Our City Forest Climate Action Leaders (AmeriCorps positions)

January 17th, 2024 - September 7, 2024

• Serve the communities of Silicon Valley.
• Full-time commitment: 40 hours per week (7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Tues. – Sat).
• Receive a $22,500 living stipend and a $5,176 education award upon completion of the term (9-months, 1200 hours)
• Apply at https://www.ourcityforest.org/americorps-openings

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. The teams are Community Forestry (Planting, Tree Care, Lawn Busters), or 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 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

• 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

Community Forestry Team responsibilities and tasks

Participate in fieldwork necessary for project preparation, and project day execution for the following sub-teams:

Planting: Work outside with team and volunteers at least once a week, planting trees in neighborhoods, schools, and parks

Tree Care: Work outside watering and maintaining newly planted trees

Lawn Busters: Work outside with team on lawn conversion projects, which include trenching, sheet mulching, irrigation, and plant installation

Predominantly customer service-oriented position; organize planting projects, call and email qualified residents, go on-site visits, work with city permit office, some landscape design for lawn conversion projects

• Educate residents on best water-wise landscaping and planting practices
• Correspond and schedule appointments with community members about their planting; plan logistics and enter data for each tree planting project
• Assist residents with tree planting and maintenance needs; provide excellent and professional customer service to accommodate their requests
• 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

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Citizen or legal 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

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong written & oral communication skills
• Vietnamese and Spanish 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
• Familiar with ornamental and native tree and shrub species identification
• Knowledge or experience working with irrigation
• Experience with landscape design and/or landscaping
• FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe CS, Sketch Up software knowledge
• Graphic design, app development, programming, or website maintenance experience