Volunteer and Partnerships Coordinator Individual Placement - National Capital Region

Description

Title: Volunteer and Partnerships Coordinator Individual Placement


Location: Based out of Washington, D.C; National Park Service's Invasive Plant Management Team


Dates of Service: July start for 52-week term


Pay: $800/week ($600/stipend + $200/additional benefit)


Status: This is a full-time 40 hour/week, temporary AmeriCorps National Service position.


Questions? Contact View email address on click.appcast.io


Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application. The position listing will remain open until June 15th or until we reach max capacity of applicants.


Appalachian Conservation Corps:


Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.


As an AmeriCorps program, participants commit to a term of service at their placement site in order to gain hands-on experience and a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.


Placement Site:

This member will be placed with the National Capital Region Invasive Plant Management Team (NCR IPMT) and Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). Their joint mission is to minimize the adverse impacts of invasive species on ecosystems throughout the NCR parks and the Metropolitan Washington Region.


Position Summary:

The Volunteer and Partnerships Coordinator will work closely with the National Capital Region Invasive Plant Management Team (NCR IPMT) and the National Capital PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) to help increase volunteer opportunities focused on invasive species prevention, detection, and removal, as well as support a community of practice among invasive species practitioners and Weed Warrior volunteers.


This position will work with existing park staff, partners, and individual volunteers who share similar values and are interested in prevention, detection, and management of invasive species. The Individual Placement will organize, advertise, lead, and track data from a minimum of three invasive plant removal volunteer events per month, including monthly reoccurring events and AmeriCorps National Days of Service. In addition to leveraging the NCR IPMT's existing partnerships and volunteer base, this position will help recruit new partners and volunteers through creative education and outreach opportunities. The ideal candidate should be personable and willing to use a number of different strategies to engage volunteers.


This position requires strong written and communication skills as they will be responsible for consistent communication with NPS staff, partners, and volunteers, including communication about invasive plant species and their impact. Additionally, the intern will create write-ups on Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) plant species to be shared with volunteers via a monthly newsletter and, sometimes, with a larger audience of NPS staff and partners. This position may also be responsible for reviewing and verifying observations of EDRR species submitted by citizen scientists through iNaturalist or other web/mobile applications. Observations of Early Detection species on public lands will be communicated with partners, so they may coordinate appropriate Rapid Response.


This position will be given the opportunity to join the NCR IPMT field crew for field operations and gain experience in field-based plant identification, safe pesticide application, and surveying techniques. The intern will receive training and instruction in these skills. The intern may also have the opportunity to participate in invasive removal, habitat restoration, or other projects led by NPS staff in National Capital Region parks.


The position will be given an opportunity, time, and resources to identify and pursue an independent project linked to invasive species, invasion ecology, or native plant communities. While this position will be very plant focused, the intern will have an opportunity to work on projects related to other taxa. Through this internship we are hoping to train and nurture a new generation of invasive plant professionals who are committed to protecting natural areas across the United States.


Housing is not provided. We are seeking candidates already located in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas.


Minimum Requirements:


To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. In addition, applicants must:

• Possess a valid driver's license
• Have experience identifying plants using botanical keys, or completion of coursework in Botany, Systematic Botany, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, wildlife management or other related fields

• Experience identifying and managing native and invasive plants

• Ability to work in arduous weather on difficult and uneven terrain while carrying up to 45lbs.

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Ability to work independently

• Interest in restoration ecology

• Willing to work on a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

• Ability to speak and provide instruction in front of an audience.

• Commitment to following all NPS and Conservation Legacy safety protocols.

Benefits:

• $800/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $200 additional member benefit)

• $7,395 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1700 hour minimum service term (can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)

• $755 professional development fund

• Option to enroll in health, vision and dental insurance

• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion - noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.

• Federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff

• Member Assistance Program- 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist

• Additional subject-specific certifications and trainings may be offered (Chainsaw training, pesticides, etc)

• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements

• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.


Our Promise:

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.