The Sustainability Institute at Penn State is hiring an
AmeriCorps for 2018-19. This is an excellent opportunity for a recent grad who
wants to launch a career in sustainability. Interviews for this position will
begin July 19th, so please encourage potential candidates to apply soon!
The Sustainability Experience Center (SEC) is a 9 acre
site at the edge of campus that comprises the Morning Star Solar House, an
electric vehicle charging station, windmill, a plant-based water purification
system, a community garden, and a research forest. The site will be the
eventual permanent home of the Penn State Student Farm. These assets are used
to educate students of all ages and the general public about sustainability
issues related to food, energy and water.
The AmeriCorps volunteer will assist with building
capacity in support of our goals to 1) increase access to the assets of the
Sustainability Experience Center Site for Penn State faculty and students, to
K-12 educators and their students, and to the general public and 2) educate
individuals about the food, energy and water sustainability. Under the
supervision of the SI Assistant Director for Outreach and Engagement, the
AmeriCorps volunteer will develop guided tours, programs and activities for a
variety of audiences. This could entail developing a training manual, training
student volunteers to give tours, developing outreach materials, creating a
calendar of events, and maintaining records of the number and type of visitors.
The AmeriCorps volunteer will be part of a larger team at Penn State working to
add new amenities and transition the Student Farm to the site. In this
capacity, the AmeriCorps volunteer may assist with the organization and
facilitation of stakeholder meetings and engage in the site planning process.
AmeriCorps responsibilities include:
1. Collaborate with Penn State faculty to develop one or
more curriculum modules based on SEC assets and increase student exposure to
the SEC.
2. Collaborate with Community Partners such as area
school districts to increase use of the SEC by area teachers and k-12 students.
3. Coordinate with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
and area non-profits to develop programs for the public.
4. Research, develop and conduct education and outreach
activities on food, energy and water sustainability.
5. Schedule and lead tours at the SEC.
6. Develop a training manual for student volunteers and
docents.
7. Maintain records of the number and types of visitors
to the SEC.
8. Collect feedback/data to evaluate programs and
activities.
9. Assist with coordination of site development and
planning meetings.
10. Complete projects that help to develop and sustain
the SEC.
Qualifications:
1. Must meet all Penn State clearance and background
check requirements.
2. Excellent written, oral and interpersonal
communication skills.
3. Ability to manage multiple projects, establish
priorities, and meet deadlines.
4. Interest in and knowledgeable about sustainability
concepts.
5. Experience with developing and delivering educational
activities.
6. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Position Location: Penn State University, State College,
PA
Service Term: 1700 hours from August 22, 2018 – August 9,
2019 (35-40 hours per week)
AmeriCorps Stipend: $654 paid biweekly, and a $5920
education award upon completion of service. Please see http://www.pmsc.org/become-a-member/
for additional information about AmeriCorps service.
Office space provided at University Park Campus.
To apply: Submit resume, cover letter and three
references with the subject line 2018-19 SEC AmeriCorps Application to Diana
Malcom, dbw102@psu.edu. Review of applications will begin on Monday,
July 9th.
