Student Design Trainee III - Naturalist Aide

About the SFPUC’s Natural Resources and Lands Management Division

 The Natural Resources and Lands Management (NRLM) Division within the Water Enterprise of the SFPUC is responsible for the management of approximately 61,000 acres of Bay Area watershed lands under SFPUC ownership as well as 150 miles of utility right-of-way. NRLM Division is responsible for managing, protecting, restoring, and monitoring the ecological resources on these lands and environmental compliance for the operations and maintenance of the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System which serves 2.7 million customers. We are committed to responsible natural resources management that protects and restores viable populations of native species and maintains the integrity of the ecosystems that support them for current and future generations. We strive to become a leader in science-based and collaborative environmental stewardship in order to continue providing high quality and reliable water supplies to our customers. 

About the Alameda Creek Watershed Center

 The Alameda Creek Watershed Center is an interpretive center in the Alameda Creek watershed by the town of Sunol. The Center highlights the watershed’s natural, cultural, and scenic resources through its exhibit halls, a watershed discovery garden that features the plant communities of the watershed, and the historic Sunol Water Temple. The Center is slated to be open to the public in 2025. 

We are currently seeking two temporary part-time 5382 Student Design Trainees to work as Naturalist Aides. The aides will assist in the development and delivery of school programs for 3rd - 5th grades, weekend interpretive programs, general tours, and our volunteer program. 

Minimum Qualifications

 At the time of filing, the applicant must be in an accredited Engineering · Architecture · Planning · Computer Science/Information Services Program · Mathematics · Biology · Natural Resources at a university or a related field at a community college. An applicant must be returning to their undergraduate program or entering/continuing a graduate program in the Fall 2025. For students that have graduated, an applicant can be appointed to begin work within 6 months after graduation.

For 5382, the applicant must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program as a Senior (Completed at least 91-120 semester units/ 136 - 180 quarter units). In order for the applicant to be employed, the applicant must be returning to their undergraduate program or entering a graduate program in subsequent Fall term.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification of Education:

Applicants are required to submit verification of qualifying education at time of application submission. Education verification information on verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at How to Verify Education Requirements | Department of Human Resources (sfdhr.org).

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Desirable Qualifications 

We do not expect any one candidate to have all the qualifications listed. We highly encourage you to apply if you are interested in joining us. 

• An academic background in the natural sciences and/or education.
• Knowledge of environmental principles and issues, Bay Area plants and wildlife.
• Experience teaching or working with grade school students and/or the public.
• Experience with outdoor environmental education and/or basic interpretive/teaching techniques.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Responsible, motivated, and able to work independently and in a team.
• Fluency in another language commonly spoken in the SF Bay Area.
• Word processing, spreadsheet, PowerPoint development, database, and internet proficiency.
• Certification or ability to become certified in CPR and basic first aid.

Example of job duties: 

• Assist with developing and delivering school programs, exhibit tours, programs and events for the public.
• Learn and help manage the online registration system used to manage contacts, register for programs, schedule room use, manage volunteers, record program stats, and generate reports.
• Develop detailed school and volunteer outreach lists.
• Collect and record visitor & program evaluations.
• Prepare and send school program confirmations, pre-trip packet, etc.
• Staff the Center’s front desk, assisting visitors and answering phones.
• Assist with volunteer trainings and supervision and related activities.
• Prepare materials for school programs, public programs & events.
• Maintain inventory of program materials, supplies, & equipment.
• Manage distribution of volunteer uniforms, name tags, etc.
• Assist with the care of trout and the maintenance of the trout aquarium. 
• Work occasionally in the Sunol Native Plant Nursery and Discovery Garden.
• Assist with Sunol AgPark school field trips.
• Develop a working knowledge of local cultural and natural history.
• Develop a working knowledge of interpretive program principles.
• Work collaboratively with a team of educators and volunteers.

While employed, applicant must: 

• Be able to work on Saturdays and occasional evenings.
• Reach the work site without the use of public transportation - as none is available.

Physical and work requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, and/or wet conditions.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time while assisting with field trip programs.
• Ability to work in areas with wildlife and poison oak.
• Ability to walk on uneven ground.
• Ability to lift 30 pounds.

Schedule: 

• Positions are part-time and will require Saturday and occasional evening and Sunday work.
• The position start date and hours are TBD depending on the selected applicant’s availability.
• The duration of this internship can be 3-6 months, with an opportunity to extend based on exemplary performance and necessity.

Projected interview schedule:

• Invitations to interview will be sent tentatively between February 10-14, 2025.
• For most positions, interviews will be conducted tentatively on March 5, 2025. Selected candidates will be notified on the same day as the interview. Please click here: Same Day Hiring, for more information about the interview process.

Location: 505 Paloma Way, Sunol, CA 94586 or 1000 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030 with occasional travel to the SFPUC Peninsula Watershed (Millbrae) and SFPUC headquarters at 525 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco.