Position:  AmeriCorps - Pollinator Conservation and Advocacy Member
Location:  Cincinnati, OH
Job Id:  1050
# of Openings:  1
 
Horticulture – Pollinator Conservation and Advocacy 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.
 
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for many things - our conservation efforts, our green initiatives, our beautiful botanical garden, 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!
 
Service Term:  40 hr/wk - 11 months, October – August, fully hosted under horticulture
 
Description/Support Function: The AmeriCorps Member in this position would contribute to our mission of conserving wildlife by observing and studying plant-pollinator relationships in the urban landscape with particular focus on the plants and cultivars that best attract pollinators, the specific pollinators that are attracted to these plants, and the seasonality of these relationships. In addition to collecting plant-pollinator data, the service member would have the opportunity to collaborate with institutional and industry partners and ultimately contribute to greater pollinator conservation as our organization is able to provide recommendations to plant breeders within the regional horticultural industry. The service member will also have the opportunity to inspire individuals on a local level to plant for pollinators in their own communities.
 
Primary Focus:  The primary focus of this position would entail collecting and, to a lesser extent, assisting with the analyzation of data regarding plant-pollinator relationships in the urban landscape, assisting with the training and coordination of volunteers, collaborating with institutional and industry partners, and promoting conservation action at local and regional levels.
 
The primary focus on this position would entail managing a large team of Pollinator Watch volunteers and ensuring quality data collection through training, scheduling and communication with the team, while also independently collecting data for the ongoing study. Secondary focuses would include helping analyze the data, collaborating with institutional and industry partners, helping with the zoo’s Plant for Pollinators program, and promoting conservation action at local and regional levels.
 
ABOUT THE POSITION
The incumbent is a full-time AmeriCorps position serving 1,700 hours (40 hours per week) over an 11-month term of service (October 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025). They will report directly to and be supervised by the Horticulture department. Schedules will serve 5 days a week, 8-hour days, and assigned as needed. Due to the nature of this role, tasks may favor an indoor or outdoor setting for periods of time during the service year.
 
Service Goals
Primary Service Goals Include:
  • Collecting and assisting with the analyzation of data regarding what plant varieties and specific cultivars are attractive to pollinators, the specific pollinators that are attracted to these plants, and the seasonality of these relationships
    • Regular observational data collection
    • Photo documentation
    • Identification of plants and pollinators
    • Collaborate with institutional and industry partners (universities, public gardens, & growers)
    • Contribute to our ability to recommend particular plants and cultivars that promote pollinator species to the public, retailers, and plant breeders, ultimately influencing future conservation efforts for pollinators in the urban landscape
  • Provide guidance/assistance to horticulture volunteers gathering plant-pollinator data
  • If needed, act as Horticulture point person for teen “Buzz Troop” volunteers collecting data in the gardens.  “Buzz Troop” is a citizen science program hosted by the zoo that encourages teens to photograph pollinators and document what plants the pollinators are attracted to.
  • Evaluate, assess, and report program goals and outcomes
  • Measure impact of and 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:
  • Helping to orchestrate and attend pollinator themed events
  • Assist with the development of informative horticulture resources that can be accessed on the CZBG website and social media outlets
  • Help maintain labels and record-keeping for pollinator plants within the gardens
  • Assist in the development of educational resources for Horticulture volunteers to utilize at the Gardening for Wildlife Station to educate individuals on the relationship between particular plants and the pollinators that they support.
  • If needed, help grow and maintain plants and garden spaces designed for the conservation and promotion of pollinators
    • Potting and caring for pollinator friendly plants in the nursery
    • Planting, weeding, mulching, and watering pollinator beds within the zoo and affiliated garden spaces
Commitment to Service
  • Ability to fulfill an 11-month, full-time AmeriCorps service commitment
  • Dedication to CZBG and AmeriCorps’ missions
  • Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others
  • In addition to learning horticultural skills required to sustain plants for pollinators in the urban landscape from professional horticulturists, the service member will have opportunities to gain skills in data collection & analyzation, collaboration with institutional and industry partners, leadership, communication, presentation/resource development, and conservation at local and regional levels.
 
 Additional Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree required
  • Ability to use basic and preferably advanced functions of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Publisher) the internet and web-based forms
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
 
Conclusion/Support for CZBG Mission & Goals
The AmeriCorps member would support the mission and goals of our program and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden through the observation and study of pollinator gardens and plant-pollinator relationships.  The service member’s contributions would impact conservation efforts by individuals and industry/institutional partners at local and regional levels.  It would support our mission of inspiring people with plants every day and contribute to the five pillars of the Botanical Garden and Cincinnati Zoo:
  • Collection – observe and study plants that support pollinators in our gardens
  • Education – showcasing plant selections and garden designs to promote pollinators, communicating data collected regarding what plants support pollinators to the public and institutional/industry, developing educational materials to share observations & recommendations
  • Research – studying which plant varieties and cultivars support specific pollinator species
  • Conservation – promoting plants for pollinator conservation at local and regional levels
  • Community – inspiring the public and members of the green industry to grow plants and gardens for pollinators
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
  • Willingness to work in a variety of weather conditions
  • Must be able to lift & move 30 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
  • Living Stipend to be paid bi-weekly over the 11-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.
 
We strive to be an organization that is diverse and reflects the fullness of society. With a strongly held value for an organizational culture characterized by inclusion and belonging, we are committed to equity in all we do. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to our organization’s diversity and who want to walk alongside us in our commitment to inclusion and equity. We are a Ellequate Certified Leader in Workplace Equity. Non-traditional candidates of diverse backgrounds are not only welcomed, but highly encouraged to apply.
 
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