Community Outreach Facilitator

The Community Outreach Facilitator plays a crucial role in supporting and expanding the Polk County Conservation Community unity Volunteer Program. This position works directly in the field alongside PCC staff and community volunteers, providing on-site guidance and support on community volunteer-assigned projects and at scheduled events that connect community volunteers with meaningful outdoor work. This role is highly field-focused, with an emphasis on being present with community volunteers in natural areas, helping them succeed in their assigned projects, and strengthening community involvement in conservation. 
 

One Three-Quarter Time Community Outreach Facilitator will serve with Polk County Conservation as part of the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps volunteers develop skills that build a strong, leadership-packed résumé; earn a living stipend ($16,620) paid out equally over the course of 1200 hours of service; and receive a Segal Education Award upon completion ($5,176.50) to pay for higher education or qualified student loans. This position is a Three-Quarter Time volunteer, who will serve a minimum of 1200 hours over 39 weeks, serving 39 hours per week. 

This posting is not a direct position of Polk County Conservation, and successful applicants will not be employees of Polk County. Successful applicants will not be subject to terms and conditions of Polk County employment and will not be eligible for any employee benefits provided by Polk County. However, these positions will be serving with Polk County Conservation, a host site of the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program, and will be subject to AmeriCorps rules, benefits, and federal requirements.

Daily Times

The typical weekly schedule will be established with the selected candidate to ensure they do not exceed 40 hours per week, candidates can expect the typical schedule to fall within Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM 

• Every service day will include two 15-minute breaks; additional breaks must be taken if the temperature is above 85 degrees
• A 30-minute lunch period is included with every service day; these 30 minutes cannot be counted towards the required service hours during the term

Hours during the week can be flexed to ensure the volunteer has a sustainable workload when a special evening or weekend event is scheduled during a given service week, volunteer will have access to event calendar a minimum of two weeks in advance of the scheduled event 

• Volunteer will serve 1-2 Saturdays per month during their term; most Saturday events take place from 10 AM to 12 PM 
• Volunteer is expected to show up before the start of an event to assist with setup and logistics and to stay after the end of the event to assist with cleanup and inventory of supplies 
• Evenings and weekends are built into the schedule with a minimum of two weeks' notice prior to a volunteer being assigned 
• Listed below are key annual events that occur during the spring, summer, and fall: 
  • May | Spring Into Action | Woodland Restoration 
  • June | National Trails Day | Trail Construction  
  • April, May, June | Tree Planting at identified priority woodland 
  • October | Moonlight Seed Harvest

The typical weekly schedule may change to better meet the needs of the Natural Resources Department

* Volunteers must not serve any hours on the major federal holidays – New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This includes checking emails, self-directed training, or teleservice. If the Host Site is open on one of these holidays and volunteers are expected to serve, the site supervisor should work with Program to gain approval for this volunteer service prior to the holiday. For any of the other federal holidays, including MLK Day, Presidents Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Veterans Day, Host Sites will communicate expectations of volunteer service in advance. If the Host Site is closed on one of more of those lesser holidays (including the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas eve) or the Host Site recognizes other workdays when major federal holidays fall on weekend days, volunteers should not check their email, complete timesheets, or do teleservice on those days either unless they follow the procedure above. Sick or personal leave, and holidays is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the volunteer has a compelling personal circumstance.

Training

All volunteers will go through two weeks of intensive in-person training to learn all the skills necessary to complete the volunteer duties outlined below.

The Natural Resources Volunteer Outreach Representative AmeriCorps Volunteer will lead community volunteers and actively participate in a variety of natural resources management and conservation activities. The focus of the position is hands-on service, fostering environmental stewardship, and contributing to the overall improvement and preservation of natural habitats through the assistance of community volunteers. The Volunteer Outreach Representative will be responsible for leading community volunteers in executing impactful projects such as invasive species removal, prairie seed harvest, trail maintenance, garden bed maintenance, and tree planting.   

Volunteers will receive the following training and certifications before service activities begin:

• Volunteers will complete CPR/AED and first aid certification through Heart Saver online modules and an in-person practical skills test
• Mental Health First Aid training
• Volunteers will participate in a week-long chainsaw handling and maintenance training and pass a in-person practical skills test with full-time Polk County Conservation natural resources staff volunteers
• Iowa Pesticide Applicator Certification in Categories 4 (Core), 2 (Forestry) and 6 (Right of Way)
  • Volunteers must read each designated booklet in order to register for each corresponding category test
  • Testing occurs online and utilizes LockDown Browser application that records video of the tester during the timed tests; personal laptops may be utilized for testing or computers will be available for volunteers to use
  • Volunteers must receive an 80% or better to receive category certifications
  • Volunteers receive their Iowa Pesticide Applicator’s License once all three category tests are successfully passed
• National Wildland Coordinating Group Certifications:
  • S-130 – Firefighter Training
  • S-190 – Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
• They may also have the opportunity to receive additional certifications in:
  • L-180 – Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service
  • IS-700 – NIMS (National Incident Management System): An Introduction

All AmeriCorps Environmental Stewards in the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program are required to complete CPR/AED and first aid online modules; Mental Health First Aid training; Iowa Pesticide Applicator tests in Core, 2, and 6; and the National Wildland Coordinating Group online modules of S-130 and S-190 within three weeks subsequent to their official start date. Failure to complete these trainings and certifications in a timely manner will result in a volunteer not receiving integral certifications utilized by the Program. Missing or skipping trainings and certifications could impact the ability of a volunteer to remain enrolled within the Program.

The Volunteer Outreach Representative will receive the following additional training: 

• Communicating and presenting environmental information to the community and partners using flyers and geographical aspects while out in the field 
• Shadowing Volunteer Coordinators during public events to learn expectations, community volunteer event rules, priorities during events, event preparation, and event cleanup 
• Learning how to educate a wide age range of community members assisting with conservation projects through shadowing and in-field practice during events 
• Identification characteristics of common garden weeds to facilitate garden bed maintenance projects 
• Public speaking fundamentals with Volunteer Coordinators 
• Community member recruitment practices using flyers, in-person community outreach, social media, and email outreach 
• Basic background and history of key Polk County Conservation parks and land parcels where projects take place 

Below is a list of allowable volunteer activities and responsibilities; volunteers will be properly trained in all areas:

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement practices for recruiting new community members for Polk County Conservation as well as retaining current participants 
  • Creation of email campaigns for online outreach 
  • Development of social media posts and videos promoting conservation projects to increase engagement from a younger demographic 
  • Represent Polk County Conservation’s Community Volunteer Program through in-person outreach activities, such as communicating with community members while out in the field and outreach booths with partner organizations 
• Schedule and coordinate activities by assigning registered attendants to appropriate tasks based on age, skillset, and interests 
• Communicate effectively with the public regarding project details, expectations, proper tool use, and logistical information 
• Facilitate small groups during events to ensure tasks are completed safely and efficiently 
  • Provide assistance with preparation by collecting tools and PPE supplies, preparing mulch buckets for tree planting events, providing demonstrations of how the task should be completed, provide additional in-field support to community members assisting with the natural resources project, and participate in the event when not assisting with the previously listed tasks 
• Train community volunteers on specific tasks and techniques relevant to project assignments 
  • Proper tool usage, such as shovels, trowels, dandelion weeders, loppers, handsaws, folding saws, and pruners 
• Participate in and complete additional trainings essential for service duties at the discretion of Polk County Conservation Staff 

Non-Essential Functions

• Engage in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills related to natural resource management
• Train with full-time staff to learn about the maintenance and care for tools, equipment, vehicles, the Natural Resources Headquarters workshop, and the hangars located on the Leh’s property
• Participate in water quality monitoring across Polk County  
  • Receive training on water quality testing procedures from Polk County Conservation Water Quality Program Coordinators  
  • Provide integral water quality data to allow broad analysis of the water quality in Polk County, Iowa to identify if intervention   

Volunteers may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description but that support the AmeriCorps program design and that aid the Program in meeting its goals. Under no circumstances will volunteers be asked to perform prohibited activities.

Desired Skills/Qualifications

• Outgoing with effective leadership skills, a willingness to learn, and strong interpersonal skills
• Interest or passion in the environment, environmental science, Iowa ecology, conservation practices, hospitality, community outreach, or GIS
• In progress or completed degree in environmental science, event management, hospitality, or related field
• Ability to work in all outdoor elements with a variety of terrain for extended periods of time
• Walking a minimum of five miles per service day
• Ability to carry 45 pounds on your back, our backpack pesticide sprayers weigh this much when filled for invasive species management
• Ability to maintain consistent strong communication skills with Polk County Conservation staff and fellow AmeriCorps volunteers
• Comfortable learning how to operate various hand tools, county equipment and vehicles, and trailering; being comfortable teaching others how to use various hand tools, equipment, and vehicles

Eligibility Criteria

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service
• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident
• Possess a valid driver’s license and previous driving experience:
  • Candidate must be comfortable with driving on all road types (gravel, grass, highways, rural, and city roads)
  • Candidate must be comfortable driving in any environmental conditions (daytime, nighttime, rain, fog, sleet, ice, and snow)
  • Candidate must be willing to drive to any location within Polk County, Iowa
  • Candidate must pass a motor vehicle record check before they can operate any county vehicle
  • Candidates with limited driving experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Benefits

• Segal Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service
• Living Allowance
• Professional development seminars and opportunity to network with Polk County staff
• Childcare coverage if the volunteer qualifies
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans
• Housing opportunities provided by Polk County Conservation upon request
• Certification in first aid and CPR/AED
• Mental Health First Aid training
• Iowa Pesticide Applicator’s Certification
• Prescribed fire certifications and experience with prescribed fires
• Chainsaw training and tree-felling experience
• GIS experience
• Increased knowledge of Polk County's conservation and restoration practices
• Increased knowledge of Iowa's native and invaisve flora and fauna
• Networking with industry professionals and community partners

Performance Evaluation & Reporting Requirements

• Volunteer Performance Evaluation requirements during the term
• Regular bi-weekly submission of volunteer timesheets
• Regular weekly submission of project data from each site a volunteer works on
• Daily progress reports to Polk County Conservation staff
• Consistent recording of project areas using GIS in Field Maps application