Director of preK-12 Education

The University of Virginia's Blandy Experimental Farm (BEF) seeks a full-time Director of preK-12 Education. As a member of the BEF leadership team, the Director of preK-12 Education plays a significant role in supporting BEF's mission to advance understanding of the natural world through research, education and public outreach. The Director of preK-12 Education is responsible for the overall planning, development, and administration of BEF's education programs for students and their teachers. This includes promoting and enhancing existing formal science programs, identifying and developing new activities to meet the year-round needs of preK-12 students and their teachers, and leading outdoor-based preK-12 programming both on and off-site. The director of preK-12 Education supervises and provides leadership to education program staff, represents BEF within the formal and environmental education communities, and fosters partnerships with school divisions, state agencies, regional educators, UVA Department of Environmental Science research faculty, and other University departments and schools. 

Blandy Experimental Farm is a 700-acre University of Virginia ecological field station located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, about 10 miles east of Winchester and 60 miles west of Washington, D.C. The State Arboretum of Virginia, situated within Blandy Experimental Farm, is a public garden showcasing more than 5,500 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants across diverse habitats including woodlands, meadows, wetlands, and open fields. BEF’s education programs serve students from public, private, and homeschools across urban, suburban, and rural environments. Each year approximately 6000-6500 students engage in our outdoor-based programs, while 400-600 educators participate in our professional learning experiences. Visit https://blandy.virginia.edu/ to learn more about Blandy Experimental Farm.

Job Description: The Director of preK-12 Education supports the mission of Blandy Experimental Farm in the following areas:

Programs for preK-12 Students, Teachers, and Other Educators

• Determines and develops long- and short-term goals, strategic planning, and program development for the preK-12 education programs
• Designs lessons and curricula for outdoor-based investigations that satisfy grade-specific Virginia Standards of Learning for Science
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with the professional education community including school division science education specialists, education faculty, and professional education and scientific societies
• Designs and instructs unique professional development opportunities for formal and environmental educators
• Prepares annual reports on activities for the Blandy Director, BEF Annual Report, and Foundation of the State Arboretum Board of Directors (FOSA)

Education Team Leadership

• Recruits, hires, and supervises three full-time education staff: a Lead Environmental Educator and two Environmental Educators
• Coordinates activities for all environmental education staff: 3 FT and 2 seasonal (under direct supervision of the Lead Environmental Educator)
• Conducts education staff training and guides staff professional development to advance the mission of the education program
• Works with the Lead Environmental Educator to develop the annual Education Program Catalog and periodic informational brochures to promote programs to the education community

Evaluation and Program Data Management

• Creates, administrators, and analyzes evaluation tools designed to assess program impacts on educators and students
• Serves as the internal evaluator for Blandy’s NSF-funded Research for Undergraduates Program: designs and administers evaluation instruments and prepares annual evaluation reports for the REU program principals

Grant-writing and Budget Management

• Manages the annual BEF Education Program budget, including internal and external funds
• Prepares and submits grant proposals to state and federal agencies and private foundations
• Works with the Foundation of the State Arboretum (FOSA) Director to acquire grants and donations from Foundations and private donors
• Assists Department of Environmental Sciences research faculty to prepare broader impact outreach projects for their research proposals, when requested

In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned by the Director of Blandy Experimental Farm.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: Master's degree or a demonstrated mastery in their specialty area normally signified by significant equivalent experience

Experience: At least five years of experience

Licensure: None

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• A Master’s degree in science or education
• At least 3 years of experience in a leadership position
• At least 3 years of experience teaching preK-12 students and leading professional learning for preK-12 and environmental educators
• Experience designing and writing education activities and programs that align with state and/or national standards
• Experience leading professional learning experiences for formal and environmental educators
• Evidence of successful fund-raising and grant writing and project management
• Proficiency in evaluation practices
• Experience in supervising and mentoring staff
• Experience building successful collaborations

Physical Demands:

Although much of the Director of preK-12 Education’s time will be spent in an office and will involve extensive use of computers, the employee in this position may also teach outdoors in all types of weather, during all seasons of the year. Must be able to stand and move for prolonged periods and walk distances of up to 3 miles/day in various types of terrain (e.g., flat, hilly, sloped, wetlands, forest, meadow). The employee in this position will be expected to travel to regional and national meetings.

More Information:

This position is at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, VA.

The anticipated salary range is $65,000 - $74,000, commensurate with education and experience.

This is an exempt level University Staff benefited position. For information on the benefits of being a UVA employee, visit https://hr.virginia.edu/benefits

This position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin 7 March 2025.

This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas and is not eligible for remote work.

The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

Application Instructions:

External applicants must apply online here https://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile, search Find Jobs and then R0069699. Complete an application online and include the following documents:

• Letter of interest
• Resumé or Curriculum vitae
• Portfolio with examples of lessons and/or programs you have created, outlines for professional workshops you have led, evaluation tools created and used, and brief description of past and current collaborations (digital or pdf format)
• Contact information for three professional references

Upload all materials into the resumé submission field. Multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

For questions about this position, contact David Carr, blandy@virginia.edu

For questions about the application process, please contact Rich Haverstrom, rkh6j@virginia.edu

Lecturer - REU Program Coordinator (Faculty Wage)

The University of Virginia seeks a Lecturer to serve as the Coordinator for the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site Program at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce VA. The REU program will run from May 27 – August 1, 2025. This summer program immerses 10 undergraduate students in innovative research projects and guides them toward careers in science by providing trained research mentors and an inclusive, supportive environment that allows students to gain confidence in their abilities. This will be achieved through a combination of welcoming social events, skill-development workshops, high-quality mentoring, and exposure to a complete research experience. In addition to coordinating general program activities, the REU Program Coordinator is expected to closely mentor the research of one student.
 
Blandy Experimental Farm is a 700-acre ecological field station located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, about 10 miles east of Winchester and 60 miles west of Washington, D.C. Its mission is to increase understanding of the natural environment through research and education.

Blandy supports research by providing a wide range of habitats (woodlots, successional fields, pastures, and ponds) and modern facilities (laboratory, greenhouse, housing, and equipment). Blandy is home to a vibrant research community and members of the summer community enjoy a weekly research seminar series and social events.

The REU Program Coordinator is responsible for scheduling and organizing group research, educational, and social activities, leading approximately two field trips, overseeing collaboration between the REU students and Blandy staff, and leading a workshop on Research Ethics. The Coordinator works closely with research faculty and Blandy staff to ensure a safe, inclusive, orderly, and positive experience.

The Coordinator serves as research mentor for one REU student. The process for mentoring includes guiding the development of an innovative research project and closely advising the student through the writing and defending of a research proposal, completion of the research project, and written and oral presentation of findings. A candidate who would use this opportunity to build a productive research program, including encouraging mentees to present their research at scientific conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals, is preferred. While the Coordinator remains responsible for group dynamics throughout the program, time available for research typically increases over the summer due to front-loading of program activities.

The Coordinator’s research will be supported through access to research facilities (laboratory and greenhouse) and a small research budget. The Coordinator will live on-site during the REU program, so faculty housing in a two bedroom cottage is provided.

REU Program Coordinator responsibilities:

• Schedule and organize group educational, research, and social activities.
• Provide orientations to the students on residential life at Blandy, the objectives and format of the program, the process of mentor selection, and other important program elements if needed.
• Lead workshop on Research Ethics.
• Collaborate with faculty to determine the matching of students with mentors.
• Coordinate the guest hosting of visiting seminar speakers by the REU students.
• Lead approximately two outdoor excursions such as hikes or canoeing trips.
• Act as a primary contact for students outside of regular work hours and respond to problems as needed.
• Schedule, organize, and moderate the research forum in which the students give their final research presentations.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Research Mentor responsibilities:

• Mentor one REU student through a complete research experience from the conception of innovative research and study design to the dissemination of results.
• Work with students to resolve problems with research projects as needed.
• Participate in a mentor-training workshop along with other research mentors.

Requirements:

• Master of Science (MS) or terminal degree in biology, ecology, or a related field; Ph.D. is highly preferred.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience working at a field station or similar research facility, and to candidates with teaching and research experience in a higher education setting.
• A successful candidate will be interested in developing a research program at Blandy and will be highly collaborative, able to multi-task, problem solve, and handle multiple competing priorities.
• A well-qualified candidate will have the ability to interact positively with faculty, staff, and students, and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are a must. 

Physical Demands:
This job involves use of a computer, but also requires the ability to walk to field sites outdoors in all weather conditions (extreme heat, humidity, cold, etc.).

Application Instructions:

Apply through Workday https://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en​ and search for R0064611. Submit an application online and attach a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for two professional references (name, address, email address, telephone number).

Application review will begin on 01/15/2025.

This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Questions about this position? Contact Kyle Haynes, haynes@virginia.edu

Questions about the application process? Contact askhr@virginia.edu

Native Plant and Ecological Restoration Internship

The State Arboretum of Virginia, located at the University of Virginia’s historic Blandy Experimental Farm (Boyce, VA), is offering a summer internship focusing on native plant gardening and restoration ecology in a public garden setting. This internship provides the opportunity for hands-on restoration ecology work, as well as native plant and perennial gardening experience. A key part of this internship is the opportunity to develop a personalized project that aligns with both your professional goals as well as the needs of the arboretum.

By the end of the internship, we hope the candidate will develop a strong understanding of both the theoretical framework of ecological restoration as well as the practical steps required to make restoration projects a reality. The candidate will also develop fine gardening skills by working alongside experienced staff to improve the Arboretum’s numerous gardens, which have a special focus on native plants.

The Native Plant and Ecological Restoration Intern will receive a $4,000 stipend paid in two installments during the program

Approximate Breakdown of Internship Responsibilities

• 40% of work time – Develop and work on a personalized project that aligns with your professional interests and the needs of the Arboretum. These projects may incorporate the various tasks outlined below but can also include other elements such as interpretation or public outreach. Examples of possible projects include creating and executing an ecological restoration plan for a given area, close studies of garden performance and ecological benefits of specific native plants, or development of interpretive materials for the Native Plant Trail.
• 25% of work time - Gardening-related tasks in the native plant trail and perennial gardens, working alongside volunteers and staff. Tasks may include weeding, planting, watering, mulching, and other plant care.
• 20% of work time – Invasive plant species control in wild and natural spaces. Tasks may include pulling/digging out weeds, learning to properly use a hand saw or chainsaw to remove small trees, learning to properly operate a riding mower or tractor with bush-hog attachment.
• 15% of work time - Assisting curatorial staff with data collection on the Native Plant Trail and in other natural spaces at Blandy. Tasks may include laying out plots in grassland, shrubland, and forested areas, learning to correctly identify plants and estimate their coverage, and organizing and digitizing data collected from the field.

Qualifications

Be enrolled in a degree program or have a degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Plant Science, Horticulture, or related field. Demonstrate curiosity about the natural world and an interest in native plants or restoration ecology.

Physical Demands

• Ability to perform moderate physical labor including standing, bending, kneeling, and working outdoors in various weather conditions.

More information

• Internship will run from May 27th to July 18th (holidays off for Juneteenth, Thursday 6/19 and Independence Day, Friday 7/4)
• The intern will be expected to work 40 hours per week, from 8:30 to 5. Some flexibility in start and end times is expected due to scheduled activities and weather conditions.
• Dormitory style housing may be available on site.
• Travel expenses are not covered and are the responsibility of the selected intern.

Application Process and Timeline

Applications are due by midnight, March 23.

Please email applications to jackmonsted@virginia.edu with Internship in the subject line, and attach the following materials:

• Resume detailing school and employment history, as well as relevant volunteer or extracurricular experience.
• Cover Letter – In a 1-page cover letter, please answer the question: If you were a plant that’s native to your home region, which one would you be and why? Try to tie in things that make you uniquely qualified for this internship and showcase your skills and interests.

All questions and inquiries can be sent to Jack Monsted at jackmonsted@virginia.edu