Community Volunteer Specialist

Make a visible impact on Boise’s parks, the Boise River, Greenbelt, and surrounding natural areas through habitat restoration, environmental education, and community engagement. Lead volunteer and education programs that bring youth, families, and community members together to enhance riparian and pollinator habitats and care for Boise’s natural spaces.

Responsibilities

• Handles moderately complex issues and problems; refers more complex issues to higher-level staff.
• Provides team support and training as needed.
• Leads the management program for the Boise River, Greenbelt, and surrounding riparian areas.
• Provides technical support to implement program goals, coordinates habitat enhancement projects, and engages community volunteers.
• Partners with internal teams to integrate restoration education and volunteer opportunities.
• Oversees invasive species removal and identifies budget and resource needs.
• Plans and delivers volunteer and education programs for youth, adults, and families.
• Collaborates with the Community Volunteer Coordinator and partners to align goals with departmental and city initiatives.
• Designs and promotes mission-based activities, including community science opportunities, and evaluates programs for quality and relevance.
• Develops and updates curriculum, event-based lessons, community programs, volunteer offerings, and presentations to meet the changing needs of diverse audiences.
• Develops lesson and event schedules and coordinates with partner organizations to ensure excellent delivery and service.
• Trains and supervises volunteers to ensure the successful and safe completion of service opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in environmental education, environmental studies, education, natural resources management, or related field and 2 years of professional education experience leading youth and adults; or an equivalent combination of experience and/or education.
• Valid state-issued driver's license.
• Ability to pass City of Boise background check processes, including a criminal history check and reference checks.
• Acceptable driving record.
• Knowledge of environmental studies, including physical, chemical, and biological sciences; landscape design and maintenance related to pollinator habitats; riparian habitat restoration and enhancement techniques; and budget, contract, and grant management.
• Ability to develop and implement large-scale education programs targeted to diverse audiences.
• Ability to conduct a gap analysis and provide solutions to identified problems.
• Ability to respectfully interact with coworkers, internal and external partners, the general public, and members of the media.
• Ability to safely and effectively lead groups of all ages in volunteer projects in varied weather conditions and terrain.
• Ability to communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance.
• Ability to perform all essential functions as assigned with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in education, communications, science, or related field and four years of professional education experience leading youth and adults.
• Experience in teaching, group facilitation, public speaking, and formal training in an environmental degree program.
• Ability and willingness to interact and engage a variety of stakeholders and children of all ages.
• Experience managing volunteers.
• Experience in project management and development in a related position.

Working Conditions

• Frequently lifts/carries up to 20 pounds; occasionally lifts/carries up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally pushes/pulls up to 20 pounds; rarely pushes/pulls up to 50 pounds.
• Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear, and touch.
• Requires close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
• Involves sitting, standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, grasping, climbing, and balancing.
• Requires hand/finger dexterity.
• Work environment includes indoor conditions, outdoor weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and wet/humid conditions.
• Involves driving a vehicle and using cordless tools, weed eaters, push mowers, weed burners, and chainsaws for invasive species removal.
• Works evenings and weekends to accommodate volunteer schedules.

Benefits

• Zero-cost premium medical coverage for you and your family.
• PERSI retirement plus employer-matched 401(k)/457b.
• 10 hours of vacation per month (grows with tenure), 12 paid holidays, and 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• 10 weeks of paid parental leave.
• $500 annual wellbeing incentive.
• Tuition reimbursement and free local bus pass.
• Basic life and long-term disability insurance at no cost.