Teaching Assistant – Environmental Conservation Program
HFM BOCES Career and Technical Education Center
Help Develop the Next Generation of Environmental and Natural Resource Professionals
Do you have a passion for the outdoors, natural resources, conservation, and mentoring young people? HFM BOCES is seeking an energetic, safety-conscious, and student-focused Teaching Assistant to support our Environmental Conservation Program.
This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside experienced educators, conservation professionals, employers, and community partners while helping students prepare for careers in forestry, natural resource management, wildlife conservation, landscaping, heavy equipment operation, environmental services, and related fields.
As a Teaching Assistant, you will help students develop the technical skills, environmental awareness, professionalism, safety practices, and work ethic needed to succeed in today's conservation and natural resource industries. Your support will help create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences in the classroom, laboratory, shop, and outdoor field environments.
Position Responsibilities
- Assist the Environmental Conservation instructor with daily classroom, laboratory, shop, and outdoor field instruction.
- Support students during hands-on activities involving forestry, natural resource management, wildlife and habitat conservation, land management, landscaping, equipment operation, and environmental stewardship.
- Assist students with the safe and proper use of hand tools, power equipment, forestry tools, landscaping equipment, and other equipment utilized within the Environmental Conservation Program.
- Help prepare tools, equipment, materials, instructional areas, and outdoor learning environments for daily activities and projects.
- Reinforce proper personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment operation, job-site safety, and industry-standard safety practices.
- Assist in maintaining a safe, clean, organized, and functional classroom, shop, equipment storage, and outdoor instructional areas.
- Support students individually and in small groups under the direction of the instructor.
- Assist students with identifying trees, plants, wildlife, soils, and other natural resources while reinforcing principles of conservation and responsible land management.
- Support field-based projects involving forestry, trail development, habitat improvement, landscaping, land maintenance, and other conservation-related activities.
- Reinforce workplace readiness skills including teamwork, communication, professionalism, dependability, problem-solving, time management, leadership, and safety awareness.
- Assist with student projects, career and technical student activities, competitions, field trips, industry visits, community projects, and work-based learning experiences.
- Help students understand career pathways, certifications, post secondary opportunities, and employer expectations within environmental conservation and natural resource industries.
- Collaborate with conservation organizations, municipalities, environmental agencies, forestry professionals, landscaping businesses, equipment professionals, and other industry partners to enhance student learning.
- Encourage student engagement, responsibility, environmental stewardship, confidence, and career exploration.
- Assist with the transportation, setup, inspection, cleaning, and storage of tools and equipment as appropriate.
- Perform other duties related to the Environmental Conservation Program as assigned by the instructor or CTE administration.
Why Join HFM BOCES?
- Inspire and mentor students exploring careers connected to conservation, forestry, natural resources, equipment operation, landscaping, and the environment.
- Work in a Career and Technical Education environment where students learn through authentic, hands-on experiences.
- Spend time supporting instruction both indoors and outdoors, helping students apply classroom concepts in real-world environments.
- Build relationships with conservation organizations, employers, municipalities, environmental agencies, forestry professionals, and other industry partners throughout the region.
- Help students develop the technical and employability skills employers expect from the next generation of workers.
- Support workforce development efforts that directly impact local employers and communities throughout the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery region.
- Be part of a collaborative educational team dedicated to helping students discover their talents, develop confidence, and successfully transition into employment, postsecondary education, apprenticeships, or additional training.
Make an Impact Beyond the Classroom
At HFM BOCES, the Environmental Conservation Program is about more than learning how to operate equipment or work outdoors. It is about helping students understand the responsibility that comes with managing and protecting our natural resources.
Students develop technical knowledge while learning safety, environmental stewardship, teamwork, problem-solving, responsibility, communication, and leadership—skills that will serve them throughout their careers.
As a Teaching Assistant, you will play an important role in helping students gain confidence, develop industry-ready skills, work safely and responsibly, and discover the many career opportunities available in environmental conservation and natural resource industries.
Join Our Team
If you are passionate about the outdoors, conservation, natural resources, hands-on learning, and helping young people achieve their goals, we encourage you to apply and become part of the HFM BOCES Environmental Conservation Program.
Help us prepare the next generation of conservation professionals, forestry workers, equipment operators, landscapers, natural resource technicians, environmental professionals, and skilled workers while making a lasting impact on students and the regional workforce.
Salary commensurate with experience.
Desired Qualifications
- New York State Teaching Assistant Certification, or ability to obtain appropriate certification.
- Experience in environmental conservation, forestry, natural resources, landscaping, agriculture, heavy equipment operation, wildlife management, property maintenance, outdoor recreation, or a related occupational field preferred.
- Experience safely operating or working around tools, power equipment, landscaping equipment, forestry equipment, or heavy equipment preferred.
- Knowledge of workplace, equipment, and outdoor safety practices.
- Ability and willingness to work in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions as required by program activities.
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with students, instructors, staff, employers, and community partners.
- Ability to model professionalism, dependability, safe work practices, and environmental responsibility.
- Passion for mentoring young people and supporting student success.
TEACH Clearance
Per Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving direct contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required. Formal job offer/selection is contingent on the candidate's ability to obtain fingerprint security clearance through the TEACH system prior to working.
For more information:
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tsei/ospra/
Equal Opportunity / Non-Discrimination
HFM BOCES is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, admissions and employment. HFM BOCES does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious practice, national origin, ethnic group, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, disability, weight or any other basis prohibited by New York State and/or federal nondiscrimination laws in its programs and activities, including admissions and employment, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.Inquiries regarding the BOCES nondiscrimination policies should be directed to Dr. Aaron Bochniak (abochniak@hfmboces.org), Deputy Superintendent for BOCES (HFM BOCES, 2755 State Highway 67, Johnstown, NY 12095. Inquiries may also be addressed to the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, 646-428-3800, OCR.NewYork@ed.gov.