Sustainability Impact Member

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is hiring a full-time Sustainability Impact Member through AmeriCorps, serving 1,700 hours over 12 months. Responsibilities include promoting sustainability initiatives, engaging with the community, assisting with greenhouse gas data, and coordinating conservation projects. The position requires a commitment of 40 hours per week, with some evening and weekend shifts. This role is based in Cincinnati, OH, and is not remote.
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About the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and AmeriCorps
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.



Providing quality STEM education to economically disadvantaged PreK-12th grade students
Engaging Zoo visitors, volunteers, Zooteens, and community members in conservation practices and behaviors.
Creating and maintaining 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.

Position: AmeriCorps - Sustainability Impact Member
Location: Cincinnati, OH


Job Id: 1395


# of Openings: 1


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 5, 2026 to August 24, 2027). 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 department's 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, learning how to track purchasing and utility data.
Schedule Sustainability Tours, help give tours, and direct schools or organizations to the proper channels.
Utilize GIS to track, plan, and streamline sustainability projects.
Provide regular assistance to projects that expand the sustainability and regenerative landscape at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm, including horticulture plantings, syrup production, agrivoltaics, stream and ecological restoration work, soil testing, composting, and organizing ongoing research opportunities.
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.
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 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 serve collaboratively.
Willingness to seek and use available resources to support problem‑solving efforts.
Ability to independently problem solve and think strategically.
Ability to serve with and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.

Commitment to Service

Ability to fulfill a 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, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher), the internet and web‑based forms.
Ability to serve evenings and weekends as needed.

Required

Valid driver’s license.
Ability to travel locally when needed.
AmeriCorps membership requires citizenship, national, or lawful permanent resident alien status in 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 total 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.