Home >

Nadaka Park Coordinator - $29,000 to $33,000 annual salary, based on 40 hours per week

Fri, 10/31/2014 - 1:05pm — Penny Beckwith

Position:   Nadaka Park Coordinator
Compensation: $29,000 to $33,000 annual salary, based on 40 hours per week, depending on experience, and benefits paid by employer, including medical, vision, pharmacy, dental and personal time off

Hours:  Full-time, temporary exempt employee, some evenings and weekends required

Reports to: Executive Director

Position Description:

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council (Council) is a community based equal opportunity 501(c) (3) non-profit organization of diverse neighbors, property owners, businesses, environmental groups, recreation advocates, and government agencies who work to restore and enhance the 60 miles of waterways, wetlands, and slow moving channels known as the Columbia Slough.  The Council offices are located at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park on 47th Ave in Portland.

Through partnerships, education, and action we work towards our mission: to foster action to protect, enhance, restore and revitalize the Slough and its watershed.  The Council employs stewardship, education, coordination, and active problem solving in preserving and protecting the watershed.

The Nadaka Park Coordinator (NPC) will develop, establish and grow innovative nature- and place-based educational programs and community-building at Nadaka Nature Park. The NPC will coordinate educational programming as part of a 5-year operation, maintenance, and programming plan (Nadaka 2020 Project) under broad vision and project goals. The NPC will apply strong interpersonal and communications skills working directly with community members of diverse racial and ethnic background, across multiple generations (children, young adults, parents, and seniors), and from varied life experiences. The NPC will report to the CSWC Executive Direct but work closely with collaborating organizations on the Nadaka 2020 Team and from office space at St. Aidan’s Church in West Gresham (17405 NE Glisan St). 

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Nadaka Park Coordinator will have “core” responsibilities and “potential” responsibilities depending on the skills and expertise of the selected candidate.

Core Responsibilities

  • Schedule, coordinate, and support education and stewardship programs and events in coordination with Nadaka 2020 collaborating organizations: Audubon Society of Portland, Friends of Nadaka, Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Outgrowing Hunger, City of Gresham, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church and HB Lee Middle School SUN Program.
  • Coordinate event/class/program promotion, registration, liability release, insurance, meeting space rental, and provide participant support such as transportation, childcare, translation, food, drink, etc.
  • Develop and manage a Nadaka Natural History Ambassador Program that integrates the functions of park monitoring and reporting and natural history interpretation in order to provide routine, daily presence in the nature park between formal events and activities. This program will have paid stipends to Ambassadors.
  • Help plan and implement Nadaka stewardship and work days and annual Nadaka Community Festival.
  • Attend Human Solutions Residential Coordinators meetings when appropriate to provide regular updates on Nadaka programs and activities.

 

Potential Responsibilities (depending on candidate qualifications)

  • Help manage Friends of Nadaka website content and Facebook page/social media outreach.
  • Assist CSWC in managing Park operation and maintenance contracts for community garden management, landscape maintenance, or facilities maintenance and cleaning.
  • Coordinate with City of Gresham on maintenance and repair issues that remain in their purview.
  • Outreach to schools, healthcare organizations, neighborhood groups, businesses and business groups, universities, and other project partners.
  • Provide administrative support for the Nadaka 2020 Team in securing additional funding to sustain programming at Nadaka.

Qualifications and Skills:

  • Passionate and interest in advancing Nadaka 2020 vision and goals
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Solid coordination and organizational skills with a balance of attention for details and holistic “big picture” thinking
  • Ability to effectively working in diverse groups
  • Event planning skills and experience
  • Bilingual with proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken in West Gresham
  • Experience working in communities of color and/or immigrant communities

Additional Desired Qualifications

  • Leadership skills in hosting and facilitating meetings
  • Familiarity with social media and using it effectively in community organizing
  • Familiarity with urban parks systems, natural resource conservation, and/or urban agriculture

Work Environment:

40% office, 60% outside office

Physical Requirements:

  • Willingness to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
  • Occasional lifting of items from below the knees or above the shoulders
  • Ability to lift up to 40 pounds

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Responsible for the supervision of volunteers.

Evaluation of Applicants:

An evaluation team consisting of Nadaka 2020 project collaborators will evaluate candidates for the job based upon submissions, references, oral interviews, if conducted, and any other information requested of final candidates. The evaluation team will select a candidate for the job that, in evaluation team’s sole opinion, best matches the above candidate qualifications. 

How to Apply: Please submit (using a type font size 11) by mail or email:

  • A cover letter not to exceed two pages, detailing your qualifications, approach, and timeline for the project
  • A resume
  • Three references, (at least one reference must be from a current or previous work supervisor.)

 

Jane Van Dyke, Executive Director

Columbia Slough Watershed Council

7040 NE 47th Avenue Portland, OR 97218

[email protected]

 

Initial Review of Applicants:  All application materials received by 4pm on Friday, November 21, 2014 will in the initial review.  

 

 Nadaka 2020 Project & Supplemental Documents: Nadaka 2020 is a 5-year operation, maintenance and programming plan for Nadaka Nature Park and Garden located between NE Glisan & NE Pacific near NE 175th in Gresham. Nadaka 2020 project goals include increasing community awareness and use the park; fostering environmental literacy, community and cross cultural understanding; creating the capacity for sustainable management of the park; and providing a model of a full-service park facility in East Multnomah County. The Nadaka 2020 project will do this by providing multicultural conservation education and stewardship programming related to food, water and wildlife and establishing a natural history ambassador/foot patrol program to improve park safety and encourage responsible new park improvements including a community garden, large nature-based player, picnic shelter and walking path.

 

  • Nadaka 2020 Project Vision and Goals http://friendsofnadaka.org/nadaka-2020-vision-goals/
  • Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Project Declaration of Cooperation: http://audubonportland.org/issues/habitat/urban/access/pdf/nadaka-nature-park-and-garden-project-declaration-of-cooperation
  • Draft Nadaka 2020 Operation, Maintenance and Programming Plan http://audubonportland.org/files/urban/nadaka2020/
  • Nadaka Vegetation Management Plan: http://greshamoregon.gov/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=24591
  • Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Project Brochure: http://audubonportland.org/issues/metro/nadaka-nature-park-and-garden-brochure-1/view