Overview
This position is responsible for school and public programming, special events, management of the nature center, care of display animals and natural artifacts, monitoring natural resources, and providing exceptional customer service to park visitors and various user groups. This position is key in coordinating with park employees, volunteers, park partners, park foundation, and other city agencies on planning and developing property support for special events such as day camps, art shows, outreach, volunteer projects, and all interpretive programming at Indy Park locations. Duties may include applying for and managing grants to support park projects. The Naturalist will be responsible for promoting events through social media, newsletters, website, and other marketing tools, in coordination with the Communications and Marketing team. In addition, this position may provide managerial support for a neighborhood park, conducting monthly inspections, communication with maintenance, volunteer projects, responding to inquiries and providing updates. Position reports to Park Manager.
Agency Summary
With over a century of history advancing the value of parks, Indy Parks is committed to protecting and enhancing the community's assets for the future. We will be a leader in making Indianapolis a vibrant, happy, and healthy place to live. By providing premier greenspaces and recreation opportunities, we welcome all residents, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, ability, or identity, to connect to nature, to the community, and to themselves. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.
Position Responsibilities
- Provide excellent customer service by having frequent interaction with park patrons, school staff, park partners, answer questions, field complaints and suggestions
- Assume responsibility for park operations in absence of the Assistant or Park Manager
- Design, develop and implement interpretive programs that are relevant to a variety of age groups
- Research and provide guidance and support to Managers regarding the animals, plants and exhibits in nature centers
- Develop and maintain databases for cataloguing information regarding natural resource management, and program and visitor statistics
- Conduct field trips highlighting scientific, historic, and natural features of the park
- Be knowledgeable, providing accurate information on facility services, programs, schedules, costs, annual pass membership, directions, and park policies
- Answer questions and address issues in a positive, caring manner
- Opening and closing of the buildings according to established procedures
- Accurately complete any required paperwork including but not limited to, dog park applications, annual pass memberships, facility rentals, timecards, inspections, incident reports and bank draft forms
- Responsible for cleanliness and general appearance of work site in order to provide a positive image between department and community
- Report to work on time with a positive, friendly attitude wearing professional attire/uniform and name badge
- Adhere to department policy and procedure, including time off and office policies
- Assist supervisor who recruits, hires, and trains, evaluates, disciplines, and advises on-site personnel and volunteers
- Must be willing to work at all park facilities when needed, including emergency situations
- Monitor park activities and report to Park Manager, Park Rangers, and DPW Maintenance
- Attend meetings and trainings as required
- Respond to safety and emergency situations. Schedule and implement facility rentals
- Must maintain confidentiality at all times
- This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.
Qualifications
Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications
Must have completed at least two (2) years of college OR three years of relevant work experience with focus in natural resources, wildlife ecology or related field or at least three (3) years of relevant work experience. Must be 21 years of age. Ability to develop and present effective presentations to a variety of audiences, and effectively communicate with park visitors, volunteers, co-workers, and the public through verbal and written methods. Knowledge of basic computer programs, cash handling, timecards, and other administrative duties. Must be self-motivated and able to work productively with limited supervision. Must be available to work a flexible schedule: including weekends, evenings, and holidays. to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. Valid driver’s license required. Candidate must be comfortable working within a diverse organization and have a fluency in and commitment to matters of equity and inclusion.
Working Conditions
Work is conducted both indoors and outdoors. Individual needs to be in good physical condition for outdoor recreation activities.
All rates are weekly.
2026 Rate Sheet - To view our rate sheet, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:5e20097e-ebaa-4d21-bbda-dca9a0bec89b
Optional Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month)
Additional
<25-29 $0.058
30-34 $0.083
35-39 $0.099
40-44 $0.132
45-49 $0.223
50-54 $0.363
55-59 $0.600
60-64 $0.795
65-69 $1.329
70 + $2.054
Important Perf Update
- For more information on eligibility options, refer to Proposal 21-288 https://bit.ly/3exq8yR
- All employees hired/rehired after to 1/1/2022 have a choice to select the PERF Hybrid plan (3% + Pension) or the INPRS My Choice: Retirement Savings plan (3% + 1% Contribution). The Hybrid plan consists of two components:
Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.
Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.
- Employees hired/rehired by the City and County between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/2021 will be automatically enrolled in the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan. This plan is an annuity savings account (ASA) only plan and does not have a pension component. Any service that an employee has in the My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan will not count toward the service time requirements for pension eligibility in the Hybrid Plan.
With the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan, the ASA is split up into two parts:
Part one - This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.
Part Two - This Consists Of An Additional Variable Rate Contribution Paid By The City Toward Your ASA. This Variable Rate Contribution Is Currently 1% Of Your Gross Wages. Vesting In The Value Of The Variable Rate Employer Contribution Will Vary By Length Of Participation. You Are
- 20 percent vested after 1 full year of participation
- 40 percent vested after 2 full years of participation
- 60 percent vested after 3 full years of participation
- 80 percent vested after 4 full years of participation
- 100 percent vested after 5 full years of participation
- All employees hired/rehired prior to 1/1/2017 are grandfathered into PERF Hybrid plan. The Hybrid plan consists of two components:
Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.
Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.
- City Employees hired/rehired between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/21 that are members of the City AFSCME labor union can choose to enroll in either the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan or the PERF Hybrid plan. Both plans are described above. Employees have 60 days to choose which option they want, and by state law this cannot be changed. If no choice is made, the employee will then be automatically added to the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan.
The Indiana General Assembly has enacted a provision that allows public employees to make voluntary contributions in addition to the mandatory three percent (3%) contributions. Employees may contribute up to an additional ten- percent (10%) of their compensation per pay period to the annuity savings account. This means that the maximum level of contributions to the annuity savings account under this new provision is thirteen percent (13%) of an employee's compensation per pay period.
Employees who separate from the city within their first ten (10) years of employment need to contact INPRS - PERF regarding their ASA account.
Questions relating to PERF may be directed to INPRS - PERF at:
Indiana Public Retirement System
Public Employees' Retirement Fund
One North Capitol, Suite 001
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(888) 236-3544
