Serve the Community through the
Our City Forest AmeriCorps Program!

Full Time AMERICORPS Positions ($15,000 stipend/$5,500 ed award) -- September, 2013 through early August 2014. (must be available the full time of service).

Our City Forest is recruiting full-time AmeriCorps members for the service positions listed below. The focus of this program is to organize neighborhood and school tree care and tree planting projects, promote environmental education, and recruit and train volunteers.

Our City Forest is a non-profit urban forestry and environmental action organization.  During this year of service, AmeriCorps members will directly contribute to the mission of creating a greener and healthier community.  The Our City Forest AmeriCorps program mobilizes people from all walks of life for a year of full-time environmental service, giving them the skills and opportunities needed to create change. As environmental educators and hands-on coaches, these young leaders are cultivating greener and healthier schools and neighborhoods throughout San José and Silicon Valley.

To apply:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Complete applications must include: 1) resume, 2) cover letter, and 3) contact information for three professional references—at least one reference must be a supervisor.

Click here to download the questionnaire.

Positions Available:

Field Specialist:

Field team members will build capacity to in the community, engaging volunteers and residents in cultivating plants at our nursery, or planting and caring for trees in neighborhoods, schools and parks.  Members will build commitment with existing volunteers, and recruit and engage new ones.  Field specialists will strive to maximize volunteer participation in their programs, acting as trainers, coaches, schedulers, and project planners.  Members will be trained on urban forestry best practices and provide quality control and supervision for volunteers.

Members will provide friendly, professional customer service, and will organize and implement projects.  This entails office work such as correspondence, scheduling appointments, planning logistics, and detailed data entry, as well as field work necessary for project preparation, and project day execution.  Proportion of field to office work varies with program assignment. Planting program specialists will actively seek opportunities for greening projects, and conduct outreach efforts to residents and businesses to garner investment and stewardship. Some members will work exclusively at the OCF community nursery, cultivating and caring for young trees.  Technical training and experience gained as a Field Specialist will help make members eligible for arborist certification (individuals will need additional education and/or experience for certification).

Environmental Education and Outreach Specialists:

These positions demand excellent customer service skills, the ability to recruit and manage volunteers, and engage in large project coordination with members of the community.  They are also responsible for conducting classroom and community presentations, and representing Our City Forest at various community outreach events. Individual team members will assist with a variety of these duties, but each individual will have a focus area.  Candidates must be passionate about the importance of educating the public on environmental issues.

Publications and Graphics: 

The publications and graphics team is responsible for preparing, printing, and distributing educational materials related to the urban forest.  This includes the design of new materials, overseeing translation of existing materials, and updating literature as necessary.  One position in this department must have graphic design skills; InDesign, Photoshop, and Adobe suite knowledge are a mandatory.  The ideal candidate for these positions would be organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in an office setting.

Volunteer Coordinating Specialists:

These positions demand excellent customer service skills, the ability to recruit and manage volunteers, and engage in large project coordination with members of the community.  They are also responsible for conducting classroom and community presentations, and representing Our City Forest at various community outreach events. Individual team members will assist with a variety of these duties, but each individual will have a focus area.  Candidates must be passionate about the importance of educating the public on environmental issues.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in affecting change through community organizing
• Ability to work well with diverse groups of people
• Must be available to work full-time Tuesday - Saturday (part time positions exempt)
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident, with a high school diploma or equivalent
• Minimum age: 18

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS – one or more of the following:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Vietnamese, or other
• College degree is highly desirable
• Valid CA drivers license
• Proficient in driving manual transmission and towing small trailers
• Current Commercial drivers license (to drive Tree Mobile for community events)
• Familiar with ornamental and native tree species ID FileMaker Pro & Adobe software knowledge
  
• FileMaker Pro and Adobe software knowledge
  

2012-2013 AmeriCorps Members and Staff