Volunteer Humane Educator & Youth Opportunities Manager

Job Title: Volunteer Humane Educator & Youth Opportunities Manager

Humane Education: The OHS Humane Educator is responsible for planning and facilitating educational programs for clubs and classrooms of children and adults to support and develop awareness in animal welfare.

The Humane Education staff create and publish e-booklets on companion animal care, wildlife, and conservation of the environment for schools and families and develop simple-to-do, but important activities for elementary students to complete in class with teacher and volunteer guidance to enhance awareness of animal issues in the community and promote community science.

Youth Opportunities: Create and monitor opportunities published on the OHS website for youth to participate in for community service hours, as well as communicate with youth volunteers and their families.

OHS Mission Statement:

Ohlone Humane Society strives to inspire respect and compassion for all animals, advocate for their interests and welfare, and instill in our community that all living beings have a right to be treated humanely. Ohlone Humane Society is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that serves the Tri-City area in the East Bay. We care for animals and the community through humane programs and services. Ohlone Humane Society is privately funded and relies on the generous support of our community through donations and volunteering.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Coordinate Kind News magazine subscriptions that OHS sponsors for any K-6 classroom in Fremont, Newark, or Union City by sending out letters in April when subscriptions are being collected for next school term, collect names and organize by school, age, magazine grade level, and submit to RedRover.org for invoice. Submit invoice to treasurer when received for payment. Continue to monitor any requests or comments from teachers and classrooms re: subscriptions during the year.
• Support OHS programs by creating e-booklets, worksheets, flyers and award programs for families and students on companion animal care, animal sentience, wildlife, community animals and issues, conservation of habitats and the environment.
• Attempt to get stories and photos from managers re: recent rescues or animal highlights for inclusion into booklets.
• Recruit and supervise additional team volunteers to coordinate projects and prepare classroom presentations.
• Produce and assemble grab ‘n go packets on animal education and deliver to public libraries or interested groups.
• Create and email simple, easy to do activity proposals/lesson plans for teachers and their students.
• Plan and purchase supplies to include in OHS Eco Activity kit presentations for classrooms, if desired.
• Work with youth, teachers, school personnel, library personnel and other programs to develop materials for the public.
• Coordinate language translators for Humane Ed materials and OHS media, if desired.
• Prepare a monthly report and metrics for the board.
• Respond to queries for volunteer positions for Humane Education and youth opportunities listed on the website.
• Arrange printing of educational materials for events if needed or requested by program managers.
• Prepare budget and monitor expenses for Humane Education.
• Work with fundraising to apply to grants or develop letters of intent for funding any new or various projects.

Skills/Competencies/Requirements:

• Able to interact effectively and patiently through email, phone or in person with families, students, and educators
• Have writing skills to explain complex animal welfare issues to elementary students, middle school, or high school students, families from various cultures,
• Familiarity with Google workspace and graphics programs like Canva to create publications
• Background check may be necessary
• OHS Volunteer application and orientation
• OHS Youth protection training

Who should apply:

• High school degree minimum and at least 18 years of age with advanced courses in biological or life sciences, animal/life science, education, ecology, or conservation activities
• Passion and interest in educating the community about animal issues, awareness of the biosphere and animal and habitat conservation
• Prior experience as an elementary classroom teacher or community educator preferred

Required time expected:

• At will and virtual for most of the background work
• Some classroom onsite visits preferable or develop and recruit other volunteers to present to classrooms, if possible upon request
• Virtual training provided