Sustainability Graduate Assistant

GENERAL STATEMENT

Assists the Special Projects Initiatives & Sustainability Manager of the day-to-day operation of the Sustain U Department and the Grow Beach Garden program. Sustain U is dedicated to sustainable practices within Associated Students Incorporation (ASI) including sustainable waste management program and/other cor-porate wide initiatives. Grow Beach Garden is a student run university organic garden that allows students to cultivate their own food while making a sustainable impact on campus. The candidate assists as needed with the sustainable waste management program including opening and closing of the Sustain U Depart-ment and Grow Beach Garden program, and the campus collection service.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1.    Manages the Sustain U Department and Grow Beach Garden program. Serves as a program liaison on sustainability issues. Organizes educational events, educates student/multi-area user groups, including Associated Students Incorporation (ASI) programs, and student clubs to enhance waste reduction/recycling/composting         goals.

2.    Manages the Grow Beach Garden program for Associated Students Incorporation (ASI) Works with student employees to recruit student volunteers, educational workshops, maintenance and general upkeep of the garden. 

3.    Assists Special Projects Initiatives & Sustainability Manager with student recruitment, training and supervising of Sustain U student employees. 

4.    Assists with the formulation and development of programming events and procedures for activities sponsored by Sustain U and Grow Beach Garden program. Guides students’ employees and volun-teers in achieving problem-solving strategies related to program, and administration of campus wide initiatives.  

5.    Meets weekly with the Special Projects Initiatives & Sustainability Manager regularly. Meets monthly with the Associated Students Incorporation (ASI) Associate Director of Facilities Opera-tions & Sustainability. 

6.    Assists Special Projects Initiatives & Sustainability Manager with opening and closing of Sustain U Department & Grow Beach Garden program and assists with scheduling of student staff. 

7.    Establishes goals and projects to develop more efficient systems to increase recycling and com-posting, reduce waste and promote safety. Assists in advocating established goals while promoting the intent of ASI sustainability efforts. 

8.    Develop comprehensive reports, projects, and presentations encompassing waste audit analyses, annual sustainability outcomes, and training programs for both student staff and volunteers. 

9.    Organize and execute sustainability-focused events and initiatives, cultivate partnerships across campus, and provide support to relevant committees. 

10.    Oversee sustainability projects and initiatives, including conducting research, planning event pro-grams, and managing marketing materials. 

11.    Assist in coordinating and managing budgets and finances related to sustainability efforts. 

12.    Prepares work schedules and ensures that all tasks are appropriately staffed. Fill-in for absent em-ployees as needed. 

13.    Creates brochures, signs, and activities to promote recycling and composting, waste reduction, and proper sorting techniques to promote recycling and encourage student participation. 

14.    Serves on campus wide sustainability committees as needed and works collaboratively with uni-versity wide initiatives.

15.    Perform prolonged physical labor, drive, and operate university vehicles to transport garden pro-duce, event materials, and waste management reports across campus, and handle other opera-tional tasks

16.    Perform other job-related functions as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Assists Manager with supervision of student employees in the Sustain U programming entity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent from four-year college or university; and one to two years related experi-ence in program, sustainability, student affairs or project management; or equivalent combination of educa-tion and experience.

Knowledge and Abilities

Working knowledge of proper methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the collection, sorting, processing and selling of recyclable materials; working knowledge of plant management; general knowledge of current solid waste management issues in California and familiarity with current recycling trends.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical proce-dures, or governmental regulations; ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure man-uals; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from senior managers, campus administrators, students, customers, and the general public; ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry; ability to solve practical problems and deal with a varie-ty of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

California Driver's License necessary as incumbent will drive university vehicles as needed including ASI carts, van and/or truck..

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Schedule

•    Not to exceed working 29 hours per week 

•    Must be able to attend events or work on occasional weekends and/or evenings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommo-dations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Re-quires the ability to maintain cardiovascular fitness to engage in strenuous physical labor. Requires the ability to lift (from overhead, waist and floor levels, max. 50 lbs.), carry (max. 50 lbs.), push, pull, bend, squat, reach (from low, level, and overhead), and twist and turn head and trunk to clean and to remove trash, garden and maintain equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The position requires a demonstrated ability to perform sustained physical labor and operate a university vehicle.

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Incumbent must be able to function effectively indoors and outdoors engaged in work of primarily an active nature.  Requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently ex-posed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.