NATURE Lab Community Science Educator/ Lab Manager

We encourage applications from Black, LatinX, Indigenous and other People of Color, LGBTQ, women and other underrepresented groups.

Part-time position from May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023

$17,000 ($22.70/hr.=750 hours or 15.5 hours per week)


Overview 

The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY is seeking outgoing, organized, and motivated individuals for part-time position:

The role of the NATURE Lab Community Science Educator/ Lab Manager is to support the biology lab as a welcoming professional space for the activities in NATURE Lab (with Water Justice Lab, Our Soil and other projects), including maintenance and supervision of lab participation, and interaction with Media Sanctuary and partnering organizations. This position will develop curriculum for ongoing workshops, working with youth, neighbors and the general public. This position will coordinate outreach for public workshops, including social media, community organizing, youth supervision and developing radio stories. This position is to support the laboratory as a site for engaging networks of local youth, neighbors,  community organizers, scientists, and artists, in collective actions stimulating environmental justice and sustainability. The goal is to strategically and structurally support development, maintenance, programming and community outreach for the sustainability of our new NATURE Lab Environmental Education Center and Biology Laboratory. 

The nucleus of the work will focus on education and research around water, soil, and air with the projects of Media Sanctuary’s NATURE (North Troy Art Technology and Urban Research in Ecology) Lab Environmental Education Center, located in North Troy, an Environmental Justice Zone at the northernmost point of the Hudson River Estuary. 

Position Qualifications

Hopefully after reading the job description you have a solid idea of the spirit of this role. If you feel in your bones you are the right person for this job, we welcome you to apply, even if you do not meet every qualification.

  • Basic training and experience in scientific methods (including knowledge of chemistry, biology, genetics, environmental sciences); 
  • Interest and/or expertise in connecting science, art, and media;
  • Experience in education and commitment working with teenagers and low-income families and communities of color;
  • Commitment to environmental health, environmental justice and health justice;
  • Experience in organizing, troubleshooting and follow-up;
  • Dependable and punctual with excellent follow-through, minimal oversight;
  • Highly motivated to work in outreach and coordination;
  • Excellent communication skills (written and strong social media and administrative skills; verbal; Spanish bilingual a plus);
  • Collaboration and team building skills; 
  • Ability to mentor youth and develop their environmental education and media projects;
  • Strong attention to detail;
  • Support for our Sanctuary mission and an understanding of grassroots nonprofits and non-hierarchical methods of learning;
  • Experience utilizing a trauma-informed approach for a “safer space”;
  • Community champion, who has built trust within the local neighborhood (lives in or was raised in Troy or Capital District) a plus.

WORK TASKS BREAKDOWN

  • Manage lab 15 hours per week (62.5 hours per month x 12 months)
    • Order supplies for workshops and ongoing research, upkeep and ordering of equipment, development (in coordination with Sanctuary staff) of workshop and curriculum materials, publicity and radio communication
    • Support NATURE Lab workshops and artist/scientist talks (includes Water Justice Lab one weekend per month + eight summer sessions, and other workshops TBD) while mentoring Water Justice Lab Youth Science Fellows. 

About Us

Most people know us as The Sanctuary for Independent Media in North Troy, NY; the official non-profit 501(c)3 is incorporated as Media Alliance. Our mission is to use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression. Since 2005 we have been building an arts and environmental education campus in North Central Troy, NY. We operate indoor and outdoor presenting and production facilities (The Sanctuary for Independent Media and Freedom Square), a radio station (WOOC 105.3 FM), community gardens (Collard City Growers), a STEM learning center (NATURE Lab), internships and youth programs (Youth Media Sanctuary). www.mediasanctuary.org

Check out these videos featuring our Water Justice Lab fellows, Uptown Summer and NATURE Lab, to experience a sense of the creativity and exploration we share together:  Water Justice Lab Fellows’ Home on the Hudson; Water Justice Lab on the Hudson; Aha! A House for Arts presents Uptown Summer at The Sanctuary for Independent Media;  and NATURE Lab Design Clinic with Cameron Toler 

EOE/AA DIVERSE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Media Alliance, Inc., an equal opportunity employer, is committed to diversity in the workplace and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, creed (religion), color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex (including gender expression), or sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, disability (including AIDS and HIV infection), predisposing genetic characteristic, military status, domestic violence victim status, or any other legally protected status. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and Media Alliance need.

How to apply:  Submit a resume, three references and a cover letter  explaining your interest in the lab manager/educator position, how you learned of it, and its relevance to your interests. Email to [email protected] with the words “NATURE Lab Community Science Educator/ Lab Manager” in the subject line. Position open until filled, ideally to start in May.

Learn more about working at The Sanctuary!

Read More

Stay Informed

Sign up with your e-mail address to keep up to date with events, workshops and other announcements from The Sanctuary.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Don’t worry, we ❤️ privacy and won’t sell your information, ever—and you may unsubscribe at any time.

About The Sanctuary

We use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression.

Learn More