WATER QUALITY EDUCATOR (AMERICORPS POSITION)
City of Gresham, Stormwater Division, Gresham, Oregon
Closes: Not Specified

Position start date:
As soon as possible. This is a year-long AmeriCorps position with
Northwest Service Academy.

Transit pass, training stipend and access to City vehicles provided.
Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required to
operate City vehicle.

Position Summary:
The Water Quality Educator will be responsible for developing and
implementing the City's Education Outreach plan that will deliver
water quality (WQ) protection messages to key target audiences. The
Water Quality Educator will identify and work closely with community
groups/members including watershed councils, minority groups, high
schoolers and volunteers to enhance the City's efforts to engage the
whole community in protecting, restoring and maintaining Gresham's
watersheds. The member will also assist the Biodiversity Coordinator
(another AmeriCorps member sering with the city) with field
identification of significant plant communities & greenspace
inventory.

Essential Responsibilities:
--This position will focus on outreach approximately 60% of the time
and field work up to 40% of the time.
--Identify appropriate community service groups that work with key
target audiences to receive WQ protection messages. Desired target
audiences are: streamside property owners, business owners, Latino
community and high school students.
--Identify the barriers and motivators to engaging the target
audiences in the desired behavior, based on the results of a Gresham
citizen survey and a survey of the Latino community (already
completed).
--Develop targeted education program ideas and draft suggested
structure based on feedback from community groups/businesses on
partnering possibilities and the analysis of the barriers & motivators
of the targeted audience.
--Develop & implement an education program to supplement Gresham's
Community Fish Friendly Car Wash program that includes alternative
activities that charity groups can engage in besides car washing.
--Engage community residents in natural resource/biodiversity
awareness activities. Increase the community awareness and stewardship
of our public open spaces. This can be accomplished through nature
walks, native plant landscaping events, or weekend restoration
activities.
--Survey Gresham open spaces for significant invasive plant
communities and observed impacts of development and recreational
uses. This will be accomplished in partnership with the Biodiversity
Conservation Coordinator and will include activities such as: using a
GPS system to digital record plant/plant community locations within
open spaces; plant identification; digital cataloguing of field
notes.

Preferred Qualifications:
--Interest and ability to work with diverse groups of youth and
adults.
--Demonstrated interest in the protection of water quality and working
on public behavior change.
--An independent, self-motivated, and resourceful individual who is a
people person, willing to work as a close team with the Community
Watershed Steward, Endangered Species Act Coordinator and the
Biodiversity Coordinator (AmeriCorps volunteer).
--Four-year degree preferred, Social Science, Education, Marketing,
or Statistics background a plus, but not required.
--Good analytical skills are essential, some basic knowledge of
watersheds and plants is a plus.
--Excellent organization and written and **** communication skills,
likes to be creative and think "outside the box", has a good sense
of humor, good familiarity with Microsoft Office Programs.
--Willingness to serve a flexible schedule, including some weekends.

Benefits:
Living stipend ($825/mo), health insurance, $4725 scholarship,
training opportunities, loan forbearance & childcare.

Apply now if you are 18 or older and committed to service.

For more information on this project contact:
Kathy Majidi, 503-618-2488 or [email protected]

To apply for this position submit a completed AmeriCorps application
to:
Bonny Cushman
NWSA Recruitment
2500 NE 65th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98661
p (360) 750-7500 x 378
f (360) 694-2491

Application materials and program information at:
www.northwestserviceacademy.org