Climate and Food Education Coordinator Part-time

Job Description

Job Description Summary

This position will support high school students in learning about food, agriculture, and natural resources, and the impact of climate change on these topics.  This education coordinator will work closely with educators at Grand Junction High School and Colorado State University to connect classroom learning with real-world impacts and research. The coordinator will work independently and with teams to: (1) teach concepts of climate change and its impact on food, agriculture, people and communities to a cohort of students interested in achieving the Climate Literacy Seal of Endorsement; (2) support students in completing discipline-relevant co-curricular academic projects such as research capstones, service projects, and the GROW Youth Institute; and (3) help students connect classroom content to academic disciplines and career pathways. This position has guaranteed funding for two years and is eligible for CSU benefits.

The Western Colorado Research Center (WCRC) is part of a network of research centers throughout the state. WCRC includes the WCRC-Orchard Mesa (OM) located 7 miles southeast of Grand Junction. The research conducted at this site includes tree fruits, wine grape production, and ornamental horticulture. OM is also the primary site utilized by the Community Alliance for Education and Hunger Relief, an initiative that engages the broader western Colorado community in food insecurity and agriculture literacy.

Full Consideration Date: Monday, 7/20/2026, 11:59pm (MT)

Essential Job Duties:

• Education:
  • Develop and co-teach lessons and curriculum that support learning about climate change and its impact on food, agriculture, natural resources, people and communities.
  • Support students completing co-curricular projects, including connecting students with CSU and local community resources to increase the understanding of local impacts and research in food, agriculture, and climate change.
  • Create educational materials with CSU staff and develop lessons that expand student awareness of academic disciplines and career pathways.
  • Support hands-on learning in food and agriculture to students on summer field trips to the CSU Western Campus.
• Outreach:
  • Collaborate with CSU to support other high schools and Mesa County Valley School District to increase student participation in the Climate Literacy Seal of Endorsement and the Colorado GROW Youth Institute.
• Communication:

• • Document lessons and curriculum for use by educators in Mesa County Valley School District, CSU staff, and/or community partners.
  • Communicate impact of programming with schools, CSU, and program funders.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires)
• Valid driver's license by employment start date or ability to commute to job sites.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of this position which includes occasional heavy lifting (up to 30 lbs.), manual dexterity, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching and handling during the summer.
• Work locations are at Grand Junction High School and CSU Western Campus.  Occasional travel to other high schools in Mesa County.
• Authorized to work in the United States by employment start date.

Supervision: N/A

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education & Experience: B.S or B.A. degree in biological, agricultural, natural resource, or climatology science or a B.S or B.A. degree in education. One year of experience in educational settings with high school students, with preferred experience teaching in a classroom setting.
• Leadership & Organization: Ability to work collaboratively with different teams. Skills in leadership and program development. Ability to document and organize lessons and curricula for others to use. Experience in developing collaborations with community organizations to design or implement educational programs.
• Pedagogical and Interpersonal Skills: Ability to learn new information from educational resources and community partners and convey information to students. Ability to design and implement lessons tailored to diverse learning styles and education goals. Ability to evaluate lessons and curricula for efficacy in achieving learning outcomes. Good interpersonal skills to support students in designing and completing co-curricular academic projects related to climate and food security.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in collaborating with community organizations to design and implement experiential education programs.
• Experience designing and implementing assessments for student learning and program efficacy.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.