Stewardship and Outreach Assistant (Paid AmeriCorps Opportunity)

Do you enjoy the outdoors?  Do you ever look at a trail and wonder who built that? and why? and HOW?  Maybe you haven't thought that, maybe you're thinking it now!  If you love working outside with enthusiastic teammates, dedicated volunteers, and tireless public servants, Friends of Nevada Wilderness' Southern Nevada Stewardship and Outreach Assistant may be the right opportunity for you!  This position is offered through AmeriCorps (you can find more information about AmeriCorps at this link) via our partners in Winnemucca, the Nevada Outdoor School (you can find their webpage here). 

As a Stewardship and Outreach Assistant you will have the opportunity to explore Southern Nevada's myriad wilderness areas, guide volunteers on backcountry service trips, enjoy BTS access to the management of America's beautiful Public Lands while partnering with Federal Agencies and other non-profit groups, and learn traditional trail-building skills like operating a cross-cut saw and loading pack animals.  

An AmeriCorps Position with Friends of Nevada Wilderness is a great way to get to know the land management agencies, local non-profits, and explore a career in the outdoors - whether in conservation, recreation, or administration.  If this opportunity sounds like a great way to spend the summer to you, I encourage you to read through the following and contact me at the provided email address with a brief cover letter and resume.  Don't forget to check out the AmeriCorps listing page as well, found here. This position is open until filled, with interviews to be scheduled in February.

1. Supervisor: Peter Sbraccia, peter@nevadawilderness.org.
2. Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm, however hours will vary and weekends will be required.  
3. Position Summary: The Southern Nevada Stewardship and Outreach Assistant will assist southern Nevada stewardship and outreach program both in the field, online, and in the office with volunteer recruitment, outreach and stewardship events. The member stewardship component consists of promoting, recruiting and managing volunteers in stewardship events as directed by land managers. On the ground work includes, but is not limited to, habitat restoration, construction of kiosks and signage, invasive plant removal and monitoring, and native vegetation planting. The candidate will also record accomplishments and complete data entry after projects. The outreach component will consist of attending and assisting with outreach events, including virtual and livestreamed events. This may include speaking at public events and tabling at various location to promote the work Friends of Nevada Wilderness does, leading interpretive hikes and events, and recruiting volunteers. Hands on involvement with the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and promotion may also be included. Evening and weekend availability, including overnight, will be required.
4. Primary Responsibilities: Assist in implementing volunteer stewardship trips including multi-day outings, effectively communicate with volunteers, promote and maintain an exceptionally safe environment for volunteers, ensure proper implementation of projects, monitor past restoration work to evaluate outcomes, identify outreach opportunities, participate in volunteer recruitment activities such as tabling at community events and give presentations about Friends of Nevada Wilderness and current volunteer opportunities to community events, clubs and organizations.
5. Related Responsibilities: Distribute and maintain posters and fliers about FNW stewardship projects throughout the community, update volunteer and media contacts in database, name, edit and store photos from stewardship program trips and events, provide photos and content for FNW email and newsletters, maintain accurate and timely preparation of project files.
6. Required skills/abilities: basic computer skills - Word, Excel, flexibility regarding work schedule, weekends are required, self-motivated, current driver's license, ability to communicate and work with a diverse population, personal hiking and backpacking equipment required, able to hike ten miles per day with a 40-60 pound pack, basic use of technology like GPS devices, enjoy the outdoors and camping.
7. Required Academic: GED/high school diploma. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or agree to earn a high school diploma or equivalent before using an educational award.
8. Term of Service and Time Requirements: Minimum-time 900 hours term. Start date 03/1/21 - 8/15/21.

9.This position does not duplicate work of previous or existing employees or volunteers, supplant the hiring of workers, or include service or duties that have been performed or were performed by a current employee, an employee who recently resigned or was discharged, an employee subject to a reduction in work force, or an employee who is on leave.

1. Part of this position involves conducting stewardship projects outside, often in remote locations where camping will be required some nights during the week and or weekend at undeveloped back-country recreation sites. Reliable transportation to trail heads and office location is essential. The rest of the position will involve outreach at different events around southern Nevada and preparation for outreach or stewardship events. The functions of this position may be completed with or without reasonable accommodations. No persons involved with the program will discriminate based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or disability.
2. AmeriCorps members are expected to wear AmeriCorps gear while serving, to include provided shirts or buttons. Dress is business casual. AmeriCorps members are expected to participate in regular team meetings held in Winnemucca. The member may participate via teleconferencing.; must disclose all criminal convictions during the application process; will need to pass a NSOPW check; undergo a National Service Criminal History Check and for it not to report any statutory exclusionary offenses to AmeriCorps service; must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States; and must be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service.
3. AmeriCorps members is eligible to receive a living allowance of $1229.16 per month; are eligible to receive a post-service education award upon successful completion of service of $1,289.95; student loan forbearance and interest payments, if the member qualifies; health care and child care are available for eligible members; and professional development opportunities are available. AmeriCorps members will receive CPR and First Aid training.
4. Evaluation & Reporting: The AmeriCorps member will receive a mid-year and end-of-term performance evaluation; AmeriCorps member will be responsible for submitting bi-monthly time-sheets to supervisors and quarterly performance measure reports.

Briefly describe how the Member's activities strategically address a community need:

The state of Nevada is more than 70% public lands that are maintained largely by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest Service and various Friends organizations around the state. Because the lands are so vast and federal funding is limited, public assistance is necessary to help with land restoration following natural disasters, habitat maintenance and debris removal. An AmeriCorps member is vital to Friends organizations, as they are nonprofits who focus on environmental stewardship. These stewardship projects require public education and ongoing volunteer recruitment.

Measurable goals include numbers of volunteers recruited and acres of public lands improved

Briefly describe how the AmeriCorps program adds value to the placement site/community:

Friends of Nevada Wilderness is dedicated to preserving all qualified Nevada public lands as wilderness, protecting all present and potential wilderness from ongoing threats, informing the public about the values of and need for wilderness, and restoring and improving the management of wild lands.