Skip to main content
View All Positions

Volunteer Specialist

About EarthCorps

EarthCorps (EC) is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization with a mission of developing leaders to strengthen community and restore the health of our environment. EC's Corps Program is an intensive year-long training program that unites young adults (ages 18-25) from across the United States and around the world to learn skills in community building, habitat restoration, and leadership. EC program participants are part of a diverse group of emerging environmental leaders committed to teamwork, service, and personal growth. 


STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND COMMMITMENT TO SOCIAL EQUITY: 

EarthCorps strongly believes in the values of diversity and inclusion. We work to ensure that everyone, regardless of who they are or the work they perform for our organization, feels involved and supported in all areas of our operations. In addition to that basic principle, we are striving to become an anti-racist organization. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and are deeply committed to racial equity in our internal and external work. 

 

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards, and far too often the organizations that advance environmental work perpetuate similar injustices, excluding people of color from educational and job opportunities in this space. A world in which people and nature thrive together requires leaders who understand that social injustice and environmental issues are intertwined, and we will solve neither as a society if we fail to address both. 

Position Summary

The Volunteer Specialist is an AmeriCorps position with EC. This position works as part of the EarthCorps Volunteer (ECV) program and assists in all aspects of volunteer organization, coordination, and community engagement events.  

 

This position provides a mix of field experience along with office experience. Field work includes onsite leadership of volunteers of all ages, invasive plant removal, native plant installation, facilitating outdoor educational activities, maintaining tools and equipment, and completing additional non-volunteer field projects with other crew members. Office tasks include planning for volunteer events, maintenance of systems, and designing and implementing outreach activities and materials for a variety of audiences.  

 

This position reports to the Senior Project Manager. While specialists are expected to work closely together as a team, members will also spend time working on independent projects. Volunteer Specialists will participate fully in an orientation as well as designated retreats, workshops, and trainings throughout the year. The position is offered through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). As such, all applicants must meet the requirements to become an AmeriCorps member and abide by AmeriCorps policies.   

Duties & Responsibilities

Project Coordination and Implementation:   

  • Organize and lead high quality, safe, and educational volunteer events (typically on Saturdays and some weekdays). 
  • Motivate, educate, and inspire EarthCorps volunteers. 
  • Assist project managers with the coordination of volunteer events, field projects, site restoration planning, and documentation of work completed. 
  • Oversee and enforce policies relating to public health and the spread of infection, including the wearing of face coverings, group size limitations, and necessary distancing between volunteers in the field. 
  • Assist with volunteer recruitment activities such as hosting information tables and posting fliers. 
  • Maintain EarthCorps Volunteer Program materials, tools, and vehicles. 

Communication:   

  • Strive for professional, clear, timely and open communication amongst staff and corps participants. 
  • Prepare oral and written reports, including before and after photos of volunteer events, work logs, work project summaries, equipment use and maintenance logs, and incident reports.  
  • Support youth leadership training program for youth in partnership with the City of Tukwila. 
  • Meet regularly with Senior Project Manager. 
  • Communicate clearly and regularly within the Volunteer Program to ensure materials, vehicles, and staffing is adequate and appropriate to meet volunteer event needs. 

Outreach: 

  • Assist with volunteer recruitment activities such as hosting information tables, attending events, and posting fliers. 
  • Support Development Coordinator in the creation and curation of social media content for the Volunteer Program. 
  • Collect volunteer and partner stories to share with the EC community.  

Program Support: 

  • Foster and encourage leadership development in oneself as well as other corps participants. 
  • Lead by example while serving alongside EarthCorps restoration crews and community volunteers in all weather conditions. 
  • Support the organization with our racial equity action plan. 

Habitat restoration is physically demanding service. Each year new members consistently underestimate the physical and mental requirements. The Volunteer Specialist must both have the capacity to perform restoration tasks in challenging physical situations and ability to motivate others. Service regularly involves:  

  • Long days of repetitively shoveling, digging, and swinging heavy tools. 
  • Heavy lifting up to 50 lbs. and bending. 
  • Working in the outdoors in all weather conditions, including heat/cold/rain. 
  • Walking on steep or uneven terrain up to 8 mi. (13 km) while carrying 40 lbs. (18 kg) of weight. 
  • Potentially performing herbicide applications. 

Required Qualifications


  • Lived experience working and building relationships with communities of color and other historically marginalized identities.   
  • Proficiency in speaking Spanish and Vietnamese
  • Capacity to delegate, manage time, multitask, stay organized, and be responsive. 
  • Commitment and ability to serve for the full AmeriCorps term. 

Desired Qualifications


  • Capacity to work with and adapt leadership style for diverse groups of community volunteers.  
  • Effective cross-cultural communication including sensitivity to and awareness of cultural differences and a commitment to working in an inclusive environment. 
  • Experience in environmental restoration or a similar work environment. 
  • Experience leading others in outdoor activities.  
  • Ability to bring positivity, humor, and optimism to challenging situations. 
  • Demonstrated ability to make safe decisions with limited information. 
  • Ability to commit to self-care in a highly social office and program environment. 
  • Capacity to take initiative and stay motivated in an office setting. 
  • Familiarity with restoration techniques and natural history of urban green spaces of the Pacific Northwest. 
  • Valid driver’s license and comfort driving 12 passenger vans and large trucks. 

Corps Member Terms of Service


  • PERIOD OF SERVICE: April 1, 2022 – December 9, 2022 
  • TYPICAL HOURS OF SERVICE: 7:20 a.m. – 5:10 p.m. Tues-Saturday, alternating Tuesdays off (1/2 hour lunch does not count towards AmeriCorps hours), some evenings, overnights, and weekends are required. 
  • STATUS: Temporary, enrolled through AmeriCorps 
  • Criminal history checks conducted to fulfill AmeriCorps requirements 

Terms of Employment

COVID-19 Considerations: 

Every person entering the office must wear a face mask. We are requiring that all employees be fully COVID-19 vaccinated prior to the start of employment. Proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccination should be submitted on or no later than your scheduled start date. If you believe you are entitled to either a medical or religious exemption to our vaccination requirement, please contact Human Resources and your situation will be evaluated.    

Benefits


  • AmeriCorps education award of $4,546.50 upon successful completion of a minimum of 1,200 hours plus all EarthCorps program activities 
  • Wilderness First Aid (WFA) training provided if needed 
  • Education and training 
  • Days off permissible as designated by EarthCorps (with 6 personal days as standard) 
  • Holidays will be paid as designated by EarthCorps 
  • Medical Insurance  
  • Subsidized ORCA Pass for bus transportation  
  • Boots, pants, t-shirt, rain gear, and safety equipment provided 

Compensation

Rate of Pay: Stipend of $2,426/month

To Apply

Please submit your Cover Letter and Resume by clicking the 'Apply Now' button below.  . In your cover letter, please describe your qualifications including your personal and/or professional experience with issues surrounding racial equity and how you believe this position could contribute to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at EarthCorps. Applications will be reviewed as received.


PRIORITY CLOSING DATE: March 11, 2022 position will be opened until filled.


EarthCorps is committed to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color and members of other underrepresented groups. EarthCorps is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other class protected by law.

 

View All Positions