Inquiry-Based Curriculum & Instruction Manager
Position Description
Updated 1.25.16
Riveredge is more than a nature center. Its legacy as a pioneer in the areas of land restoration, research, and inquirybased education throughout Wisconsin serve as strong foundation to its future initiatives. Today, Riveredge is
redefining the role of the nature center in the community by empowering and supporting communities to live in
harmony with their natural environment in a way that encourages exploration, adventure, and fun.
The mission of Riveredge Nature Center is inspire, inform, and enable responsible environmental decision-making and
sustainable practices by providing leadership in education, preserving and restoring the Riveredge and other natural
sanctuaries, and serving as a resource for scientific research.
Riveredge has a 47-year history as a leader in environmental education in the State of Wisconsin. The Center provides
science-based, inquiry-oriented, outdoor experiences to learners of all ages. In 2014, Riveredge adopted an “audacious
goal” to become the leading destination in the Midwest for learning, discovering, and experiencing the interconnections
between nature and society. We will do this through creating partnerships which transform the culture of our formal
education systems, communities, and lifestyles. This is an exciting time in the history of Riveredge as we work to pioneer
strategies to redefine the role of nature centers in today’s society.
Positon Purpose
The Inquiry-Based Curriculum and Instruction Manager will work as part of the Riveredge Nature Center team of staff
and volunteers. This position is responsible for the curriculum development for School, Outreach, and Homeschool
Programming, assessment and evaluation of curriculum, and training and mentorship for Riveredge Educators
(Volunteer Teacher Naturalists, Environmental Education Interns, Education Staff and Seasonal Naturalists). In addition,
this position will develop innovative approaches to engage youth with our natural world. This position is also involved in
many aspects of day-to-day operations of the Center’s educational activities.
Responsibilities
Management & Program Development Responsibilities
 Serve as the direct supervisor for the School Coordinator.
 Serve as the direct supervisor for the Lead Educator.
 Supervise, train and mentor Seasonal Naturalists.
Curriculum Development and Improvement:
 Develop innovative approaches to engage youth with our natural world.
 Develop new and improve existing Pre K-12 School, Outreach, and Homeschool curriculum so that Riveredge
Educators can deliver effective inquiry-based outdoor education that fulfills current curriculum requirements.
Student Assessment and Program Evaluation:
 Partner with Director of Education and Educational Technology/Evaluation Specialist to develop and implement
appropriate assessment methods to document the impact of Pre K-12 programming efforts on student learning and
attitudes.
 Regularly review all classroom teacher and Riveredge Educator school program evaluations and follow up with
classroom teachers and Riveredge Educators when necessary.
 Continually use information gained from student assessment, classroom teacher program evaluations, and
Riveredge Educator evaluations to improve Pre K-12 School, Outreach, and Homeschool curriculum and educator
training.
Mentorship for Effective Teaching:
 Mentor, train, and coordinate professional development for Pre K-12 Riveredge Educators and Riveredge Naturalists
in Residence so they are able to provide effective inquiry-based outdoor education.
 Oversee the recruitment, supervision, training and mentoring of Volunteer Teacher Naturalists.
 Assist with the recruitment, supervision and training of Environmental Education Interns.
 Serve as the daily contact person to support Pre K-12 Riveredge Educators.
Partner School Teacher Support:
 Concentrate on school partnerships to achieve desired impacts and goals.
 Work with Pre K-12 partner school Educators and serve as a consultant for partner school teachers in creating
effective inquiry-based outdoor education at their school sites. (For example, sharing techniques, activities,
resources, professional development opportunities, and offering support and in-service trainings.)
 Work with Director of Education to develop new partnerships with schools.
Teaching:
 Teach environmental education programs for school groups approximately 25% of the time.
 Teach Homeschool Ed-ventures programs as needed.
 Teach School Outreach programs.
 Teach Nature Journeys summer camp programs.
Other Responsibilities:
 Work with the Educational Technology/Evaluation Specialist to integrate technology, as appropriate, into school
program delivery.
 Teach evening and weekend public groups when needed.
 Assist with special education programs and events such as the Maple Sugaring Festival.
 Assist in maintaining educational equipment for Youth and Family programs.
 Assist in staffing the Visitor Center approximately one weekend per quarter.
Position Expectations
In addition to the Primary Duties, the Inquiry-Based Curriculum and Instruction Manager is expected to meet the
following expectations set forth to all staff members of Riveredge Nature Center:
 Meaningfully contribute to the Riveredge staff team. This includes helping with projects, programs, and
events that may fall outside of the primary duties or departments of this position description.
 Foster an inclusive and supportive environment through personal actions such as supporting and helping
other staff members and volunteers.
 Provide high quality customer service experiences to all guests and volunteers.
 Develop personal benchmarks and measures of success related to the yearly Riveredge Nature Center
approved goals.
 Regularly participate in staff meetings and internal professional development trainings.
 Seek out professional development opportunities outside of Riveredge Nature Center to further expand and
improve your skills, talents, thoughts and ideas.
 Strive for excellence and innovation.
 Identify opportunities and contribute to efforts to realize additional earned and contributed revenue such
as, but not limited to, specialty programs, membership recruitment, in-kind donations, grants and gifts.
Quantitative Expectations
By June 2019, the Inquiry-Based Learning Specialist is expected to achieve the following quantitative outcomes:
 School & Outreach Program Earned Revenue: $50,000 (current revenue is $38,000)
 School & Outreach Program Participation: 13,000 (current program participation is 9,000)
 Homeschool Ed-ventures Program Revenue: $36,000 (current revenue is $23,000)
 Homeschool Ed-ventures Program Participation: 600 (current participation is 360)
Additionally, this position is expected to contribute to the larger Education Team in contributing to the following
goals:
 Increasing Membership to 2,700 families (currently membership is 1,200 families)
 Increasing overall program participation to 40,000 (currently program participation is 20,000)
 Achieving significant examples of regional impact on the environment and education
Performance Evaluation & Compensation
When we work together, Riveredge succeeds. When Riveredge succeeds, we all benefit. All staff members at Riveredge
will have regular and consistent contact with their supervisor(s). All staff members will receive a yearly, formal
performance review from his/her direct supervisor. Performance will be evaluated based on overall job performance,
teamwork, and progress related to yearly goals. Pay increases will be given on a sliding scale based on job performance.
Yearly pay increases are not guaranteed. When financially allowable, high performing employees will receive greater
compensation based on performance that is consistently above expectations.
Benefits & Working Conditions
This is a full-time, salaried position and provides the following benefits. Specific quantity of benefits will be presented in
the offer letter.
 Short and long term disability paid 100% by Riveredge.
 Limited matching retirement contributions.
 Eight and a half days of paid holidays.
 Paid vacation.
 Paid sick leave and optional participation in a health insurance and dental insurance programs.
Additional working conditions include:
 Work evenings and weekends on a regular basis.
 Assume occasional travel within the state.
 Limited hours (up to 20% of time) can be spent telecommuting from home. Please consider this option when
you are not feeling well or are working on projects that can be more efficiently completed in an
environment free from distraction.
This position reports directly to the Director of Education.
Preferred Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in the education, natural sciences or related field.
Self-starter and a well-developed ability to set and meet goals and outcomes.
Comfortable developing new sources of revenue and ability to understand revenue impacts on
programming.
Loves working with children of all ages and families.
Enthusiastic, positive, motivated and likes to have fun on the job.
Flexible, creative teacher with a minimum of 2 years teaching experience (K-adult) in a formal or non-formal
setting.
Knowledge of scientific inquiry process, curriculum development, teaching methods and educational
assessment techniques.
Ability to work as a member of a team by sharing decision making while personally assuming and also asking
for responsibility and accountability.
Strong interpersonal skills, organized and professional demeanor, self-directed.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
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Computer skills, comfortable using email and internet. Must be proficient in using Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power Point.
Ability to physically traverse the Riveredge trails with ease.
Experience in a non-formal setting.
Interest in sustainability education and its connection to environmental issues and a community’s wellbeing.
Naturalist skills and knowledge of Wisconsin natural history.
Experience with Google docs, Google calendar and social media.
Position open until filled. To apply: please send a letter of interest, resume and a list of three references in a single
document to Sunny Knutson, Director of Education, at sknutson@riveredge.us before February 23, 2016.
Indicate availability in cover letter.