Water Quality Educator

~ Tippecanoe County is a county located in the northwest quadrant of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 172,780. The county seat is Lafayette. ~

The county is best known for Purdue University, the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe, and the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, a structure built in 1881 and included in the National Register of Historic Places.  

Position Overview

Candidates are sought for the postion of Water Quality Educator. This position works within the Surveyor Department.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties 

• Designs curriculum and delivers presentations on various environmental education topics, including facilitating workshops, classroom presentations, and activities; prepares educational and/or community outreach surveys and reports. 
• Develops and implements K-12 curriculum for water quality educational programs. 
• Oversees compliance with federal mandates, specifically Minimum Control Measure I (Public Education and Outreach) and II (Public Participation) of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II of the Clean Water Act. 
• Supervises assigned TCPWQ staff, in cooperation with the Tippecanoe County Surveyor, including interviewing candidates for openings and making hiring recommendations, orienting new subordinates, planning, delegating, and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, training, developing, and motivating assigned staff, evaluating staff performance, and maintaining discipline and recommending corrective action as warranted. 
• Reviews salaries, in cooperation with the Tippecanoe County Surveyor, of assigned TCPWQ staff and recommends changes when needed. 
• Ensures supervisor and assigned staff are informed of organizational developments. 
• Coordinates and implements storm drain marking programs to ensure compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II Public Education and Outreach within MS4 boundaries; oversees training, mentoring, and supervision of Storm Drain Stenciling Program. 
• Acquires volunteers and sustains volunteer program incorporating environmental education throughout community. 
• Collaborates with Purdue University's Engineering Projects in Community Service team to provide soil and water mentoring. 
• Develops marketing materials for Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality, including creating program logo, correspondence materials, storm drain markers, displays, and other promotional items; prepares and coordinates informational exhibits and displays showcasing Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality. 
• Informs public on educational opportunities and provides environmental education through oral presentations, press releases, public service announcements, newsletters, surveys, written correspondence, brochures, and telephone communications. 
• Partners with surrounding MS4 Phase II Communities to improve educational opportunities, including coordinating watershed festivals and field days. Coordinates Hoosier Riverwatch water quality monitoring, including collecting and analyzing data and presenting results to various agencies and the public. 
• Maintains computer database of student and program activities and program materials, equipment, and supplies. 
• Oversees lending library of educational materials available to public. Performs maintenance of water quality field equipment, storm drain stencil equipment, and related inventories. 
• Serves as Water Quality Educator for the Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality. 
• Serves on the Tippecanoe Soil and Water Conservation District Education Committee. 
• Participates in public forums regarding watershed and water quality programs and projects. 
• Prepares monthly report on program activities and progress. 
• Prepares and implements Annual Plan of Work report. 
• Attends steering committees on community watersheds, tours, and workshops - educating members on water quality. 
• Serves as liaison for local watershed groups. 
• Performs related duties as assigned. 

Qualifications  

Requirements 

• Baccalaureate Degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Education, or related field or equivalent work experience. 
• Possession of or ability to obtain specialized training in United States Department of Agriculture Security Awareness, United States Department of Agriculture Privacy Basics, ASIST Storm Water Database Reporting, and Project WET instructor/educator. 
• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain Hoosier Riverwatch, Healthy Water Healthy People, and Project WET certifications. 
• Working knowledge of standard office policies and practices and ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations. 
• Working knowledge of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II of the Clean Water Act, including Minimum Control Measure I (Public Education and Outreach) and II (Public Participation) and ability to maintain compliance with related federal mandates. 
• Basic working knowledge of soil and water conservation principles and practices, including interrelationships within environment. 
• Working knowledge of environmental hazards associated with surface and underground water. 
• Working knowledge of developing and implementing curriculums regarding natural resources and ability to manage and facilitate various educational programs. 
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to maintain related Department records and documents and prepare detailed reports as needed. 
• Ability to design curriculums and deliver presentations on various environmental education topics, including facilitating workshops, classroom presentations, and activities. 
• Ability to prepare educational and/or community outreach surveys and reports. 
• Ability to supervise assigned TCPWQ staff, in cooperation with the Tippecanoe County Surveyor, including interviewing candidates for openings and making hiring recommendations, orienting new subordinates, planning, delegating, and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, training, developing, and motivating assigned staff, evaluating staff performance, and maintaining discipline and recommending corrective action as warranted. 
• Ability to review TCPWQ salaries, in cooperation with the Tippecanoe County Surveyor, of assigned TCPWQ staff and recommend changes when needed. 
• Ability to ensure supervisor and assigned staff are informed of organizational developments. 
• Ability to properly operate standard office equipment and software, including computer, GIS navigational programs, calculator, and Department related scientific equipment. 
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements. 
• Ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct. 
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect. 
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, TCPWQ Partnership, County/City departments, Town of Dayton, Battle Ground Wastewater Treatment Utility, Purdue University, Ivy Tech College, various schools and watershed groups, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities. 
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment. 
• Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and work rapidly for long periods, occasionally under time pressure. 
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form. 
• Ability to compare and observe similarities and differences between data, people, and things; perform arithmetic operations and compile, analyze, and coordinate data and take action based on data analysis. 
• Ability to plan and layout assigned work projects and plan and present public speaking presentations and special events. 
• Ability to apply knowledge of people and/or locations. 
• Ability to obtain and maintain current knowledge and trends in environmental education. 
• Ability to serve in leadership roles and on committees as needed. 
• Ability to occasionally work extended, evening, and/or weekend hours, and occasionally travel out of town for conferences, meetings, and/or presentations, sometimes overnight. 
• Possession of a valid Indiana driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record. 

Compensation: Salary is $1,591.19 bi-weekly.