PROGRAM ASSISTANT II- ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH- TEMP

We are seeking an energetic and enthusiastic staff member to join our Environmental Outreach Team!   

• Are you interested in protecting and preserving the environment and encouraging others to join you in growing a greener future- all while getting paid? 
• Are you enthusiastic about working outside and finding ways to connect the community to environmental education activities? 
• Do you have a desire to be involved in the community while also helping to develop written, printed, and in-person environmental education opportunities for the community? 

Sounds too good to be true, right? It's not! This may be the opportunity for you!

You will assist with program implementation, project development and other special projects- including written, digital, and in-person communication tactics. Under moderate supervision, you will assist with the organization, implementation, marketing, and supervision of environmental outreach programs, classes, and festivals/celebrations for the community.  Additionally, you will lead volunteer workdays that include supervising and performing natural resources and urban agriculture-based work in our environmental education facilities such as our community garden, teaching farm, and compost education center. 

Work will require a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and some holidays.

This is a part-time, non-benefited, year-round position, up to 20 hours a week, with a maximum of 999 hours per year.

• Assists with programming ideas and help create/lead classes, programs, and festival features that engage the community in environmental education opportunities/sustainable behaviors. 
• Creates communication and education tactics related to organic gardening, natural lawn care, invasive plant removal, litter collection/prevention, water quality, rain gardens, renewable energy, composting/waste diversion, and ecosystem restoration/native plants. 
• Assists with scheduling and participant communication for environmental outreach programs/classes.
• Leads outdoor volunteer workdays to perform basic environmental volunteer tasks (including weeding gardens, mulching landscape areas, collecting litter, and planting plants/trees). 
• Performs marketing assistant tasks, such as creating and designing digital/print pieces, writing and submitting simple website updates, and drafting social media content. 
• Identifies and assists in general environmental facility upkeep and maintenance needs including weeding/watering gardens, creating work orders and organizing storage spaces. 
• Assists with maintaining “active” backyard style compost bins while monitoring public use of these spaces and continuously seeking opportunities to improve upon the quality of public access/experiences. 
• May engage in significant contact with the public.
• Performs general office duties.
• Performs other job-related tasks as required.

• Experience in creating and designing various marketing material using a variety of technological tools.
• Experience in customer service and/or education.
• Working knowledge of basic gardening and a general healthy ecosystem balance 
• Existing understanding of composting, native plants, and food systems 
• General knowledge of computers and related software and standard office practices/procedures.
• Ability to remain organized, pay close attention to detail and meet deadlines
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with team members, vendors, and the public.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to maintain and establish effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of Town of Cary policies, procedures, and the services of the department. 
• May require the ability to supervise staff, instructors, and volunteers. 

Education and Experience

Requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to an associate’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of experience teaching and/or leading groups of youth and/or adults. Experience can include paid professional or volunteer experience. 

Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following:

• Some experience in educational program design. 
• Some experience in graphic design. 

Physical Requirements  

Work in this class requires an employee to be able to hear and talk in order to communicate with the public and with groups under instruction.  An employee must be able to climb, walk unassisted and move about freely in order to interact with patrons. Requires the ability to lift moderately heavy items (up to 25 lbs.) Visual acuity is needed to read typewritten and handwritten materials and to view a computer terminal. Work in this class is primarily clerical and may require sitting and use of a computer for extended time periods. Work will take place both inside in a variety of office and parks facility settings as well as outdoor work that will take place in a variety of temperatures and weather conditions. 

Special Requirements 

Requires possession of a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal check, education verification and credit history review) prior to employment.

Salary : $16 - $21