Community Learning Facilitator

This Community Learning Facilitator supports the planning and delivery of out-of-school time programs co-created with community partners and families that inspire learning about urban wildlife, conservation, and stewardship of natural world. The Community Learning Facilitator is a part of a team that inspires partners and community residents to become curious about wildlife through co-created community driven programs. This position advances Lincoln Park Zoo’s mission by organizing lesson plans, materials lists, and learning objectives that facilitate participants’ learning within community programs and special events designed to promote conservation action through meaningful engagements with community members and partner organizations in Little Village, North Lawndale, and Austin neighborhoods. Facilitators will consult with their supervisor, community partners, and staff across the Learning Department, as needed, to co-create program content for various audiences. Applicants must have a passion for helping people learn and working alongside residents and families in community. This facilitator should have a deep connection to the Little Village community of Chicago, in particular.

In this capacity the facilitator will:

• Collaborate with the community programs manager to research, develop, define learning objectives for co-created programs and special events
• Lead the facilitation of workshops, professional development trainings, supply ordering and deliveries for initiatives that live within their program suite
• Co-facilitate community programs and planning meetings with staff from partner organizations, as needed. Actively and collaboratively participates in formal program planning and debrief meetings with partners and zoo staff 
• Support internal staff and partner trainings under the supervision of Community Programs Manager, as needed
• Participate in program and process evaluations of initiatives within their program suite, as needed
• Co-facilitate debriefing conversations with zoo staff and partners to uplift actionable feedback that increases trust, collaboration and program effectiveness
• Support the planning and delivery of special events on-grounds at the zoo or in community, as needed.
• Key to this position is a passion for collaborating with zoo staff, community members, and community organizations to connect learners with nature and urban wildlife.

KEY COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIORS

• Demonstrates high levels of empathy and willingness to be inspired and guided BY community and staff.
• Demonstrates ability to deliver informal education content in English and Spanish
• Demonstrates ability to facilitate programming in fun, engaging ways while inspiring creativity and innovation.
• Remains cool under pressure and serves as a positive, calming influence among colleagues and program participants.  
• Demonstrates enthusiasm and expertise in facilitation to foster the development of trust, respect, and collaboration among participants, partners, and teammates
• Demonstrates a self-motivated, goal-oriented, growth mindset that strives to identify solutions proactively
• Demonstrates passion for nature and facilitating connections to urban wildlife
• Makes decisions appropriate for level of responsibility and proactively seeks support from colleagues, as needed
• Invests in their personal and professional development, with support from supervisor, in a manner that fosters awareness, understanding, and respect of diverse perspectives within the fields of informal learning and environmental education

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Co-leads program facilitation in collaboration with Lincoln Park Zoo’s community engagement staff and community organizations primarily in Little Village. This role supports programs and community organizations engaging audiences in partner communities of North Lawndale and Austin, as needed
• Leads the research, development and implementation of lesson plans for initiatives within their program suite
• Provides actionable feedback to zoo staff and partner staff
• Fulfills appropriate taskings and delegations in a timely-manner as assigned by direct supervisor
• Leads the creation and organizing of supply ordering lists and inventory checklists
• Prioritizes implementation of the best practices in community learning and pedagogy that ensure consistent, high-quality facilitation and age-appropriate skill development
• Develops lesson plans for programs and initiatives within their program suite in both Spanish and English
• Engages audiences in both virtual and in-person settings in both Spanish and English using web-based technology and communication tools (i.e. Interacty, Prezi, Zoom, etc.) to support facilitation
• Leads the facilitation of content-specific modules of professional development trainings for zoo staff and community partners with support from community programs manager
• Works under the supervision of the community programs manager to support collaborations with community partner staff, part-time learning facilitators, and community partners.
• Identifies on-going learning opportunities and professional development for self and teammates, in general
• Collaborates with facilitators on the Community Engagement team and across the Learning department to exchange resources and tactics that enhance learning experiences and outcomes for participants
• Collaborates with colleagues on the Community engagement team to plan and facilitate special events and field trips, as needed
• Fulfills various tasks and other duties that support the marketing of and reporting on initiatives within their program suite, as assigned 
• Supports the implementation of Learning Department special events and on-grounds programs, as needed

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Commitment to advancing Lincoln Park Zoo’s vision and mission
• Desire to proudly serve as a representative of a team dedicated to supporting community partners and community residents
• Comfort and experience with public speaking and engaging with diverse communities
• Bilingual, English/Spanish required
• Experience working with communities on the West and/or Southwest side of Chicago 
• Enthusiasm and interest in both wildlife conservation and informal education.
• Experience with group facilitation, positive youth development, and/or teaching, required
• Working knowledge of PCs, using word processing, spreadsheets, web-based presentation software, and graphic design software
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a highly organized manner ensuring timely completion of all projects using effective organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work with and tailor content to adults, families, teens, and children comfortably both on and off zoo grounds in Spanish and English.
• Ability to interact comfortably with culturally and linguistically diverse audiences of all ages, with varying abilities.
• Ability to work in a team and problem solve to ensure timely completion of all projects.
• Ability to interact courteously, respectfully, and empathetically with supervisors, fellow employees, volunteers, zoo visitors, community partners, program participants, and the general public.
• Desires to develop relationships with community partner and program participants through active listening, consistent communication, and presence at planning meetings and workshops
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment where high value is placed on being responsive to communities and evolving programs with partners.

LEARNING REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma or GED, some higher education/bachelor’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Cumulative two years working in community-based social, educational or environmental programming. Experience leading informal education programs is preferred
• Note: A comparable combination of education, experience or training that would provide the level of knowledge, skills and ability required may qualify an individual.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to facilitate programming for long periods of time and work in a variety of weather conditions.
• Must be able to move equipment/supplies on a rolling cart and into zoo vehicles- up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule that may involve delivering multiple, hour-long programs in a row with limited breaks.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Able to work a flexible schedule, which frequently includes weekends, evenings, holidays and special events which may occur outside of a typical 9-5, M-F work schedule. 
• Comfort and willingness reporting to two (2) zoo office locations (Lincoln Park and Little Village) as well as partner sites and other public areas, as needed
• Have reliable transportation in order to attend meetings, site visits, and facilitate programming both at zoo and within Chicago communities
• Ability and willingness to operate zoo vehicles and navigate Chicago streets and parking to arrive on location in communities
• Perform other duties as a Learning Department representative as assigned.

OUR PROMISE

• Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to an environment that is inclusive and welcoming.
• We celebrate the diverse qualities, perspectives, values, and experiences of all people. 
• For Wildlife.
• For All.

LINCOLN PARK ZOO BENEFITS

• In addition to such standard benefits ( Blue Cross Blue Shield)  as medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverages, and a 403(b) savings plan with an institutional match, benefits of working at the zoo include (benefits are for regular full time employees):
• Free admission to many other Chicago cultural institutions
• Free on-site parking anytime with access to Lincoln Park, Lakeshore Trail, and North Avenue Beach
• Discounts on event tickets (free admission to select events), attractions, dining, and retail at the zoo
• Quarterly staff mingle events and “LPZooU” training and educational sessions about the zoo, wildlife, ecology, and related subjects
• Company contribution to Health Savings Account (Medical PPO only)
• A working environment with green spaces and regularly available visits with wildlife!
• Salary: $47,250/ annually

Salary

• $47,250