duties for the Education Department
• Assist the Education Vice President with administrative items and special projects (5%).
• Assist the front desk with answering phones and greeting visitors (2-5 hours/month) (1%).
• Attend field programs, at least 1-2 times per year, to learn about the Education Field Programs and Education Operations.
• Other duties, as assigned.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional degree in business administration, operations management, accounting or computer science. Experience can be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 2+ years experience as an administrative assistant, preferred.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, database management tools, graphics, and presentations.
• Proven ability to work on multiple projects, often concurrently, with associated deadlines.
• Capable of both working collaboratively as well as solving problems independently.
• Customer service experience that demonstrates excellent communication skills over the telephone, written communications, and in-person.
• Sincere interest in the Bay and the mission of the Environmental Education department, a bonus.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to travel to attend training and meetings that requires occasional work away from home for multiple-day periods throughout the year.

• Comfortable with outdoor setting on boats and/or in canoes, when attending education field programs.
• Must possess a valid driver s license, submit a driving record, and have an acceptable driving record.