Plant Conservation and Outreach Member

Number of Position(s): 1

ABOUT THE CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN AND AMERICORPS

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden offers opportunities for everyone! CZBG and AmeriCorps have partnered to bring a variety of fun, engaging, and conservation-based opportunities to audiences including youth, visitors, animal ambassadors, and more! Together, CZBG and AmeriCorps will provide quality STEM education to economically disadvantaged PreK-12th grade students, will engage Zoo visitors, volunteers, Zooteens, and community members in environmentally conscious practices and behaviors, grow and maintain Zoo and community garden spaces, facilitate data coordination for animal welfare excellence and conservation research, and support a variety of sustainability initiatives.

This position will focus specifically on working with the CREW Plant Research Division to study and support the conservation of rare & threatened exceptional plant species. Service members will be trained in general laboratory skills and will participate in and may contribute to one or more research projects (to learn more about CREW’s research, visit: http://cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/crew). The individual’s training program will be tailored based on the selected candidate’s skillset and aptitude, as well as current needs of staff scientists.

What are exceptional plants?

Exceptional plant species are species which cannot be seed banked using conventional seed banking techniques. A species may be considered exceptional for a variety of reasons: some species don’t produce seeds, others have very low seed viability, and others produce seeds that can’t survive the drying or freezing steps of conventional banking. These species must be banked using alternative banking technologies like cryopreservation, and are often propagated using tissue culture. The CREW Plant Research Division studies how best to propagate, store, and support the conservation of these species.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for many things - our conservation efforts, our green initiatives, our friendly staff… but did you know that we have a strong set of core values that make us the best team around, and a Top Workplace in Cincinnati? We’re more than coworkers… we’re family. By building Collaborative Relationships, displaying Positivity & Energy, having Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership, supporting Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect, and embracing Progressive Thinking, we have built a team of dedicated staff that focuses on our visitors, our community, & our future.

This is what we believe and how we act. If this gets you fired up, we look forward to having you join our team!

ABOUT THE POSITION

The incumbent is a full-time AmeriCorps position serving 1,700 hours (40 hours per week) over an 12-month term of service (October 1, 2025 to September 25, 2026). They will report directly to and be supervised by Megan Philpott at CREW. Schedules will serve 5 days a week, 8-hour days, Monday-Friday.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Service goals include:

Assist with the Exceptional Plant Conservation Cryobiotechnology project:
- Sterilize and process tissues collected from the field/partners to initiate them into tissue culture in the lab
- Regular observational data collection and photo documentation of plant cultures
- Data entry and analysis
Growing and maintaining plants transitioning from test tubes to outdoors and/or shipping, including but not limited to:
- Routinely checking indoor growing spaces & greenhouse
- Watering, weeding, pruning, repotting, etc.
- Washing pots & terrariums
- Assisting with volunteer instruction for greenhouse duties
General laboratory and greenhouse upkeep, including, but not limited to:
- Regular upkeep and subculturing of the CREW plant tissue culture collection
- Preparing media
- Washing dishware
- Maintaining and sterilizing equipment
Evaluate, assess, and report program goals and outcomes.
Measure impact of goals for the program year.
Participate in a mid-year and end-of-year performance review process with supervisors.
Complete bi-weekly timesheets to accurately report hours served.
Participate in professional development workshops through AmeriCorps in-service days, service projects and training opportunities.

Secondary service goals include:

Manage the CREW Plant Lab Zoo Academy program
- Work directly with high school students from Cincinnati Public Schools’ Zoo Academy located on zoo grounds
- Act as a mentor for Zoo Academy students
- Train Zoo Academy students in lab technique and manage their projects
Prepare and facilitate educational outreach projects for the CREW Plant Lab
- Prepare educational materials for outreach
- Preparation of educational social media posts to increase awareness of CREW plant conservation activities
- Preparation of educational materials and videos for the Exceptional Plant Conservation Network (for more information, visit: http://cincinnatizoo.org/epcn)

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Skills

Strong interest in plant conservation required
Eager to learn with an outstanding work ethic
Extremely detail-oriented and organized
Able to multi-task and anticipate needs
Capable of working independently
Prompt and reliable in the areas of attendance, performance, and communication

Commitment to Service

Ability to fulfill a yearlong, full-time AmeriCorps service commitment
Dedication to CZBG and AmeriCorps’ missions
Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others

Professionalism

Dedication to CZBG mission, Core Values, and program areas
Willingness to represent the CZBG to outside groups
Maturity and good judgment in relating to CZBG peers, partners, and visitors

Additional Qualifications

Bachelor's degree preferred
Background in biological sciences or horticulture preferred
Lab experience is preferable, but not required
A sincere love of plants, and desire to have a career in a related field
Occasional availability on evenings and weekends for events
Ability to use basic and some advanced functions of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Publisher) the internet and web-based forms.

Required

Valid Driver’s License
Ability to travel locally when needed
To serve as an AmeriCorps member, individuals must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
Ability to stand, walk, climb and grasp objects
Must be able to lift & move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance
Appointment is conditional upon passing a pre-start drug screen, providing a negative TB test, providing proof of full vaccination status as defined by the CDC, and providing information to establish eligibility and complete a National Criminal History Check.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$30,000k Living stipend to be paid bi-weekly over the 12-month service term.
Eligible to receive an education award upon successful completion of 1,700-hour service term. *Value dependent on Pell Grant each year.
Health care and childcare benefit eligible
AmeriCorps status could qualify you for forbearance and interest payments on qualified student loans during service.
Extensive training, practice, and skill building in the fields of environmental and informal education, conservation communication, research, and horticulture for all audiences, as well as seasonal tickets and discounts provided within the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
Making a difference in the community while being part of a dedicated service team

Cincinnati Zoo

New Jobs

AmeriCorps - Plant Conservation and Outreach