National Wildlife Federation
Denver, CO
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is now one of America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organizations with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The organization's programs focus on conserving wildlife, restoring habitat and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. To advance our mission, we are seeking a Design and Engagement Coordinator to join our staff, working out of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Denver, Colorado.
We envision a world where every young child experiences nature daily. Our team has been working with communities for years to transform and activate their daily spaces as sources of nearby nature. By improving outdoor spaces through thoughtful landscape design and training early childhood professionals on the benefits of nature play, ECHO employs a nature-based health equity strategy that improves access to the benefits of nature for children and their caregivers that have the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor spaces. To ensure our work continues its reach and impact, a Design and Engagement Coordinator is needed to collaborate with our multi-disciplinary design, education, and engagement team to implement the program’s overarching initiatives.
The Design and Engagement Coordinator will report to the ECHO Design Manager. This is a full-time position.
The Design and Engagement Coordinator will collaborate with the team to develop landscape designs, supplemental materials and graphics, and support other programmatic needs. Design will focus on outdoor spaces where young children and families spend time on a daily basis: primarily child care centers, but also including schools, libraries, parks, museums, community centers, hospitals, neighborhoods. The position will be expected to apply evidence-based, best practice design principles to a variety of site contexts and create developmentally-appropriate, custom design solutions driven by the programmatic needs of the clients and site users. The candidate should be able to communicate design concepts and ideas through hand sketching, graphics, and rendering skills, have a strong attention to detail, have excellent organizational skills, be flexible, and have strong technical skills (grading, construction knowledge).
In this role you will:
Support design work including preparation of base maps, schematic designs, planting plans for sites including child care programs, schools, parks and other spaces used by young children and families.
Collaborate with the team to develop content for and deliver community presentations, training and professional development offerings for educators, and various community engagement workshops and activities.
Develop opinion of probable cost calculations and phasing recommendations.
Communicate with clients including setting up meetings for site visits, design reviews, and design delivery presentations.
Support coordination of site visits, perform site analysis, conduct site measurements and photo documentation. This will include locating and verifying available site data from multiple sources, evaluating existing conditions, and conducting detailed photographic mapping.
Support facilitation of participatory design workshops and the annual Summit.
Plan, procure materials for, and assist with volunteer workdays.
Provide ongoing construction technical assistance to site representatives (on call support).
Support project management and collaborate to ensure progress towards design delivery timelines and goals.
Prepare supplemental material for grant reports, including charts, diagrams, and booklets.
Maintain archival systems for photographs and other design components and refine systems as needed to ensure efficiency.
Develop content for and create flyers, posters, printed resources, online marketing and presentations.
Qualifications:
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Bridge).
Proven ability to learn quickly and independently manage tasks.
Strong work ethic and organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal skills, including public speaking experience, and the ability to effectively communicate ideas both verbally, written, and graphically.
Demonstrated ability to create effective design solutions at a variety of scales and contexts.
Demonstrated interest in or past experience designing landscapes for young children and/or families.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Capable of engaging and bolstering marginalized voices in your work.
Ability to listen and respond with empathy to others’ lived experiences that may be very different than your own.
Bachelors or a masters degree (MS) in landscape architecture, landscape design, horticultural science, environmental design, architecture, urban planning, or related field.
Preferred qualifications:
ArcGIS and SketchUp knowledge are a plus.
Knowledge of landscape plants and materials is a plus.
Photography and graphic design skills are a plus.
Bilingual Spanish abilities are a plus.
Travel:
Due to COVID-19 NWF offices are currently closed. This position will be located in the Denver Office once offices re-open. As safe travel starts to resume, monthly travel and site visits (mostly day trips) will be required.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary for this position is $45,000.
The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year. In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers .
Application:
Applications will be accepted through August 5, 2021.
We strive to increase equity and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to equity and justice at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translates directly to our openings. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.
Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates advanced to phone screen will be required to submit a portfolio.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is now one of America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organizations with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The organization's programs focus on conserving wildlife, restoring habitat and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. To advance our mission, we are seeking a Design and Engagement Coordinator to join our staff, working out of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Denver, Colorado.
We envision a world where every young child experiences nature daily. Our team has been working with communities for years to transform and activate their daily spaces as sources of nearby nature. By improving outdoor spaces through thoughtful landscape design and training early childhood professionals on the benefits of nature play, ECHO employs a nature-based health equity strategy that improves access to the benefits of nature for children and their caregivers that have the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor spaces. To ensure our work continues its reach and impact, a Design and Engagement Coordinator is needed to collaborate with our multi-disciplinary design, education, and engagement team to implement the program’s overarching initiatives.
The Design and Engagement Coordinator will report to the ECHO Design Manager. This is a full-time position.
The Design and Engagement Coordinator will collaborate with the team to develop landscape designs, supplemental materials and graphics, and support other programmatic needs. Design will focus on outdoor spaces where young children and families spend time on a daily basis: primarily child care centers, but also including schools, libraries, parks, museums, community centers, hospitals, neighborhoods. The position will be expected to apply evidence-based, best practice design principles to a variety of site contexts and create developmentally-appropriate, custom design solutions driven by the programmatic needs of the clients and site users. The candidate should be able to communicate design concepts and ideas through hand sketching, graphics, and rendering skills, have a strong attention to detail, have excellent organizational skills, be flexible, and have strong technical skills (grading, construction knowledge).
In this role you will:
Support design work including preparation of base maps, schematic designs, planting plans for sites including child care programs, schools, parks and other spaces used by young children and families.
Collaborate with the team to develop content for and deliver community presentations, training and professional development offerings for educators, and various community engagement workshops and activities.
Develop opinion of probable cost calculations and phasing recommendations.
Communicate with clients including setting up meetings for site visits, design reviews, and design delivery presentations.
Support coordination of site visits, perform site analysis, conduct site measurements and photo documentation. This will include locating and verifying available site data from multiple sources, evaluating existing conditions, and conducting detailed photographic mapping.
Support facilitation of participatory design workshops and the annual Summit.
Plan, procure materials for, and assist with volunteer workdays.
Provide ongoing construction technical assistance to site representatives (on call support).
Support project management and collaborate to ensure progress towards design delivery timelines and goals.
Prepare supplemental material for grant reports, including charts, diagrams, and booklets.
Maintain archival systems for photographs and other design components and refine systems as needed to ensure efficiency.
Develop content for and create flyers, posters, printed resources, online marketing and presentations.
Qualifications:
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Bridge).
Proven ability to learn quickly and independently manage tasks.
Strong work ethic and organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal skills, including public speaking experience, and the ability to effectively communicate ideas both verbally, written, and graphically.
Demonstrated ability to create effective design solutions at a variety of scales and contexts.
Demonstrated interest in or past experience designing landscapes for young children and/or families.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Capable of engaging and bolstering marginalized voices in your work.
Ability to listen and respond with empathy to others’ lived experiences that may be very different than your own.
Bachelors or a masters degree (MS) in landscape architecture, landscape design, horticultural science, environmental design, architecture, urban planning, or related field.
Preferred qualifications:
ArcGIS and SketchUp knowledge are a plus.
Knowledge of landscape plants and materials is a plus.
Photography and graphic design skills are a plus.
Bilingual Spanish abilities are a plus.
Travel:
Due to COVID-19 NWF offices are currently closed. This position will be located in the Denver Office once offices re-open. As safe travel starts to resume, monthly travel and site visits (mostly day trips) will be required.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary for this position is $45,000.
The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year. In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers .
Application:
Applications will be accepted through August 5, 2021.
We strive to increase equity and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to equity and justice at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translates directly to our openings. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.
Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates advanced to phone screen will be required to submit a portfolio.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.
National Wildlife Federation
Denver, CO
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is among America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
The Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) program envisions a world where every young child experiences nature daily. ECHO has been working with communities for years to transform and activate their daily spaces as sources of nearby nature. Through thoughtful landscape design and training early childhood professionals on the benefits of nature play, ECHO employs a nature-based health equity strategy that improves access to the benefits of nature for children and their caregivers that have the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor spaces. To assure that these benefits may be available to children across the nation, we are seeking an Early Childhood Policy Fellow to investigate and act on high-priority policy opportunities at the state and federal levels.
You will report directly to the ECHO Partnerships Manager and be part of NWF’s ECHO team, based out of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Denver, Colorado, but could also be based in NWF’s Washington, D.C. office or any other regional office . (Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions, expected to be in September).
This position is part of NWF’s fellowship program. NWF Fellows must be available to work a 40-hour weekly schedule. This 11-month position offers $20.00 per hour plus core benefits.
In this role you will:
Gain working knowledge of the effort to incorporate outdoor quality into federal and state policies that influence child care systems across the nation. Connect with early childhood, children & nature, and conservation professionals to build a broader professional network.
Conduct and update policy scans relevant to early childhood outdoor quality for priority ECHO states.
Evaluate national policy opportunities, including identifying and investigating federal Administrative and legislative actions. Work with the ECHO team to develop policy recommendations.
Coordinate the development and implementation of advocacy tactics, in collaboration with national early childhood partners and working with NWF’s National Advocacy Center; this may include drafting content for policymaker, internal, media, and external partner audiences.
Working with the ECHO Partnerships Manager, lead the creation of a network of state early childhood outdoor quality champions, thereby building a cohort of influencers and advocates across the nation.
Monitor congressional hearings and briefings and track federal legislation.
Help the ECHO team produce or update data-driven charts, maps, and graphics for different target audiences.
Perform administrative duties and help with shared office tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
Passion for creating equitable and innovative policies that bring the benefits of nature to young children, families, and a re-imagined child care system.
Excellent research and analytical abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication, including ability to clearly synthesize technical information for different audiences.
Self-starter able to work effectively in both a team-based and independent environment.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
Sense of humor and collegiality.
Ability to multi-task and handle competing priorities.
Computer proficiency in MS Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook.
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.
Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is among America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
The Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) program envisions a world where every young child experiences nature daily. ECHO has been working with communities for years to transform and activate their daily spaces as sources of nearby nature. Through thoughtful landscape design and training early childhood professionals on the benefits of nature play, ECHO employs a nature-based health equity strategy that improves access to the benefits of nature for children and their caregivers that have the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor spaces. To assure that these benefits may be available to children across the nation, we are seeking an Early Childhood Policy Fellow to investigate and act on high-priority policy opportunities at the state and federal levels.
You will report directly to the ECHO Partnerships Manager and be part of NWF’s ECHO team, based out of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Denver, Colorado, but could also be based in NWF’s Washington, D.C. office or any other regional office . (Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions, expected to be in September).
This position is part of NWF’s fellowship program. NWF Fellows must be available to work a 40-hour weekly schedule. This 11-month position offers $20.00 per hour plus core benefits.
In this role you will:
Gain working knowledge of the effort to incorporate outdoor quality into federal and state policies that influence child care systems across the nation. Connect with early childhood, children & nature, and conservation professionals to build a broader professional network.
Conduct and update policy scans relevant to early childhood outdoor quality for priority ECHO states.
Evaluate national policy opportunities, including identifying and investigating federal Administrative and legislative actions. Work with the ECHO team to develop policy recommendations.
Coordinate the development and implementation of advocacy tactics, in collaboration with national early childhood partners and working with NWF’s National Advocacy Center; this may include drafting content for policymaker, internal, media, and external partner audiences.
Working with the ECHO Partnerships Manager, lead the creation of a network of state early childhood outdoor quality champions, thereby building a cohort of influencers and advocates across the nation.
Monitor congressional hearings and briefings and track federal legislation.
Help the ECHO team produce or update data-driven charts, maps, and graphics for different target audiences.
Perform administrative duties and help with shared office tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
Passion for creating equitable and innovative policies that bring the benefits of nature to young children, families, and a re-imagined child care system.
Excellent research and analytical abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication, including ability to clearly synthesize technical information for different audiences.
Self-starter able to work effectively in both a team-based and independent environment.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
Sense of humor and collegiality.
Ability to multi-task and handle competing priorities.
Computer proficiency in MS Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook.
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.
Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.
National Wildlife Federation
Denver, CO
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
To advance our mission, we are seeking a full-time Design Manager for Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) to join our staff, working out of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Denver, Colorado. (Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions).
The Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) program envisions a world where every young child experiences nature daily. ECHO has been working with communities for years to transform and activate their daily spaces as sources of nearby nature. By improving outdoor spaces through thoughtful landscape design and training early childhood professionals on the benefits of nature play, ECHO employs a nature-based health equity strategy that improves access to the benefits of nature for children and their caregivers that have the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor spaces. To ensure ECHO continues its reach and impact, a Design Manager is needed to collaborate with and provide leadership for ECHO’s multi-disciplinary education and design team to implement the program’s overarching initiatives.
You will report to the ECHO Director, and will supervise the ECHO Design team.
Your main focus will be to oversee the Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) design team in tasks related to designing outdoor environments for young children to promote play, learning, and healthy development. You will work collaboratively with the Program Director to refine ECHO design standards and systems to ensure efficiency and innovation. In this role you will be expected to apply evidence-based, best practice design principles to a variety of site contexts such as parks and child care facilities, and create developmentally-appropriate, custom design solutions driven by the programmatic needs of the clients and site users.
In this position, you will:
Organize and manage the ECHO design portfolio, including project work flow and delivery, schedule, and project timelines.
Directly supervise, manage, train, and mentor ECHO design staff in the creation of site base plans, schematic designs, planting plans, cost opinions, and phasing plans, as well as directly contribute to design work as needed.
Communicate with clients to facilitate community-driven and informed design deliverables.
Update office systems and standards for ECHO design team collaboration as ECHO expands nationally.
Develop, and oversee the development of, base maps, sketches, schematic designs, and renderings of children's play and learning environments; communicating design concepts and ideas through hand sketching, graphics, and rendering skills using strong technical skills (grading, construction knowledge).
Coordinate, prepare for, and facilitate participatory design workshops.
Organize and conduct site visits with the design team staff, perform site analysis, site measurements and photo documentation.
Track progress towards design delivery timelines and goals.
Assist Program Director with grant proposals, reporting and program deliverable tracking.
Develop scope of work and fee proposals for design consultancy projects.
Oversee the maintenance and organization of archival systems for photographs and other design components.
Oversee the compilation of plant lists and other technical resources for children's environments to be used both locally and nationally.
Create and update flyers, posters, and presentations.
Lead educator, parks and recreation, and design professional trainings on design principles for children’s environments.
Lead the development of print and web resources to disseminate outdoor learning environment best practices.
Develop innovative strategies to increase design team workflow efficiency.
Provide on-site and on-call installation technical assistance to clients improving play environments.
Conduct in-service training for design staff, and annual evaluations.
Promote the program through presentations at conferences and events.
Minimum education/experience:
Professional degree in landscape architecture, horticultural science, or related field.
At least 3 years of professional experience in a landscape architecture or design build firm, or related experience, preferably with some interest or experience in designing landscapes for young children and/or families.
Registered landscape architect or working towards professional licensure.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and develop positive working relationships.
Strong knowledge of native plants and landscape materials.
Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) proficiency.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong work ethic
Ability to engage with diverse groups of people and passion for bolstering marginalized voices in your work.
Ability to listen and respond with empathy to others’ lived experiences that may be very different than your own
Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines (e.g., educators, parents, construction professionals).
Demonstrated ability to create effective design solutions at a variety of scales and contexts.
Proven ability to learn quickly, possessing a growth mindset.
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
Applicants either in or outside of Colorado are encouraged to apply, with the expectation for relocation to the Denver area in 2021. Monthly travel may be required, approximately 10%.
Salary Range and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $55,000 to $60,000.
The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, 10 days of wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year. In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers .
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications of this description and are passionate about change-making and movement-building, we support your application. If selected, a background check will be conducted.
Candidates should submit both a cover letter and resume through the online portal and email a pdf of your design portfolio to Alya Garrison-Ahmed at GarrisonA@nwf.org.
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
To advance our mission, we are seeking a full-time Design Manager for Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) to join our staff, working out of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Denver, Colorado. (Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions).
The Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) program envisions a world where every young child experiences nature daily. ECHO has been working with communities for years to transform and activate their daily spaces as sources of nearby nature. By improving outdoor spaces through thoughtful landscape design and training early childhood professionals on the benefits of nature play, ECHO employs a nature-based health equity strategy that improves access to the benefits of nature for children and their caregivers that have the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor spaces. To ensure ECHO continues its reach and impact, a Design Manager is needed to collaborate with and provide leadership for ECHO’s multi-disciplinary education and design team to implement the program’s overarching initiatives.
You will report to the ECHO Director, and will supervise the ECHO Design team.
Your main focus will be to oversee the Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) design team in tasks related to designing outdoor environments for young children to promote play, learning, and healthy development. You will work collaboratively with the Program Director to refine ECHO design standards and systems to ensure efficiency and innovation. In this role you will be expected to apply evidence-based, best practice design principles to a variety of site contexts such as parks and child care facilities, and create developmentally-appropriate, custom design solutions driven by the programmatic needs of the clients and site users.
In this position, you will:
Organize and manage the ECHO design portfolio, including project work flow and delivery, schedule, and project timelines.
Directly supervise, manage, train, and mentor ECHO design staff in the creation of site base plans, schematic designs, planting plans, cost opinions, and phasing plans, as well as directly contribute to design work as needed.
Communicate with clients to facilitate community-driven and informed design deliverables.
Update office systems and standards for ECHO design team collaboration as ECHO expands nationally.
Develop, and oversee the development of, base maps, sketches, schematic designs, and renderings of children's play and learning environments; communicating design concepts and ideas through hand sketching, graphics, and rendering skills using strong technical skills (grading, construction knowledge).
Coordinate, prepare for, and facilitate participatory design workshops.
Organize and conduct site visits with the design team staff, perform site analysis, site measurements and photo documentation.
Track progress towards design delivery timelines and goals.
Assist Program Director with grant proposals, reporting and program deliverable tracking.
Develop scope of work and fee proposals for design consultancy projects.
Oversee the maintenance and organization of archival systems for photographs and other design components.
Oversee the compilation of plant lists and other technical resources for children's environments to be used both locally and nationally.
Create and update flyers, posters, and presentations.
Lead educator, parks and recreation, and design professional trainings on design principles for children’s environments.
Lead the development of print and web resources to disseminate outdoor learning environment best practices.
Develop innovative strategies to increase design team workflow efficiency.
Provide on-site and on-call installation technical assistance to clients improving play environments.
Conduct in-service training for design staff, and annual evaluations.
Promote the program through presentations at conferences and events.
Minimum education/experience:
Professional degree in landscape architecture, horticultural science, or related field.
At least 3 years of professional experience in a landscape architecture or design build firm, or related experience, preferably with some interest or experience in designing landscapes for young children and/or families.
Registered landscape architect or working towards professional licensure.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and develop positive working relationships.
Strong knowledge of native plants and landscape materials.
Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) proficiency.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong work ethic
Ability to engage with diverse groups of people and passion for bolstering marginalized voices in your work.
Ability to listen and respond with empathy to others’ lived experiences that may be very different than your own
Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines (e.g., educators, parents, construction professionals).
Demonstrated ability to create effective design solutions at a variety of scales and contexts.
Proven ability to learn quickly, possessing a growth mindset.
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
Applicants either in or outside of Colorado are encouraged to apply, with the expectation for relocation to the Denver area in 2021. Monthly travel may be required, approximately 10%.
Salary Range and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $55,000 to $60,000.
The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, 10 days of wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year. In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers .
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications of this description and are passionate about change-making and movement-building, we support your application. If selected, a background check will be conducted.
Candidates should submit both a cover letter and resume through the online portal and email a pdf of your design portfolio to Alya Garrison-Ahmed at GarrisonA@nwf.org.