Environmental Educator, Coastal Co-Leader

Environmental Educator (Spring), Co-Leader For The Community Coastal Experience (February-August)

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, based in Homer, Alaska, is currently hiring for two different types of roles.  Both roles spend significant time in field sites featuring rocky intertidal areas of outstanding diversity, coastal forests, salt and freshwater wetlands, and some time on research vessels and/or charter boats in Kachemak Bay.

Qualified applicants are energetic, creative, and flexible, possess curiosity and enthusiasm about the natural world and human communities, have experience in place-based environmental education or facilitating inclusive field work/group experiences, and demonstrate the maturity needed to live in group situations.

We are currently accepting applications for 2 Co-Leaders for the Community Coastal Experience. The CCE Co-Leaders will work alongside our CCE Coordinator to plan and lead the month-long traveling internship program for a cohort of approximately 8 local adults. The Co-Leader job is February-August 2025, with the possibility to extend the contract into fall and winter work.  The February-April work could be mostly remote and/or part-time if that works better for the candidate's schedule, with full-time in-person work definitely required in late May, all of June and early July. The job does involve traveling with the cohort for 4-5 weeks, with time spent in 2-4 coastal  communities in Southcentral Alaska (such as Homer, Seldovia, Cordova, Kodiak, and/or Seward)!

We are also hiring for 5 Environmental Educators for our spring season packed full of overnight field trips for Alaskan schools to semi-remote and semi-rustic field stations and marine labs in Kachemak Bay. The spring educators have the option to combine this with a summer position with us, for a ~5 month position.

More info on each of these roles is below. To see the full position descriptions, instructions for applicants, and more information about our organization, go to Employment — Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

CO-LEADER for the COMMUNITY COASTAL EXPERIENCE with the CENTER FOR ALASKAN COASTAL STUDIES and CORaL Network in Homer and Southcentral Region:

Co-plan and facilitate a month-long traveling internship program for adults from Southcentral Alaska called the Community Coastal Experience (CCE), which will take place in June and July 2025. During the Community Coastal Experience, the Co-Leader will connect the interns with projects and organizations that are working to forward collaborative science and restoration and weave together environmental science and Alaska Native cultures of the region impacted by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in southcentral Alaska.

The Co-Leader will facilitate activities with partner organizations on the topics of marine ecology, mariculture, environmental monitoring, archaeology, and cultural revitalization. They will help the interns to boost their field work skills, build networks with other communities and individuals, and become more familiar with local Indigenous cultures and coastal science. 

The Co-Leader will spend 4-5 weeks with the Community Coastal Experience traveling to 2-4 communities in southcentral Alaska, which may include Homer, Seldovia, Cordova, Kodiak and/or Seward, spending approximately 1-2 weeks in each location. Field sites feature rocky intertidal areas of outstanding diversity, coastal forests, salt and freshwater wetlands, and research vessels. During this experience, they will be living with and supporting up to 8 interns in day-to-day needs as well as the scheduled learning activities. Planning for the CCE will take place from February through May as a collaboration between the two CCE co-leads, the CCE Coordinator, and program partners. Program wrap-up will take place from mid-July through the end of August. This position is part of the Community Organized Restoration and Learning (CORaL) Network, funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. 

Timing: This role runs from February 3-August 31, and includes paid training in Cordova February 10-14.  Schedule for late February-April is flexible, with options for remote work and either full or part-time work.  Full-time, in-person work required May-August. 

Compensation: $21/hour with shared housing in Homer provided ($24/hour without housing). Additional benefits include up to $600 in funding for the costs of professional development opportunities, paid holidays with flexible dates, and 40 hours of paid sick leave (including mental as well as physical health and family emergencies).  

Applications received by November 25 will be reviewed for the first round of consideration. CACS will continue to accept and review applications until the roles are filled. To see the full position description and more information about our organization, go to Employment — Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR (SPRING SEASON)  with the CENTER FOR ALASKAN COASTAL STUDIES in Homer and Kachemak Bay: 

Instill wonder, scientific understanding, and love for coastal ecosystems with students from throughout Alaska. The Spring Environmental Educator will co-lead overnight educational programs with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) in semi-remote and semi-rustic locations around Kachemak Bay.  This person will work alongside the School Program Coordinator and other environmental educators to lead programs, learn together about best practices in experiential, place-based education and to gain knowledge of Alaskan coastal ecology. Educational programs are well-developed and supported but provide opportunities for creativity and flexibility. Field sites feature rocky intertidal areas of outstanding diversity, a coastal forest trail system, and salt and freshwater wetlands. Qualified applicants are energetic and flexible, possess curiosity and enthusiasm about the natural world and human communities, have experience in place-based environmental education, and demonstrate the maturity needed to live in group situations. 

Timing: Position runs from March 24 – May 21, 2025, with the opportunity to extend an extra week or transition into a summer position. 

Compensation: $19/hour with shared housing in Homer provided ($22/hour without housing). Additional benefits include 1.5 weeks paid training and 40 hours of paid sick leave (including mental as well as physical health and family emergencies)  

Applications received by November 25 will be reviewed for the first round of consideration. CACS will continue to accept and review applications until the roles are filled. To see the full position description and more information about our organization, go to Employment — Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies