Seasonal BASE Field Studies Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Seasonal BASE Field Studies Coordinator

Department: Education

Reports to: BASE Partnership Manager

Term: August 2026-June 2027

Compensation: $32 per hour

FLSA Status: Part-time Seasonal, Non-exempt

Position Description:

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) seeks a seasonal coordinator for the BASE Field Studies program. This outdoor course was developed exclusively for ninth-grade students at Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE), a small public high school supported by a partnership with the Garden. Field Studies supplements the biology curriculum while making use of the environmental and scientific resources of the Garden and nearby Prospect Park; students investigate living organisms and the environmental qualities of aquatic, meadow, and forest ecosystems.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and prepare ninth-grade Field Studies classes, including labs, outdoor investigations, field trips, and final projects.
• Lead the course with support from the BASE science teacher who will assist with lessons and activities.
• Teach two to three weekly, in-person Field Studies sessions outdoors at BBG and Prospect Park and in classrooms at BBG or BASE, September through June.
• Communicate with other staff at BBG to arrange student use of field resources and equipment and manage materials needed for each class session.
• Assist with BASE Garden Crew, an after-school club for BASE students in BBG’s Children’s Garden, in which students’ plant, maintain, and harvest produce in the BASE garden bed and participate in cooking and team-building activities.
• Assist with BASE Green Team, an after-school club for BASE students held at the school in which students plan and participate in environmental campaigns and initiatives at the school and go on outdoor field trips throughout the city and hiking upstate New York. This club is also supported by a BASE teacher.
• Support all BASE science department teachers in planning and assisting with science investigations at BBG and with field trips to other organizations throughout the city (e.g., American Museum of Natural History, DEP Wastewater Treatment Plant).
• Assist the BASE partnership manager with schoolwide events and partnership activities including the development of sustainability initiatives.

Work Schedule:

• Fall Term: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, late August to January
• Spring Term: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, mid-January to end of May/early June

This includes approximately one week of planning time in August/September before the course starts and a week of wrap-up in June; the position does not work on school holidays.

Work Environment:

• Classes are held primarily outdoors, in all weather, on the grounds at BBG and at various locations in Prospect Park (Lullwater, Meadow, etc.). At times class locations may shift due to public use of these spaces.
• The coordinator prepares class materials to bring into the field and sets up learning spaces outdoors.
• Classrooms at BBG are also used to introduce lessons/activities, and in case of inclement weather. Classrooms at BASE may be used as well.
• Coordinator is assigned a desktop computer and workspace in the Education office at BBG for lesson preparation and planning.

Qualifications:

• BS or BA in natural sciences, environmental studies, education, or a related field preferred
• Experience directly teaching adolescents
• Experience teaching in an outdoor setting
• Ability to obtain security clearance as per Department of Education regulations for working with students

Benefits:

• BBG offers certain benefits to part-time employees including:
  
  • NYC Protected Time-Off: up to 56 hours of paid leave and 32 hours of unpaid leave
  • Short-term disability/New York Paid Family Leave
    
• As a 501(c)3, BBG is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer.
• Museum Pass, which provides employees the opportunity to enter many museums in New York City for free
• Free Garden admission for employee plus one guest
• Employee discount at BBG’s retail shop and food venues

To be considered for this position, please submit an application by clicking Apply below.  Applications submitted without a résumé and cover letter will not be considered.

No telephone calls for position inquiries, please. Applicants with disabilities who need assistance with the online system, or who may require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, should contact Human Resources at View email address on ziprecruiter.com. 

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.