Post job

How to hire a natural resources instructor

Natural resources instructor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring natural resources instructors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a natural resources instructor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new natural resources instructor to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a natural resources instructor, step by step

To hire a natural resources instructor, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a natural resources instructor:

Here's a step-by-step natural resources instructor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a natural resources instructor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new natural resources instructor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a natural resources instructor do?

Natural Resources Instructors are responsible for teaching natural resources management courses as part of a community organization or educational institution. Their duties include developing the course syllabus, conducting subject research, performing student progress evaluations, and producing educational materials. Besides that, they are involved in conducting outreach activities, creating content for marketing, maintain student records, produce reports, attend meetings, and facilitate course orientation. Natural resources instructors also manage the procurement of supplies and supervise off-campus educational activities.

Learn more about the specifics of what a natural resources instructor does
jobs
Post a natural resources instructor job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the natural resources instructor you need to hire. Certain natural resources instructor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A natural resources instructor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, natural resources instructors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of natural resources instructors.

    Type of Natural Resources InstructorDescriptionHourly rate
    Natural Resources InstructorPostsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and career and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.$17-48
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Chemistry
    • Natural Resource Management
    • Ecology
    • GIS
    • GPS
    • Physiology
    • Data Collection
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Children Ages
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage the evolution, implementation, and assessment of the biotechnology program.
    • Utilize geography and GIS skills to plan out restoration work in conservation areas.
    • Practice basic navigation techniques with a compass, maps and GPS
    • Educate campers on hunter education, firearm safety, conservation, ecology, biology and biodiversity.
    • Educate couples on the physiology of the human body emphasizing fertility awareness using the symptom-thermal method.
    • Educate students on benefits of organizational learning with emphasis on leadership, knowledge management, organizational communication and economics.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your natural resources instructor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A natural resources instructor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a natural resources instructor in Iowa may be lower than in Delaware, and an entry-level natural resources instructor usually earns less than a senior-level natural resources instructor. Additionally, a natural resources instructor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average natural resources instructor salary

    $61,082yearly

    $29.37 hourly rate

    Entry-level natural resources instructor salary
    $36,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average natural resources instructor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$79,140$38
    2Ohio$75,264$36
    3Colorado$68,390$33
    4Virginia$63,192$30
    5Washington$52,243$25

    Average natural resources instructor salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Kern Community College District$118,553$57.0059
    2Americorps$61,029$29.3412
    3Indian Health Service$60,358$29.021
    4Associated Recreation Council$50,428$24.2420
    5Tarleton State University$49,888$23.9830
    6Cincinnati Public Schools$36,323$17.467
  4. Writing a natural resources instructor job description

    A natural resources instructor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a natural resources instructor job description:

    Natural resources instructor job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary: $13.00/hour

    ABOUT US

    Schaumburg Park District is an award-winning parks and recreation agency that provides The Schaumburg Park District is an award-winning parks and recreation agency that provides its 80,000 residents with a wide variety of recreational programs, classes, and events, as well as facilities, parks and open spaces! Spring Valley features 135 acres of prairie, woodlands and wetlands, three miles of walking trails, a nature center, an 1880s living history farm and the Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground.


    JOB SUMMARY

    Under the supervision of the Environmental Education Program Supervisor, Nature Center Instructors are responsible for leading environmental education programs for all age and interest groups within the community, with an emphasis on elementary school-aged children. Nature Center Instructors lead educational and hands-on activities related to specific program themes, maintaining the interest of their participants throughout the program. They will assist with program set-up and clean-up, ensuring that program areas are available to be used for other activities. They will work with the supervisor to adapt programs to accurately meet the written program objectives and the needs of the group. They will also attend all trainings pertaining to their job.


    QUALIFICATIONS

    The best applicant will have had some experience in leading either classroom education or informal environmental or outdoor interpretation. They should have a strong interest in nature and enjoy working with children. They must have excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as strong organizational skills. They will be able to work both independently, as well as part of a team. They will be able to work in the out-of-doors in all types of weather. Having previous experience with outdoor program development and presentation is preferred, but not required. Having some knowledge and understanding of Illinois ecosystems, plants, and wildlife is preferred. Having a flexible working schedule is preferred. Possess certification in CPR/AED preferred; training is provided if not certified.

    SCHEDULING & PAY

    This is a part-time position with variable hours (all four seasons available) starting pay is $13.00/hour. Schedule can vary from week to week. Youth group programs generally run 9:00am-2:00pm during weekdays; summer camps run between the hours of 9:00am-4:00pm. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be available and assigned by supervisor.

    PERKS & PRIVILEGES: These are PART-TIME LEVEL 3 positions and are eligible for the following:

    • Free fitness center membership!
    • Free admission to indoor and outdoor pools!
    • One free program registration per season for self or family*! (*see definition*)
    • 10% discount on other program registrations
    • Free paddle boat rental at Volkening Lake!
    • Free open gym admission! And more!


    ** Position will be open until filled. ** Schaumburg Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. **


    Keywords: park, parks, recreation, fun, community, nature, nature center, environment, environmental education, education, classroom, teaching, instructing, elementary education, programs, programming, recreation programming, outdoor programming, outdoors, biology, natural sciences, outdoors, hiking, camp, ecosystems, plants, wildlife, trees, horticulture, flowers

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find natural resources instructors for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your natural resources instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit natural resources instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with natural resources instructor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new natural resources instructor

    Once you've found the natural resources instructor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a natural resources instructor?

Before you start to hire natural resources instructors, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire natural resources instructors pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for natural resources instructors is $61,082 in the US. However, the cost of natural resources instructor hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a natural resources instructor for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $17 and $48 an hour.

Find better natural resources instructors in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring natural resources instructors FAQs

Search for natural resources instructor jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse education, training, and library jobs