Natural Resources Job Board

We are seeking a full or part-time program assistant to support conservation of natural resources and wildlife in Florida, by assisting UF/IFAS Extension programs including the Florida Youth Naturalist Program, Natural Areas Training Academy, Bat Friendly Florida, Wildlife Literacy, and La Vida Silvestre de Florida (wildlife outreach in Spanish). This position is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in “behind-the-scenes” operations of extension programs.

Example of job duties include logistical support of program activities, records and database management, assisting in the development of wildlife factsheets, social media and marketing, email and phone communication with instructors and host organizations, preparing course materials, event coordination, general office tasks, and other non-clerical duties. Specific duties for La Vida Silvestre de Florida include translation of educational documents from English to Spanish and creating social media content in Spanish. Most tasks are computer-based; there will be opportunities to support in-person events depending on availability.

Position can be adapted based on skills and interests of successful applicant. We are willing to consider part-time appointment for applicants that have a strong interest in La Vida Silvestre de Florida or other portions of this position but have limited availability. For exceptional candidates that are not bilingual we may consider splitting the position into two different positions. For students in related field of study, it may be possible to coordinate with coursework, internship, or assistantship requirements.

The work will be under the supervision of Dr. Shelly Johnson (UF WEC) and Dr. Hance Ellington (UF WEC & UF RCREC). Staff will also interact with several other faculty and extension personnel over the course of their duties.

Minimum Requirements:

·         Available to work at least 20 hours/week but preferably 40 hours/week; with at least some during regular business hours 

·         Proficiency with MS Office (e.g., Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) and ability to quickly learn web-based event, teaching, and communication applications (e.g., Canva, Canvas, Teams, Zoom, Eventbrite, Qualtrics, T4)

·         Detail-oriented with capacity to follow instructions while working independently. 

·         Excellent written and verbal communication abilities

·         Familiarity with social media engagement 

·         Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize multiple tasks to accomplish goals

·         Self-motivated, reliable, and responsible
 ·        Bilingual in Spanish and English

Preferred Qualifications:

·        Enthusiasm and interest in natural resource & wildlife conservation in Florida

·        Skills in visual communications, graphic design, marketing, video editing, and/or instructional design, are NOT required, but are an asset.

·        Willing to commit for 6 months or longer (but all applicants will be considered)

To apply:
Please email application with header Wildlife extension and outreach specialist to  Dr. Shelly Johnson at shelly.johnson@ufl.edu and Dr. Hance Ellington at e.ellington@ufl.edu
Application should include (preferably as a single PDF):
(1)   Cover letter highlighting examples of your experience related to the qualifications above and please include a statement of your weekly and long-term availability (1 page) 
(2)   CV or Resume
(3)   2 references with affiliation and contact information