Environmental Volunteer Groups Coordinator

Seeking an enthusiastic candidate to develop, coordinate and promote the MPRB’s volunteer group service projects with an emphasis in landscape, natural area, and garden maintenance activities. This position will cultivate new and existing partnerships with corporate and community organizations to support the broader environmental stewardship efforts and the mission, values and goals of MPRB. The ideal candidate appreciates and respects our diverse work environment and volunteer base, inclusive of many social, economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. 

JOIN OUR CREW, WE NEED YOU!
Join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and make a difference in your community! We are seeking employees who love nature, people, and fun.  Apply today and enjoy learning new skills, meeting new friends, and serving the community, all while working in our beautiful park system.  Whether you are interested in recreation, environmental education, maintenance, or customer service, we have a job for you! Don't miss this opportunity to be part of one of the premier park systems in the United States.  Our picturesque lakes, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming make the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play, and work!

• Coordinate, schedule, permit, and lead volunteer group service projects within the Environmental Stewardship division in coordination with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Purchase and distribute supplies, tools, and materials to ensure successful Environmental Stewardship Volunteer Programming.   
• Promote and recognize volunteer group activities through a variety of methods including recruitment fairs, community meetings, social media, MPRB website, web-based listing services, community-based promotions, presentations, and relationship-building with partner organizations. 
• Respond courteously and in a timely manner to public inquiries or administrative requests related to volunteer programming. 
• Track and report group project data including group requests, groups served, number of volunteers, hours of service, contact information, service locations, volunteer satisfaction assessments, and other relevant data that is integral the programs’ effectiveness. 
• Work in partnership to support MPRB Volunteer Stewardship and Community Garden Programming, including but not limited to attending events; assisting with plant deliveries; building relationships; promoting gardening activities; overseeing supplies, tools, and materials; assisting with the planning and staffing of the annual volunteer appreciation open house; and attending annual racial equity training with volunteer community garden leads. 
• Assist MPRB in identifying and addressing the park and recreation needs of underserved and under-represented communities.

Need to Have: 

• Bachelor’s degree in the biological sciences (horticulture, natural resources, environmental studies, ecology, or related field).
• Professional work experience in horticulture or related field:  two (2) years 
• Experience in volunteer programming or related field:  two (2) years 
• An equivalent combination of related experience, education, and training may be considered.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• First Aid and CPR Certifications within six (6) months of hire

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
• The physical ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, drive, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions.
• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• The ability to safely operate a motor vehicle as incumbents are subject to local travel both to and from work locations.  
• Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.  
• The ability to remain in a sitting or standing position for extended periods of time.
• The incumbent may be required to traverse on rough, uneven terrain, as well as wet and slippery surfaces.
• Ability to demonstrate and perform outdoor land care skills such as planting, weeding, pruning, mulching.  
• Work is performed in a normal office environment 45% to 65% of the time and 35% to 55% of the time is leading programs in the field, attending meetings, scouting sites for projects and gathering supplies. These percentages will vary by season. Outdoor work in all non-inclement weather conditions as needed.

Skills Crucial to Success in This Role: 

• Current knowledge of Park and Recreation functions, volunteerism, Horticulture and/or Natural Resources Management. 
• Ability to survey and evaluate MPRB volunteer programs through data tracking and reporting. 
• Effective and direct communication skills, both written and oral to include social media posts, instructing volunteers, promotional govDeliveries, and public facing reports. 
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, across work groups and with corporate and non-profit partners. 
• Outstanding customer service principles and practices for a diverse customer base.  
• Creative problem solving and work prioritization to successfully achieve goals in a busy and varied work environment. 
• Comfortable working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and on a range of tasks related to natural resources management, garden care, and landscape maintenance and the ability to instruct volunteers in these tasks. 
• Outstanding customer service principles and practices and standards for a diverse customer base. 

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Union Status: AFSCME local 3279

Job Information Session:  A 30 minute Job Information Session will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 11:30AM CT via conference call.  This is your opportunity to ask questions about the position and to gain a better understanding of the civil service application process. Please join us via phone conference at (612) 474-1955 and use phone conference ID 229 592 16#

View a full list of qualifications and job description 

Learn more about Veteran’s Preference

Selection Process:

To apply for this full-time civil service position, applicants must complete an online application with supplemental questions at www.minneapolisparks.org/jobs.  Late applications will be rejected.

What steps the selection process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your training and experience based on application materials and supplemental questions (30%).
• We conduct a structured panel interview (oral exam) (70%).
• We calculate your civil service score based on the above components and place you on the eligible list if all testing components are passed (passing score for each component and as an overall score is 70.00 or above).  Eligible list will expire in three (3) months.
• We refer the top finalists to the hiring manager for an interview.
• References, including verification of employment and work performance, may be considered. 
• We conduct a background check.  Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, the applicant will be asked to sign an informed consent allowing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to obtain their criminal history in connection with the positions sought. View the MPRB Background Check Policy at https://www.minneapolisparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Background-Check-Policy.pdf
• Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, applicants will also need to successfully pass a pre-employment physical examination paid for by the MPRB.

Please note that HR reserves the right to limit the number of people invited to successive testing events.

Salary : $31 - $37