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Joining New York Restoration Project’s AmeriCorps team is a great way to put your idealism into action. As an AmeriCorps member, you are able to give back, while gaining the personal satisfaction of taking on a challenging and rewarding position that provides real results by helping to green and beautify New York City. It also provides an opportunity to gain hands-on experience at a dynamic non-profit, which is making a huge difference for New York City and its neighborhoods and residents.

NYRP is seeking a full-time AmeriCorps position to begin in November or December 2009 for an 11-month term of service. This position reports directly to the Marketing Manager.

About New York Restoration Project (NYRP)
NYRP is a non-profit organization dedicated to reclaiming and restoring New York City parks, community gardens and open space. In partnership with the City of New York, NYRP is also leading MillionTreesNYC – an initiative to plant and care for one million new trees throughout New York City’s five boroughs by 2017.

Since the organization’s founding by Bette Midler in 1995, NYRP has achieved dramatic results by investing in the greening and beautification of underserved communities throughout New York City. NYRP staff, AmeriCorps members and community volunteers have planted hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers to support the restoration of public parks and community gardens; restored and help maintain six New York City parks; and removed more than 2,000 tons of garbage from the city’s green spaces. In 1999, Midler and NYRP saved 114 community gardens from commercial development and established the New York Garden Trust to ensure NYRP’s precious plots of land remain public gardens in perpetuity.

NYRP is also responsible for transforming an illegal dumping ground along the Harlem River into the five-acre Swindler Cove Park and building the adjacent Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse – a floating oasis on the Harlem River. At Swindler Cover Park and in NYRP’s community gardens, New Yorkers are being introduced every day to the importance of having green space and respecting nature in urban neighborhoods. In fact, NYRP’s environmental education programs and community events currently serve thousands of New York City families, at-risk youth and educators.

Principal Duties and Responsiblities
• Assist in the implementation of NYRP’s overall marketing and communications strategy that raises NYRP’s visibility with the public, community/city-wide organizations, industry/trade associations and the media
• Working directly with the Marketing Manager, the Marketing Assistant will manage daily content updates to NYRP’s new web site, as well as help draft content for the organization’s monthly e-newsletter communications
• Overseen by Marketing Manager, the Marketing Assistant will manage daily updates to NYRP’s new website blog (NYRP Today) and NYRP’s and MillionTreesNYC’s social media and networking efforts, including Facebook and Twitter
• Assist in the researching and drafting of articles for NYRP’s semi-annual newsletter, the Good Dirt, and bi-annual report
• Assist in the design and ordering of all NYRP marketing materials, including banners, event signage, flyers, brochures, PowerPoint presentations etc.
• Assist in the development and implementation of all marketing materials for MillionTreesNYC Month programs, activities and events
• Assist in the coordination of NYRP’s and MillionTreesNYC’s presence at citywide and neighborhood festivals, fairs and conferences
• General administrative duties including drafting and editing correspondence, photocopying, data entry and organizing mailings
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Marketing and Marketing Manager

Required Qualifications
• Undergraduate degree in marketing and/or communications preferred
• Very strong writing and editing skills
• Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint proficient
• Adobe Illustrator, PhotoShop and InDesign working knowledge a plus
• Strong attention to detail a MUST
• Knowledge and familiarity with Facebook and Twitter a MUST

Professional Expectations
• Take a pro-active approach to your work and demonstrate a strong willingness to pitch in where needed
• Take pride in producing the highest quality of work possible
• Demonstrate strong organizational and project-management skills
• Apply strong critical thinking to all projects and responsibilities of the job
• Be a self-starter who takes responsibility of projects from beginning to end
• Possess a strong business sense and the ability to apply strategic thinking to every project
• Be a creative, passionate and professional individual who wants to make a difference

AmeriCorps Benefits
• Earn a living stipend of $1,400 per month
• Put current student loans into forbearance during your term of service
• Individual health insurance
• Earn an education award of $4,725 to help pay for college, graduate school, vocational school or to repay student loans
• Seasonal uniforms will be provided (boots not included)

AmeriCorps Eligibility
Candidates must be a US citizen or lawful US resident; be at least 17 years of age. To earn the education award individuals must have a high-school diploma or equivalent. For more information on the AmeriCorps program go to: www.americorps.gov

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit a cover letter and resume by email to hr@nyrp.org or by standard mail to the attention of the AmeriCorps Program Director at 254 W. 31st Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

To learn more about NYRP please visit www.nyrp.org.