RECRUITING NOW!
Silicon Valley Climate Corps
Full time positions starting October 2025 - September 2026
Become a Climate Corps member serving in San Jose and the greater Santa Clara Valley.
Full-time commitment: 40 hours per week (7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday - Friday; 7:00AM-3:30/4PM Saturday).
Receive a $35,000 living stipend and $10,000 educational award upon completion of the term.
ABOUT OUR CITY FOREST: Our City Forest has been the leading urban forestry non-profit in the San José area since 1994. Our mission is to cultivate a green and healthy Silicon Valley by engaging community members in the appreciation, protection, growth, and maintenance of our urban ecosystem, especially our urban forest.
POSITION SUMMARY
Our City Forest (OCF) Service Team Members are sponsored in part by the National Service organization, AmeriCorps, and are expected to commit to a term of service. Team Members will have training at the beginning of the term. Each Team Member will be assigned to a primary team, but will support other groups when needed throughout the year. The teams are: Planting, Tree Care, and Community Nursery.
All members will:
Be trained on the best practices of maintaining a green and healthy urban forest in the Silicon Valley.
Strive to build capacity in the community and maximize volunteer participation in their individual programs, acting as coaches and coordinators.
Provide friendly, professional customer service to community members.
Act as OCF ambassadors and pass along potential greening opportunities to OCF managers and technicians.
Train and engage with volunteers of all ages and abilities.
Database volunteer hours and events.
Nursery Team responsibilities and tasks (85-90% field, 10-15% office; approx. 7-9 members):
Implement best nursery care practices as assigned by the Nursery Management team, including but not limited to invasive species removal and executing best watering techniques for nursery plants.
Learn and implement best pruning and care techniques for young trees and shrubs in containers.
Maintain the Nursery’s tree and shrub inventory system.
Propagate, cultivate, and transplant shrubs, grasses, and trees.
Train and engage with volunteers of all ages and abilities roughly three days a week.
Assist the team with special community events.
Planting Team responsibilities and tasks (85% field, 15 office; approx. 8-10 members)
Work outside with team and volunteers at least once a week, planting trees in neighborhoods, schools, and parks.
Participate in fieldwork necessary for projects and project day execution.
Assist residents with tree planting and maintenance needs; provide excellent and professional customer service to accommodate their requests.
Educate residents on best water-wise landscaping and planting practices.
Organize planting projects, call and email qualified residents and go on-site visits.
Correspond and schedule appointments with community members about their planting; plan logistics and enter data for each tree planting project.
Tree Care Team responsibilities and tasks (80% field, 20% office; approx. 2-4 members)
Work outside caring for newly planted trees.
Participate in fieldwork necessary for project preparation, and project day execution.
Assist residents with tree planting and maintenance needs; provide excellent and professional customer service to accommodate their requests.
Educate residents on best water-wise landscaping and planting practices.
Correspond with community members and residents and provide tree care resources.
Schedule tree assessments for newly planted trees.
Conduct grassroots community outreach and organizing such as neighborhood door-knocking and calling schools and churches to advertise services.
Train and correspond with volunteers of all ages and abilities.
Database volunteer hours and events.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
U.S. Citizen, legal or permanent resident, with a high school diploma or equivalent, minimum age: 18
Ability to safely lift 50lbs.
Ability to work in the field thRough outdoor activities.
Ability to work well with diverse groups of people.
Must be available to work full time, 7:30 am - 4 pm, Tuesday - Saturday (shifts may start earlier, depending on team’s needs)
Must be able to commit through the end of the service term
Agree to complete a fingerprint-based (livescan) background check and Truescreen (name verification) background check
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Strong written & oral communication skills
A college degree is highly desirable
Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin speakers interested in reaching out to the communities of San José
Local, Bay Area residents are preferred, but all are welcome to apply (Note: we do not provide housing)
Valid driver’s license. Proficient in driving a manual transmission and towing small trailers
Familiar with ornamental and native tree and shrub species identification
Knowledge or experience working with irrigation
Experience with landscape design and/or landscaping
Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe CS, Sketch Up software knowledge
Graphic design, app development, programming, or website maintenance experience
Application Timeline:
Submit application through OCF Interest Form or AmeriCorps Website
Application Screening. If application requirements are met, OCF will reach out to schedule a virtual or in-person initial interview within 5-7 business days*
Virtual or In Person interview with 1-2 OCF staff (30-45 minutes)
Applicant will hear back on application status within 5-7 business days*. Those continuing should ensure an application has been submitted through the AmeriCorps Website
Applicants will complete the Background Check Authorization Form. Fieldprint and Truescreen background checks will be conducted (allow a minimum of 2 weeks)
Applicant will receive final application determination from OCF staff within 5-7 business days*
*timeline will depend on number of applications received
Application Deadlines:
October Orientation Application Deadline 09/15/2025
Applications received after 09/15/2025 may be considered based on availability. Please note the applicant’s start date may be delayed.
Our City Forest provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Our City Forest complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, college, and training.
AmeriCorps members at Our City Forest have a right to reasonable accommodations for any disability. If a member has a mental or physical disability or medical condition and needs accommodation made at his/her service site in order to perform the assigned responsibilities, the member should let the Host Agency AmeriCorps Program Manager know.