Job Description

Native Plant Salvage Foundation (NPSF) is recruiting an enthusiastic and diligent AmeriCorps Member to support our hands-on environmental educational activities for people of all ages. This position will serve NPSF through Washington Service Corps for a 10.5-month commitment beginning on September 1, 2023.  

We seek someone who is an enthusiastic learner ready for new challenges that will develop a range of skills, and enjoys working in a team but who is independently driven and comfortable managing specific projects with minimal supervision but regular communication.

Our activities take place in a fast-paced environment, with multiple projects often occurring simultaneously and in different locations in the South Salish region (mostly in Thurston County)  and occasionally in other locations in Washington state.

Term of Service & Coordination: The term of service will be from September 1, 2023-July 15, 2024. If successful, you will serve as part of a two-person staff team (with your supervisor, the program lead) to carry out all the activities of the WSU Water Resources Program and its non-profit arm, NPSF. You will collaborate with a team of dedicated volunteers under the direction of the program lead and a board of directors.

NPSF supports WSU Thurston County Extension’s Native Plant Salvage Project/Water Resources Program in protecting water resources and fish and wildlife habitat. NPSF builds community capacity through extensive volunteer-based activities, as well as field-based and classroom/web trainings. Audiences include urban, suburban and rural residents, with some emphasis in this service term on rural/agricultural landowners; highly motivated volunteers seeking to make a difference in their community; members of specific professions, such as Realtors and landscaping professionals; and local K-12 and college teachers and students.

Our organization has successfully mentored 19 previous AmeriCorps members who have gone on to successful careers in ecology, environmental education, sustainable horticulture, agriculture, planning, field biology, parks, and planning, working with government agencies, social-justice work, mental-health counseling, local and international NGOs, land trusts, and private businesses. NPSF puts special emphasis on recruiting, retaining, and nurturing dependable volunteers of all ages. Hundreds of volunteers annually participate in NPSF’s mission to provide hands-on education to protect and conserve water resources and habitat from the South Sound prairies to the shores of the Salish Sea.

Our year-round schedule includes a range of activities, such as:

• Native plant salvage events: recovering plants from future development sites (winter)
• Nursery activities: propagating & maintaining plants and nursery infrastructure (year-round)
• Education, technical support & field work as part of new initiative to support hands-on education for implementation of rural hedgerows (year-round)
• Revegetation/habitat restoration on public and private properties (fall-spring)
• Installing green stormwater retrofit projects (primarily as part of rain garden & sustainable-landscaping trainings (fall/spring)
• Foundation fundraisers: plant sales, garden opens, and other events to sustain operations
• Multi-season native plant ID field workshops
• Webinars/workshops to teach techniques in water-resources protection, hedgerow implementation, sustainable landscaping, revegetation, & green-stormwater techniques
• Webinars/workshops for specialized professional and key-volunteer audiences

Position Duties: Our AmeriCorps member supports the WSU programs and the volunteer NPSF board of directors by facilitating most public communications and promotion of activities, and by supporting field work and learning events. Basic duties include:

• Manage publicity and outreach for NPSF events, using all available media options
• Maintain and update the NPSF website to: provide broad access to NPSF’s educational resources, expand & enhance online educational offerings, communicate activities to the general public, and recruit volunteers & learners
• Collaborate in developing and refining teaching strategies and visual educational material for a range of online & in-person trainings
• Recruit adult and youth service-learners/volunteers
• Track, organize and report documents for volunteers, donations, and learning events
• Maintain and improve communication with and recognition of volunteers and supporters
• Plan, assist onsite, and clean up from all field events
• Maintain NPSF Nursery inventory, tools, and work truck with support from adult and youth volunteers

Desired Traits and Skills: We seek someone who is committed to working with community members of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to improve the environment. The successful candidate will ideally have many of the following attributes:

• Interest in and/or actual experience working in environmental education, botany, natural landscaping, water resources, ecological restoration, communications, or related field
• Precise and creative written, oral and visual communication skills, including attention to detail, especially in spelling, grammar, and numbers
• Experience recruiting, supporting, or managing volunteers. In lieu of this: experience as a community volunteer
• Ability to independently manage projects of various sizes, while providing regular progress reports to supervisor, funding partners and the BOD
• Interest in leading small research projects
• Have developed a portfolio of attractive and informative public-outreach materials for print and/or web distribution, including social media and video projects; capacity to edit video content especially desired
• Knowledge of computer skills with basic applications in Google & Microsoft suites
• Experience with or keen ability to learn website management (Squarespace) routines and using online marketing platforms (CRM, Facebook, Insta, Mailchimp, Twitter, etc.) for communication with organizational members, volunteers, & members of the public
• Ability to do physically demanding work (lifting, using tools, hauling potted plants) in all types of weather
• Capacity to be flexible and cheerful with shifting priorities, and to juggle competing priorities
• Open to a work plan that mixes indoor administrative & creative work (60-70%) with outdoor field work (30-40%)
• Evidence of strong work ethic and independent motivation to accomplish goals
• B.A./B.S. with preference for broad liberal arts background, or with emphasis in fields noted above

Benefits:

• Living stipend of $2,171 to $2,548/month, plus eligible to apply for food assistance through DSHS
• Post-service Education Award of $6,895 for prior qualifying student loans or future education upon successful completion of required service hours and term
• Basic health insurance (including mental health, but not including vision or dental)
• Covered by Labor & Industries insurance
• Availability of work vehicle for projects
• Free public transit in Thurston County
• Childcare costs covered, if eligible
• Members with student loans can apply to have qualifying loans put into forbearance during service period and payment of up to 100% of the interest that accrues on qualified student loans during service term
• Training in: Four-season native plant identification; habitat requirements of numerous plant species; native plant propagation; revegetation techniques; strategies for protecting water resources; volunteer management; leadership and skill-building trainings provided by Department of Employment Security/Washington Service Corps; and additional opportunities in relevant areas of interest to successful applicant
• Enhance skills in website management and marketing, project management, creation of educational materials, teaching, public speaking, social outreach, marketing, interpersonal communication and organizational management

For complete listing, please see this link.

How to Apply

Email a letter (see below) outlining your interest in this position, including (1) how your background has prepared you for this position and (2) how you hope this experience will enhance your future work or educational plans.

Attach a current resume and any other materials (writing samples, narrative evaluations, educational or artistic materials, etc.) that might support your application. Letters of support are desirable—they should provide evidence of successful past projects or work that required cooperation, clear communication skills, and strong organizational skills. 

Email your letter and associated material to: Erica Guttman, WSU Extension Water Resources/Native Plant Salvage Foundation, at erica@nativeplantsalvage.org.  Feel free to contact Erica by email with questions prior to submitting your application.

All qualified applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We do not discriminate based on sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, Veteran status, or other protected classes.

This position will be open until filled. We will conduct interviews in summer 2023; interview timing will be based on finding suitable applicants.

Job Categories: Ecology. Job Types: Temporary. Job Tags: environmental education, habitat, native plants, and water resources. Salaries: 20,000 - 40,000.

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