Field Associate: Clean River Team
The San Diego River Park Foundation
San Diego, California
Job Type | Permanent |
Salary | $20 per hour |
Benefits | plus paid time off and sick leave |
Deadline | Jul 31, 2025 |
Experience | 0 - 1 years |
The San Diego River Park Foundation believes that service is an excellent pathway to long-term stewardship and increased engagement with the San Diego River and its future. This person will play a role in coordinating and hosting events for the public, including river field surveys, cleanups, and potentially other activities such as restoration projects.
Duties will include:
- Planning, coordinating and hosting volunteer events to support our Trash-Free River program, at least two field events per week (survey one day and clean-up the other).
- Must be available either:
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- OR Friday and Saturday
- Coordinating and supervising volunteers to do this work, with group sizes ranging from 2-20 regular, trained volunteers to larger groups of 75-150 first-time volunteers
- Assist with contributing data to online data portal (www.immappler.com/sandiegorivertrash), and use portal to guide clean-ups
- Participate in data collection related to encampments occurring in the riverbed, to facilitate data-sharing with homeless outreach partners, land managers, elected officials and other policymakers
- Work with staff to sustain and grow volunteer engagement with the San Diego River Park Foundation through these events
- Train, mentor and supervise unpaid intern(s) to assist with volunteer events
- Cross-train with other Trash-Free River program staff to support other events
- Participate in planning with team to advance Trash-Free River goals
- Other duties as assigned
The ideal candidate will:
- Be committed to the environmental mission of organization
- Value working with members of the community
- Be able to (and be interested in) work outdoors and get dirty
- Have documented volunteer coordination, community outreach, and/or community organizing experience
- Be a self-starter interested in working independently
- Have strong navigational skills for orienting self and team in the riverbed
- Be able to work in a dynamic, small office and with student-interns as well as volunteers of all types
- Be comfortable with using smart phone/tablet technology to access data portal
- Have strong public speaking, communication skills, and commanding presence for volunteer events
- Have past experience interacting with people experiencing homelessness, and/or be willing to learn the organization’s respectful approach to interactions
- Be flexible, adaptable, and organized with strong multi-tasking and prioritization skills
- Basic knowledge of Google Suite, Word and PowerPoint
- Competency with data analysis in Excel
- Must be able to lift 50+ pounds and walk up to 5 miles on uneven terrain
- Must have a current driver’s license and good driving record, and be able to drive a company vehicle (truck)
- Have an associate or bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in relevant experience
- Familiarity with the San Diego River ecology and geography is a plus
Other Qualifications and Requirements:
- Event planning or experience serving as a volunteer leader preferred
- Past volunteer leadership training or experience supervising others is a plus
- Social media experience is a plus (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
- Hepatitis A vaccination and tetanus vaccination are strongly recommended for this employee (can be completed after hire)
- First aid certification will be required for this employee (can be completed after hire
Schedule: Must be available either Fridays/Saturdays, OR Tuesday/Wednesdays. Schedule for other work day(s) is flexible. This position will include weekend work and may include occasional evening work
View full job description on website: https://sandiegoriver.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FieldAssociate_Summer2025_JobDescription.pdf
Application Deadline: Open until filled.
Start Date: Immediately.
To apply: Send a resume and cover email to sarah@sandiegoriver.org. No phone calls, please. Email questions are welcomed. Please include in your cover email (or separate letter) your interest in the position and working with the organization.
When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.
Category | General / Stewardship, Restoration |
Tags | Outreach |