Education Senior Coordinator

California Native Plant Society (CNPS) believes that education is central to fostering lifelong emotional and intellectual connections between people and California native plants. Through its Education program, CNPS seeks to provide a life-stage continuum of educational experiences for people of all backgrounds through accessible, inclusive, and relevant programming.

The Education Senior Coordinator is responsible for shepherding educational programming for professionals, college students, and the public. Reporting to the Education and Community Science Manager, the Education Senior Coordinator will work closely with staff and volunteers across the organization to identify, develop, and deliver CNPS' educational offerings. This position will develop and coordinate College and Professional programs, focusing on introducing more Californians to opportunities in the fields of plant science, horticulture, and conservation by growing professional literacy of native plants, as well as the practices and protocols related to the conservation, research, and protection of California flora. This position will also support initiatives in Youth and Community Education and Community Science.

What You'll Do

Plant Science & Professional Workshop Development and Coordination (35 - 45%)

• Collaborate with CNPS instructors to design and facilitate workshops and training programs aligned with educational standards and CNPS’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Identify and engage diverse instructors, venues, and supplies to ensure inclusivity in programming.
• Maintain an online calendar of professional events and training opportunities, and work with Public Affairs colleagues to promote educational offerings.
• Manage workshop registration processes and analyze post-workshop survey results to improve future offerings.
• Develop and maintain interactive online courses on a learning management system (LMS).
• Travel throughout California to execute approximately 10 in-person workshops and training events annually, with travel time accounting for up to 10% of job duties.

Collegiate Programming & Outreach (10 - 20%)

• Administer the student research grant process, including application, selection, and awards.
• Collaborate with the Conservation team and CNPS staff and volunteers to design and implement college-level programming.

CNPS Conference Event Coordination (10 - 45%)

• Serve as a core member of the CNPS Conference planning team, to develop conference programming for the tri-annual CNPS Conference (next held in February 2026).
• Coordinate key components of the conference with event planners and CNPS staff.
• The percentages of work ranges in this job announcement reflect shifting workloads to accommodate responsibilities during conference years (every three years), hence 10% in non-conference years with 45% allocated in the fiscal years the conference occurs.

Partnerships Development & Chapter Support (10 - 25%)

• Support CNPS staff, volunteers, and strategic partners in the development of an interpretive framework, educational resources, and training for chapters.
• Facilitate outreach and education experiences at strategically aligned community events.
• Support youth and community education programming and community science as needed, with an emphasis on career exposure, workforce development, higher education level opportunities.
• Working with the Education and Community Science Manager, develop partnerships with environmental justice organizations, tribal communities and affiliated organizations, and community-based organizations to deliver inclusive programming.
• Work with CNPS staff and chapters to develop workshops bridging community and scientific programming, and train volunteers to facilitate these locally.

Physical Requirements

This position involves prolonged periods of sitting and frequent use of a computer and mouse. It may also require participation in field trips, including walking on uneven trails with variable grades. The ability to lift and carry boxes weighing up to 40 pounds is necessary. Additionally, this role includes transporting equipment and materials between the CNPS office and locations by car, where educational programming occurs. Storage for educational supplies is in an upstairs storage area accessible only by stairs. These physical requirements are representative of tasks commonly associated with the position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Location

This is a full-time (40 hours per week) hybrid position open to California residents. The individual hired for this role must work onsite at the CNPS Sacramento office as needed, with at least two days per month to attend meetings and support workshop preparations. To ensure accessibility to the office, applicants must reside within 60 miles of the CNPS Sacramento location. The role also involves statewide travel to facilitate in-person training programs and transport equipment and supplies.

Additional Information

• Work hours are typically Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with some flexibility.
• Periodic travel to locations throughout California will be required. (Work travel is reimbursed.)
• Some evening and weekend work may be required to participate in meetings and activities.
• A valid California driver’s license is required.

Who You Are

• You bring 4-6 years of professional experience in formal or informal education (not including college coursework or experience counted as a substitution for a degree), with a strong focus on connecting participants to the environment or natural sciences in engaging and impactful ways. If you do not hold a bachelor's degree, you have additional professional experience to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and skills.
• You are passionate about education, particularly related to plants and the natural world.
• You thrive in collaborative and mission-driven environments.
• You excel at project planning, event coordination, and managing multiple priorities with exceptional organization and attention to detail.
• You are proficient with tools like Zoom and Microsoft Office Suite and adapt quickly to new technologies.
• You remain calm and organized under tight deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
• You are committed to inclusivity and removing obstacles to connection for diverse audiences.
• You live within 60 miles of the CNPS HQ in (Midtown) Sacramento, CA.

Education

• Bachelor's degree preferred; however, relevant experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis in lieu of a degree.
  • For applicants substituting experience for a degree, the total years of professional experience required for this role will increase proportionately.

Nice to Have

While CNPS recognizes that not every individual will exhibit all these characteristics, the successful candidate will possess at least one – and ideally more than one – of the following:

• Fluency in Spanish or other languages widely spoken in California.
• Knowledge of CNPS, California native plants, or plant communities.
• Experience with the creation of online courses and educational content.

• Compensation: A starting hourly rate between $31.51 - $33.96.
  • Reflecting CNPS's commitment to competitive, fair, and transparent compensation, we publish the full potential starting pay ranges for new hires and do not negotiate hiring bonuses.
• Performance Based Compensation Increases: Employees may receive up to a 3.8% performance-based annual rate increase.
• Health Insurance: 100% coverage of employee premiums for health (Kaiser or Anthem), life, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with up to 6% matching contributions, available immediately upon employment.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Options for a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), and Transportation Savings Account (TSA).
• Paid Leave: 13 holidays, 12 sick/wellness days, and 10 vacation days.
• Parental Leave: 16 weeks (about 3 and a half months) of paid parental leave, after one year of employment.
• Work-from-Home Support: CNPS-issued laptop, a $750 home office credit line, and a $60/month telework stipend.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Comprehensive support for employees and their families.
• Professional Development: Annual budget of $1,000 and 32 hours for professional development opportunities.
• Team Building: Attendance at semiannual staff team-building events.
• Community: Complimentary CNPS Society membership.
• Bragging Rights: "Superhero to the Planet" status for your contributions to conservation.