AmeriCorps - Sustainability Impact Member

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is hiring a full-time Sustainability Impact Member through AmeriCorps to serve for 12 months, focusing on conservation and sustainability initiatives. Responsibilities include providing STEM education, engaging community members, managing sustainability projects, and supporting greenhouse gas data collection. The position requires 40 hours per week with a schedule that may include evenings and weekends, emphasizing collaboration and community impact.
Sustainability Impact Member

Number of position(s): 1

The ZOO UNTO OTHERS AmeriCorps Program

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) and AmeriCorps have partnered to serve three communities in our region (Human, Wildlife and Ecological Communities) to further our mission and create a world where both people and wildlife can thrive and prosper. To this end, we have created service positions that bring a variety of fun, impactful, and conservation-based service opportunities that positively impact youth, zoo visitors, the animals in our care and our local environment. Examples of the impactful service the program provides are:
• Providing quality STEM education to poor PreK-12th grade students
• Engaging Zoo visitors, volunteers, Zooteens, and community members in conservation practices and behaviors.
• Creating and maintain Zoo and community garden spaces that create wildlife habitat and greenspace for residents.
• Maximizing the wellbeing of the animals in our care
• Creating conservation partnerships that amplify our impact.
• Supporting a variety of sustainability initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint.

This position will focus on advancing CZBG’s sustainability goals to be net-zero energy, water, and waste by 2025. The Sustainability team is working to develop the roadmap to meet these goals, as well as developing goals of regenerative environmental impact that go beyond our campus borders.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for many things - our conservation efforts, our green initiatives, our friendly staff… but did you know that we have a strong set of core values that make us the best team around, and a Top Workplace in Cincinnati? We’re more than coworkers… we’re family. By building Collaborative Relationships, displaying Positivity & Energy, having Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership, supporting Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect, and embracing Progressive Thinking, we have built a team of dedicated staff that focuses on our visitors, our community, & our future.

This is what we believe and how we act. If this gets you fired up, we look forward to having you join our team!

ABOUT THE POSITION

The incumbent is a full-time AmeriCorps position serving 1,700 hours (40 hours per week) over an 12-month term of service (October 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026). They will report directly to and be supervised by the Sustainability Impact Team. Schedules will serve 5 days a week, 8-hour days and assigned as needed Example: Monday-Friday, with some evening and weekend shifts required and scheduled in advance.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Create and distribute communications content for various audiences and platforms about the sustainability departments projects
• Serve as a liaison between the education and sustainability departments, participating in the Americorps Sustainability Group
• Assist with greenhouse gas data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Facilitate the management of projects that expand the sustainability and regenerative landscape at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm
• Assist in the coordination of projects within the Zoo’s Community Solar Resiliency Program
• Help facilitate holiday drives for local schools and community partners
• Assist with other positive impact and community projects such as greenspace installations and neighborhood tree plantings
• Assist in the tasks related to managing our hydroponic growing containers and the overall hydroponics program
• Help expand and manage specialty recycling program, coordinating zoo-wide communication, and scheduling pick-ups
• Attend community related meetings and networking events
• Evaluate, assess, and report various project goals and outcomes
• Measure impact of and goals for the program year
• Participate in a mid-year and end of year performance review process with supervisors.
• Complete bi-weekly timesheets to accurately report hours served
• Participate in professional development workshops through AmeriCorps in-service days, service projects and training opportunities

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Skills
• Strong writing skills
• Strong data collection and analysis skills
• Strong communication and public speaking skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines and independently manage multiple tasks and timely follow-through, with flexibility to adapt to changing needs and to work effectively with minimal supervision
• Ability and desire to work collaboratively
• Willingness to seek and use available resources to support problem solving efforts
• Ability to independently problem solve and think strategically
• Ability to work and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds

Commitment to Service
• Ability to fulfill an 12 month, full-time AmeriCorps service commitment.
• Dedication to CZBG and AmeriCorps’ missions
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others

Professionalism
• Dedication to CZBG mission, Core Values, and program areas
• Willingness to represent the CZBG to outside groups
• Maturity and good judgment in relating to CZBG peers, partners, and visitors

Additional Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required
• A sincere love of wildlife and nature, and desire to share that interest with others
• Knowledge of engineering, environmental science, biology, zoology or a related natural science
• Desire and interest in working with people of all ages and backgrounds; demonstrated patience, rapport with, and understanding of underserved audiences
• Ability to use basic and some advanced functions of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Publisher) the internet and web-based forms
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed

Required
• Valid Driver’s License
• Ability to travel locally when needed
• To serve as an AmeriCorps member, individuals must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
• Ability to stand, walk, climb and grasp objects
• Must be able to lift & move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance
• Appointment is conditional upon passing a pre-start drug screen, providing a negative TB test, providing proof of full vaccination status as defined by the CDC, and providing information to establish eligibility and complete a National Criminal History Check.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
• $30,000 Living Stipend to be paid bi-weekly over the 12-month service term.
• Eligible to receive an education award upon successful completion of 1,700-hour service term. *Value dependent on Pell Grant each year.
• Health care and childcare benefit eligible
• AmeriCorps status could qualify you for forbearance and interest payments on qualified student loans during service.
• Extensive training, practice, and skill building in the fields of environmental and informal education, conservation communication, research, and horticulture for all audiences, as well as seasonal tickets and discounts provided within the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
• Making a difference in the community while being part of a dedicated service team