Costa Rica Field Instructor
Job Announcement
**Description of Program**:Our programs are experiential, involving inquiry-based field science through curricula, hands on participation in conservation, research projects and field-based partnerships between experts and students.
Programs are residential from 4 to 12 days in length and are offered in a variety of outdoor settings (marine coastal, tropical rainforest).
**Responsibilities**:
- All EPI instructors are expected to_
- Provide and lead a positive experience for EPI participants in the field.
- Promote and ensure a safe learning/living environment.
- Conduct all courses with rigorous attention to risk management.
- Plan, lead, and deliver quality experiential science/conservation education programs to a diverse group of high school students in a manner that blends both EPI's and the group's expectations.
- Establish and maintain clear communication with teachers, chaperones, participants, co-instructor(s), and EPI office staff.
- Effectively manage logístical challenges and emergencies on course.
- Respond to medical emergencies and provide appropriate first aid following EPI's medical protocols and according to your level of training.
- Be sensitive to the health and welfare of all participants and meet their developmental needs.
- Show and maintain a positive attitude.
- Understand, model, monitor, and enforce EPI policies and protocols.
- Oversee and/or lead research activities in accordance with local research protocols.
- Lead conservation service projects in accordance with risk management protocols.
- Keep course equipment clean, organized, and in good working order and communicate equipment needs to supervisor.
- Participate in all EPI staff development sessions throughout the season, including staff trainings, staff meetings, staff retreats.
Instructors are required to participate in all staff training and the evaluation / feedback process.
- Complete pre-arrival online training modules in risk management, EPI's educational framework, and local ecosystem and research background.
- Mentor EPI interns to develop their skills and achieve outlined expectations.
- Promptly complete and file paperwork associated with each course.
- Participate in EPI's efforts to share the impacts of our activities on participants and conservation.
This includes helping to photo-document the experiences of EPI participants and completing two Student Impact Stories documenting local student experiences each season.
- Appropriately deliver growth oriented feedback and coaching to co-instructors to improve performance, resolve differences, and maintain and open, communicative working relationship.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
**Qualifications**:
- Required:_
- Bachelor's degree in education, biology, ecology, natural science, or related field.
- More than 1 year teaching environmental education and outdoors leadership with groups of teens and/or young adults.
- Experience leading trips in remote areas.
- Experience living or working in Costa Rica or in a similar environment.
- Physical and mental condition to lead courses 24 hrs.
each day for up to 12 days with a co-instructor in inclement weather, engage in a variety of activities that require strength, agility, and endurance.
- Able to pass criminal background check.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Fluent English
- Preferred: _
- Master's degree in related field.
- Experience with inquiry-based learning programs.
- Knowledge and familiarity with Costa Rica ecosystems, especially the Caribbean slope.
- Research experience with sea turtles and/or rainforest ecology.
- Bilingual with English and Spanish fluency
**Schedule and Location**:
- Costa Rica Sea Turtle Program runs from February to August 2020 (estimate dates)
**Compensation**_: _**
- According to the EPI instructor pay scale ($67 - $124 USD per day, depending on experience).
Previous experience in taken into consideration
- Professional development and training at field site.
Please note that the attendance is mandatory and unpaid during instructor training sessions.