Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyParks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Office of

TitleEnvironmental Educator 1 (Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center - Long Island)

Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers

Salary Grade14

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $53764 to $68630 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Other (see below)

"Other" Explanation Variable schedule

Hours Per Week 40

Workday

From 8:30 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? No

Location

County Nassau

Street Address Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center

150 Bay Parkway

City Wantagh

StateNY

Zip Code11793

Job Specifics

Duties Description Under the direction and supervision of the Director of the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center the Environmental Educator 1 will manage and develop environmental programming & public events for school, scout, volunteer and camp groups as well as public audiences. In addition, they will provide impromptu pop-up programs at park facilities and supervise permanent and seasonal staff. This role may also require coordinating and supporting environmental educational programs at other parks in the region. Duties will include, but are not limited to:
• Prepare lesson plans/activities for a wide range of ages (i.e., pre-school to senior citizens) and groups (i.e., adults with disabilities and ESL) and develop appropriate teaching aids.
• Prepare reports to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and revise and modify content in response to program needs, changes, deficiencies, and needs of particular groups. Work with Director to incorporate this data for strategic planning.

• Coordinate/schedule with school, scout, and camp staff for visits and/or field trips to the Center.
• All administrative aspects of the program, including hiring paperwork, reporting hours for payroll, staffing, and purchasing supplies.
• Assist in marketing by maintaining the website and calendars, manage social media team in the development of
social media postings to highlight various activities/events and augment in-person education.
• Work with representatives from schools, colleges, organizations, and the public to promote environmental education at park facilities.
• Oversee the upkeep of building, grounds, and facilities in coordination with the maintenance staff, as related to educational programs (i.e., pollinator gardens and Preserve Trails).
• Build relationships with partner organizations to promote citizen science programs at park facilities.
• Oversee and mentor a large seasonal environmental education team and coordinate professional development opportunities for education staff.
• Supervise and train seasonal staff.
• Other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Permanent Competitive Appointment: To be considered for permanent appointment, candidates must be eligible for reassignment, transfer or reinstatement in accordance with Civil Service Law.

For Permanent Non-Competitive NY HELPS Appointment:
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).**

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:
Four years of experience in environmental conservation in a professional or technical capacity or professional teaching of environmental education and one year of experience teaching about or interpreting the natural world.

SUBSTITUTION: An associate degree*** in a related field can substitute for two years of environmental conservation experience; a bachelor’s degree in a related field can substitute for four years of environmental conservation experience.

**For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a permanent non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024 and June 11, 2025. You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective June 12, 2025 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.

***Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.

Additional Comments OPERATIONAL NEEDS:
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license that allows the candidate to legally operate a motor vehicle
• Must have the ability to work with groups of all ages
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply
• Efficient with Excel and Microsoft Office, Square space, Eventbrite, Adobe
• Must have the ability to follow directions and communicate with staff, public, and respond to patrons' concerns or complaints in an effective and positive manner.

BENEFITS INFORMATION:
Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including:
Paid Time Off:
• PEF and CSEA: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
• PEF: Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development.
Health Care Benefits:
• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
Additional Benefits:
• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Paid Parental Leave
Learn more about our benefits for permanent state employees, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.

Appointees who work in Nassau County will receive an additional $4,000 annual downstate adjustment.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

How to Apply

Name Personnel Office

Telephone 6313215871

Fax

Email Address LongIsland.Employment@parks.ny.gov

Address

Street Jones Beach State Park

625 Belmont Ave

City West Babylon,

State NY

Zip Code 11704

 

Notes on ApplyingIf you feel you meet the minimum qualifications and the agency’s operating needs, and are interested in being considered for this vacancy, you can obtain an Employment Application from your local park office, your region’s administrative headquarters or you can download an application from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation by visiting the website https://parks.ny.gov/regions/long-island/default.aspx.

Please forward your application, resume, and transcripts (if applicable) to LongIsland.employment@parks.ny.gov. Please include “Environmental Educator 1 - Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center” in the subject line of your email for consideration.

All qualified persons are invited and encouraged to apply. It is the responsibility of each applicant to describe their experience accurately and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications and agency operating needs.

POSTING DATE: 2/3/2026 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL: 2/17 /2026