Native Plant Land Manager

VHCB AmeriCorps

Native Plant Land Manager

Green Mountain College, Poultney, Vermont

This position is part of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps (VHCB AmeriCorps). The VHCB AmeriCorps program supports the innovative dual-goal approach to creating stable affordable housing opportunities for Vermont residents while preserving the natural and working landscape. VHCB is a national service program that places AmeriCorps members with non-profit housing or land and energy conservation organizations around the state.

The mission of the college is to prepare students for productive, caring, and fulfilling lives by challenging them to engage environmental problems honestly, with sound information, the best tools and methods available, and their best talents, and to foster public service, global understanding, and lifelong intellectual, physical, and spiritual development. To expand sustainable land management and college programs in biology, environmental studies, and natural resource management, Green Mountain College seeks a half-time AmeriCorps member as its Native Plant Land Manager. The land manager will work with faculty in biology, the student natural areas crew, and a variety of volunteers on campus and in the community to coordinate a broad range of plant conservation initiatives, emphasizing control of invasive species and the college’s new effort to landscape the campus with native species.

Essential Functions:

·  Practice sustainable land management on the college’s 120 acre main campus and its 85 acre Lewis Deane Preserve with a faculty supervisor, and in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff.

·  Manage invasive species, implementing the college’s Invasive Species Policy.

·  Help plan the college’s new initiative to landscape the campus with native plants, and implement our Native Species Landscaping Policy.

·  Work with the Southern Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery on campus to establish plant propagation for native species landscaping.

·  Record and summarize management actions (including control summaries for major invasive species) and work done by the student Natural Areas Crew and volunteers.

·  Raise awareness of the role of campus lands initiatives in our sustainability program, through contributions to the college website, social media, classroom and public presentations, and improved signs and interpretation.

·  Recruit and train students in land management and horticulture through work study, summer work study, undergraduate research, service learning, independent study, and volunteer programs.

Marginal Functions:

·  Develop digital map layers in a geographic information system (GIS) to help campus landscape planning and natural areas management.

·  Maintain a digital library of data from research, class projects, and other studies on campus lands.

Desired Qualifications:

·  College coursework in biology, ecology, and ecological applications to land management

·  Experience in managing invasive species

·  Experience in horticulture

Minimum Qualifications:

·  Keen interest in applying biology and ecology to plant conservation and sustainability programs

·  Experience in ecological land management

·  Understanding of the ecological basis for landscaping with native species, and enthusiasm for implementing this landscaping approach

·  Ability to work independently and take initiative

·  Fast, efficient, enthusiastic work habits

·  Excellent observation skills and attention to detail

·  Excellent ability to write field notes, record data accurately, and summarize data

·  Good communication and teaching skills to train work crews and volunteers

·  Ability and enthusiasm for recruiting and engaging paid crews and volunteers

·  Ability to work with a diversity of students, faculty, staff, and community members

·  Ability and willingness to do physical labor outdoors in various weather conditions on a daily basis

·  Ability to lift a 35 lb tool, or push a garden cart or wheelbarrow with a 100 lb load

·  Familiarity with using a word processor and spreadsheet software

·  US citizenship (or have permanent resident status; call with questions about this)

·  Age at least 18 years upon entering the Pre-Service Orientation (there is no upper age limit), or 17 years of age with written parental permission that has been verified by phone

·  High school degree or GED certificate, or willingness to work towards GED as part of service-year successful completion requirement. A member cannot have dropped out of high school to join AmeriCorps. If a member has a documented medical reason/professional opinion why they cannot finish high school, they might be eligible; call in this case

·  No conviction of murder or sexual assault and willingness to undergo a National Service Criminal History Check

·  Commitment to the VHCB AmeriCorps program, and its ethic of service and personal and professional development of its participants

·  Ability and enthusiasm to drive to, attend, and participate in required trainings and events, and readiness to drive up to 2-3 hours each way.

·  Willingness to participate in support and collaborate with fellow VHCB AmeriCorps members, and members from other AmeriCorps Programs.

·  Willingness to participate in a self-designed Independent Service Project and other VHCB AmeriCorps Program Initiatives.

Additional Information:

Service Conditions

·  Work for this position will take place for the most part outdoors, in almost any weather.

·  Field work may require contact with and necessary precautions against stinging nettle, plants armed with thorns, various insects and arthropods, and other inconveniences.

Position begins September 12th, 2016 and ends August 12th, 2017.

This position is Half Time: Requires 900 hours for an average of 20 hours per week for one year. Member will receive a living allowance of $8,640 (pre-tax), and an education award of $2,865 (pre-tax) upon successful completion of service. Other benefits include health insurance, federal school loan forbearance, and various training opportunities.

This position does not have recurring access to vulnerable populations (youth, persons over 60, individuals with disabilities).

To Apply:

All application documents are required. Please submit a resume, a completed AmeriCorps application (available at http://www.vhcb.org/americorps/menu_events/positions/) and two letters of reference to Jim Graves (see below). For questions about this position or to send additional materials:

James H. Graves, Professor of Biology

Green Mountain College

Poultney, VT 05764

802-287-8291

Application deadline: July 25, 2016

Additional information on AmeriCorps is available at www.americorps.org.

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) is sponsoring this AmeriCorps position through their AmeriCorps Program. VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Positions are open to all applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran’s status, religion or creed.

Serve. Experience. Lead