RECRUITING NOW!
Silicon Valley Climate Corps
Full time positions (September 18th , 2024 - August 16th, 2025)
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 - Saturday).
Receive a $30,000 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 four teams are: Planting, Tree Care, Lawn Busters, 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,
conduct outreach to residents and businesses to educate on best urban forestry practices and the importance of environmental stewardship
provide friendly, professional customer service
actively seek opportunities for greening projects
organize and implement projects
JOB DESCRIPTIONS PER TEAM
The proportion of field-to-office work varies with program and team assignment. Each team will have anywhere between 5-10 members, and different roles will be assigned depending on interests, skills, and the team’s needs as decided by the team manager.
Nursery Team responsibilities and tasks (85-90% field, 10-15% office; approx. 7-9 members):
Propagate and cultivate shrubs, grasses, and trees
Transplant various sizes of trees, shrubs, and grasses
Learn and execute best watering techniques for the nursery plants
Learn and implement best pruning and care techniques for young trees and shrubs in containers
Remove invasive species and implement best nursery care practices assigned by Nursery Manager
Plan weekly workday projects and lead volunteer groups three days a week
Provide friendly customer service to community visitors during weekly open hours, answering questions about trees and shrubs
Maintain tree and shrub inventory system
Recruit, train, and correspond with volunteers of all ages and abilities
Database volunteer hours and events
Assist team with special community events
Organize free community workshops throughout the year
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 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
organize planting projects, call and email qualified residents, go on-site visits, work with city permit office
Correspond and schedule appointments with community members about their planting; plan logistics and enter data for each tree planting project
Conduct classroom and/or community presentations and/or represent Our City Forest at various events
Conduct grassroots community outreach and organizing such as neighborhood door-knocking and calling schools and churches to advertise services
Recruit, train, and correspond with volunteers of all ages and abilities
Database volunteer hours and events
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 classroom and/or community presentations and/or represent Our City Forest at various events
Conduct grassroots community outreach and organizing such as neighborhood door-knocking and calling schools and churches to advertise services
Recruit, train, and correspond with volunteers of all ages and abilities
Database volunteer hours and events
Lawn Busters Team and responsibilities (85% field, 15% office; approx. 4-5 members)
Work outside with team on lawn conversion projects, which include trenching, sheet mulching, irrigation, and plant installation
Create landscape designs for lawn conversion projects
Participate in fieldwork necessary for project preparation, and project day execution
Educate residents on best water-wise landscaping and planting practices
Organize planting projects, call and email qualified residents, go on-site visits, work with city permit office
Conduct classroom and/or community presentations and/or represent Our City Forest at various events
Conduct grassroots community outreach and organizing such as neighborhood door-knocking and calling schools and churches to advertise services
Recruit, train, and correspond with volunteers of all ages and abilities
Database volunteer hours and events
Communications & Outreach Team responsibilities and tasks (50% field, 50% office; approx. 2 members)
Oversee volunteer program and support each team’s volunteer coordinator
Create and maintain relationships with dedicated volunteers called Tree Amigos
Recruit new Tree Amigos and work with Volunteer Program Manager to prepare educational training courses throughout the year.
Sign up, manage tracker, and attend community outreach events; represent Our City Forest at various community outreach events and educate the public on OCF’s mission
Oversee outreach materials stocks and needs
Design flyers and brochures depending on program needs
Assist with the management of the Our City Forest website
Strategize and execute outreach techniques for promoting events, recruiting volunteers, and increasing community interest in our programs/services (i.e. through flyering, social media, newsletters, and/or community meetings)
Complete office tasks such as phone and email correspondence with volunteers and community partners, scheduling appointments or events and planning logistics
Conduct classroom and community presentations, educating on urban forestry and services Our City Forest provides
Plan, implement and assist teams in various projects depending on each program’s needs
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
U.S. Citizen, legal or permanent resident, with a high school diploma or equivalent, minimum age: 18
Interest in affecting change through community organizing
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
Current Commercial driver’s license (to drive Tree Mobile for community events)
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:
Priority Application Deadline: 06/30/2024
General Application Deadline: 08/18/2024
Applications received after 08/18/2024 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.