Green Careers

Youth Field Crew Manager

Position Overview

The Watershed Project’s Green Collar Corps (GCC) program provides paid job training and part-time employment for youth and young adults (17-24 years old) in Richmond, San Pablo, and Oakland. The program’s goal is to support personal and professional growth for local young people, especially those who are underrepresented in the environmental field (such as Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color) and who cannot afford to take an unpaid internship opportunity. Created in 2009, our GCC program now usually employs 3-5 young adults annually, giving them the skills and experience they need to pursue environmental or other careers. GCC members are expected to spend at least one academic year with us, and we encourage them to stay longer in order to gain more in-depth experience and leadership opportunities. Members work across all of TWP’s program areas with introductions to diverse environmental careers and hands-on experiences.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Youth Field Crew Manager is the primary field crew leader and supervisor for the GCC youth and young adult members. This role is responsible for recruiting and supporting all GCC members, leading them in field workdays such as planting and cleanups, and leveraging the expertise of TWP program staff to provide relevant training and experience for GCC members. As part of TWP’s restoration team, the Youth Field Crew Manager facilitates volunteer events with the public in addition to overseeing the GCC cohort.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Field Crew Leadership (45%)

• Organize, supervise and participate in field workdays with GCC members, such as restoration (planting, weeding, mulching, watering), trash cleanup, water quality monitoring, field trips with K-12 students, and community events.
• Meet regularly with the Executive Director, Program Director, and Program Managers to identify appropriate and relevant projects that align GCC members’ interests with TWP’s goals.
• Plan and facilitate community volunteer events such as restoration workdays and cleanups.

GCC Program Management (45%)

• Develop materials, conduct outreach, and work with the Executive Director and Program Director to hire a cohort of 5-7 GCC members each year.
• Work with TWP staff and GCC each term to organize members’ schedules such that the GCC commitment does not conflict with other commitments, members experience a variety of hands-on projects and progression toward their individual goals, and at least 2-3 members work together regularly to build community.
• Work with TWP staff to prepare and facilitate regular trainings for GCC members on a variety of topics to facilitate team-building and skills development.
• Evaluate program success through surveys and other feedback, and make adjustments accordingly. Keep track of program activities for grant reports.

Communications and Volunteer Coordination (10%)

• Communicate volunteer opportunities and logistics to the public through flyers, social media, web pages, and other outreach methods.
• Keep track of relationships with volunteers using spreadsheets and/or databases such as Salesforce.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess some of the following knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Passion for outdoor field work and comfort with leading groups in an outdoor setting.
• Passion and experience mentoring, supporting, and working with youth (especially young adults ages 17-24).
• The ability to relate and provide culturally relevant programming to youth from Richmond, San Pablo, and Oakland. An existing relationship to these communities (e.g. someone who has lived or worked here) is a big plus. Must bring experience working with communities of color.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish highly preferred.
• The ability to take individual responsibility and to work effectively as part of a collaborative team, including responsiveness and clear verbal and written communication.
• Flexibility, enthusiasm, dependability, and the ability to work effectively with many different types of people.
• Organization, preparation, and coordination skills.
• Familiarity with or ability to learn computer applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite.

Physical Requirements

• Fingerprinting, TB test, and proof of COVID-19 vaccination required after hire.
• A valid California Driver’s License, clean DMV record, and access to a vehicle is required.
• Work involves walking on uneven or muddy terrain. Work requires squatting and kneeling.
• Frequently lifts, carries and positions objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• CPR and First Aid certification is a plus.

Work Environment and Values

Work is performed in an outdoor and office setting. Office location is at the Richmond Field Station in Richmond, CA, with field sites primarily in West Contra Costa County and Oakland. The Youth Field Crew Manager is expected to live locally and work from the office or field locations as needed, but some tasks may be performed remotely.

TWP is an equal opportunity employer that strives to recruit a diverse workforce and provide an equitable and inclusive workplace for all. We strongly encourage people with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences to apply and thrive within our growing team. We seek qualified and passionate individuals regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, cultural background, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, military obligations, national origin, parental status, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or veteran status.

Compensation

This is a full-time, Salary Exempt position with a salary of $50,000-$53,000 per year. The Watershed Project offers excellent benefits, including:

• Medical and dental insurance
• Paid vacation time (10 days per year) and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays per year
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid professional development opportunities
• Flexible work schedule
• Friendly, dedicated, and supportive coworkers

To Apply

Please email a resume and cover letter, describing your interest and experience relevant to this position, to jobs@thewatershedproject.org and include “Youth Field Crew Manager” in the subject line. Applications received by Sunday, August 28 will be prioritized for review, although we will keep the position open until filled. We anticipate conducting interviews in September, and hope our new team member will start in early October, but this timeline is flexible based on mutual availability. Please visit this page for up-to-date information.

Click here to download a PDF version of this job description.

SPAWNERS Watershed Coordinator

SPAWNERS (San Pablo Watershed Neighbors Education and Restoration Society) is a grassroots volunteer group whose mission is to protect the San Pablo Creek Watershed and inspire community appreciation and stewardship through advocacy, education, and habitat restoration. SPAWNERS leads community activities including trash cleanups, invasive plant removal, water quality and creek health monitoring, student workshops, and special events such as nature walks, public talks, and Earth Day celebrations.

The primary responsibility of the Watershed Coordinator is to lead the implementation of SPAWNERS’ annual work plan and to further its mission in the San Pablo Creek Watershed. Specific responsibilities of the coordinator include:

• Lead on-the-ground creek revegetation and maintenance projects
• Organize public workshops, speaker events, and nature walks
• Write, edit, and coordinate production of written materials including
  newsletters, flyers, press releases, etc.
• Fundraise for the program and specific projects by writing grant requests
  and soliciting donations
• Develop membership and volunteer recruitment strategies and work with
  the Steering Committee to recruit new members for leadership positions
• Work with local schools to involve students in our programs
• Organize and lead monthly Steering Committee meetings
• With the Steering Committee, develop and implement a long term vision
  for the organization

Desired Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strengths, including:
• A background in watershed issues;
• Experience in project management, community outreach, environmental
  education, and grant writing.
• Experience working with diverse communities
• Academic training and/or experience in watershed ecology
• Be able to work some weekends and evenings
• Be comfortable working independently;
• Be proficient with standard office computer programs. Knowledge of
  Adobe InDesign, WordPress, Mailchimp, and Salesforce is a plus
• Fluency in the Spanish language

Physical Requirements:

• Located in/near Contra Costa Costa County;
• Be fit enough to carry 40 pounds, climb creek banks, etc;
• A valid California drivers license and access to an insured car;
• Access to a computer and phone;
• Fingerprinting (will be reimbursed) and a proof of COVID-19 vaccination
  required after hire.

Work Environment and Values

Work activities are split between office work at The Watershed Project headquarters, located at the Richmond Field Station (a satellite campus of UC Berkeley on the bay in Richmond), and field work at project sites in the communities we serve.

The Watershed Project is an equal opportunity employer that strives to recruit a diverse workforce and provide an equitable and inclusive workplace for all. We strongly encourage people with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences to apply and thrive within our growing team. We seek qualified and passionate individuals regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, cultural background, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, military obligations, national origin, parental status, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or veteran status.

Compensation
SPAWNERS is a fiscal project of the Watershed Project, a 501( c)3 non-profit organization. The SPAWNERS coordinator will be reported as an employee of The Watershed Project. The hourly salary is in the range of $20 to $23 per hour. The current position is 8 hours per week, but can increase, funding dependent. Employees working over 24 hours per week are eligible for benefits pro-rated to the amount of hours worked.

How to Apply
Please email a resume and cover letter describing your interest and experience relevant to this position to lauren.iverson@thewatershedproject.org and include “Watershed Coordinator” in the subject line. Applications received by August 15 will be prioritized for review, although we will keep the position open until filled. For more information, please visit our website at www.spawners.org

Click here to download a PDF version of this job description.

Building the next generation of watershed stewards by providing local youth with experience and professional development in the environmental field

Our Green Careers program offers training in environmental, leadership, communication, and administration skills through our Green Collar Corps and Internship programs. We give high school students, undergraduates, graduate students and professionals just starting out in their careers hands-on work experience and specialized training in the fields of non-profit management and operations, environmental education, marketing and communications, program management, and restoration. The program is designed to provide the maximum educational benefit to participants by placing interns in positions that fit their interests and providing mentoring opportunities with professional staff.

Green Collar Corps

The Watershed Project’s Green Collar Corps (GCC) student worker program is made for college students looking for paid, hands-on work experience in the environmental field. We prioritize young people who are underrepresented in the environmental field (such as Black, Indigenous, or youth of color) and who cannot afford to take an unpaid internship opportunity. GCC members gain valuable job skills and exposure to a wide variety of environmental careers by working side by side with environmental professionals, both in the field and in the office, and on personalized projects based on their own interests. In addition to these projects, GCC members participate in frequent educational trainings and team-building activities.

This is a flexible, part-time position, designed to accommodate college courses. GCC members are expected to work with TWP for at least one year, and many stay with us for several years.

We will be hiring a new cohort of GCC members in Fall 2022! Please check this page for future updates.