Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Environmental Steward Crew Member

Polk County Conservation envisions a transformative process of utilizing AmeriCorps members to manage under-managed natural ecosystems in Iowa. The Natural Resources Crew Member plays a vital role in the management and stewardship of natural resources within Polk County Conservation's parks and green spaces. Working under the direction of the Environmental Steward Crew Leaders and Natural Resources full-time staff, the Crew Member participates in a wide range of natural resource projects aimed at enhancing and maintaining the ecological health and biodiversity of county-owned lands. The Reduced Half-Time Natural Resource Crew Member will serve with Polk County Conservation as part of the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps members develop skills that build a strong, leadership-packed résumé, earn a living stipend ($9,564) paid equally over the course of 675 hours from the start to end of service; and receive a Segal Education Award upon completion ($2,817.14) to pay for higher education or qualified student loans. These positions are half-time members who will serve a minimum of 675 hours over 25 weeks, serving 28 hours per week. This posting is not a direct position of Polk County Conservation, and successful applicants will not be employees of Polk County. Successful applicants will not be subject to terms and conditions of Polk County employment and will not be eligible for any employee benefits provided by Polk County. However, these positions will be serving with Polk County Conservation, a host site of the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program, and will be subject to AmeriCorps rules, benefits, and federal requirements. Daily Times Weekly schedule is 6:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Thursday, totaling to 28 hours per week Every service day will include two 15-minute breaks, additional breaks must be taken if the temperature is above 85 degrees A 30-minute lunch period is included with every service day, these 30 minutes cannot be counted towards the required service hours during the term • Members must not serve any hours on the major federal holidays - New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This includes checking emails, self-directed training, or teleservice. If the Host Site is open on one of these holidays and members are expected to serve, the site supervisor should work with Program to gain approval for this member service prior to the holiday. For any of the other federal holidays, including MLK Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Veterans Day, Host Sites will communicate expectations of member service in advance. If the Host Site is closed on one of more of those lesser holidays (including the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas eve) or the Host Site recognizes other workdays when major federal holidays fall on weekend days, members should not check their email, complete timesheets, or do teleservice on those days either unless they follow the procedure above. Sick or personal leave, and holidays is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance. All members will go through one week of intensive in-person training to learn the essential skills necessary to complete the member duties outlined below. Additional training for service activities will occur throughout the service term to ensure the member is caught up with fellow crew members. The Natural Resources Crew Member AmeriCorps member will actively participate in a variety of natural resources management and conservation activities. The focus of the position is hands-on service, fostering environmental stewardship, and contributing to the overall improvement and preservation of natural habitats. The Crew Member will be responsible for working alongside a team of fellow AmeriCorps members in executing impactful projects such as invasive species removal, timber stand improvement, prairie seed harvest, trail maintenance/construction, and native plantings. Members will receive the following training and certifications before service activities begin: Members will participate in a 1-2 day chainsaw handling and maintenance training and pass a in-person practical skills test with full-time Polk County Conservation natural resources staff members Iowa Pesticide Applicator Certification in Core AND 2 (Forestry) OR 6 (Right of Way) Members must read each designated booklet in order to register for each corresponding category test Testing occurs online and utilizes LockDown Browser application that records video of the tester during the timed tests, personal laptops may be utilized for testing or computers will be available for members to use Members must receive an 80% or better to receive category certifications Members receive their Iowa Pesticide Applicator's Certification once all three category tests are successfully passed All Environmental Steward members in the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program are required to complete Iowa Pesticide Applicator tests in Core

AND 2 OR 6

within three weeks subsequent of their official start date. Failure to complete these trainings and certifications in a timely manner will result in a member not receiving integral certifications utilized by the Program. Missing or skipping trainings and certifications could impact the ability of a member to remain enrolled within the Program. Below is a list of allowable member activities and responsibilities; members will be properly trained in all areas:

Essential Functions:

Follow strategic harvesting plans and species' seed viability timelines identified by the natural resources full-time staff to meet desired quantity of native seed species for the Polk County Conservation seed bank Follow burn plans created by natural resources full-time staff to manage prairie and oak savannah ecosystems Implement plans created by the natural resources full-time staff to manage and plant native plant pollinator gardens Complete tree planting projects around Polk County Conservation parks Filling five-gallon buckets of mulch and soil for planting projects Digging holes to plant native tree species carefully selected to thrive in the local ecosystem Securing tree poles on tree saplings to increase their chances of survival while they are rooting Build and maintain soft trails Complete in-person training with Polk County Conservation Trails Coordinator to understand the fundamentals of properly building a soft trail system Training includes PowerPoint visuals, lectures, and hands-on training with trail building tools to ensure complete understanding of trail terminology, why we build trails, what tools are used to build trails, and how to properly build a trail utilizing the tools available Utilize hand tools such as buckets, pick mattock, bow saw, hand saw, loppers, pruners, McLeod, rhino, rogue hoe, sledgehammer, landscape rake, round point shovel, tamper, pole saw, chain saw, and leaf blower Maintenance of soft trails includes felling hazardous trees, improving fall lines and down slope of trails to reduce erosion, removing woody stumps from trails, addressing invasive species via mechanical or chemical intervention, brush mowing trails to prevent regrowth of plants on the trail Communicate with crew members and natural resource staff about day-to-day project assignments and accomplishments via daily morning briefing and end of day debriefs

Non-Essential Functions:

Engage in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills related to natural resource management Gain additional day-to-day training from staff on equipment, vehicle & tool maintenance. Learn about park facilities Attend Volunteer Events that occur during the member's typical weekly schedule to provide assistance with preparation by collecting tools, PPE supplies, preparing mulch buckets for tree planting events, providing demonstrations of how the task should be completed, provide additional in-field support to volunteers assisting with the natural resources project, and participate in the volunteer event when not assisting with the previously listed tasks Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description but that support the AmeriCorps program design and that aid the Program in meeting its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities.

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

Interest or passion in the environment, environmental science, Iowa ecology, conservation practices, or GIS In progress or completed degree in environmental science or related field Ability to work in all outdoor elements with a variety of terrain for extended periods of time Walking a minimum of five miles per service day Ability to carry 20-25 pounds on your back, our backpack pesticide sprayers weigh this much when filled for invasive species management Ability to maintain consistent strong communication skills with Polk County Conservation staff and fellow AmeriCorps members Comfortable learning how to operate various hand tools, county equipment and vehicles, and trailering

Eligibility Criteria:

Be 17 years of age or older Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident Possess a valid driver's license and previous driving experience: Candidate must be comfortable with driving on all road types (gravel, grass, highways, rural, and city roads) Candidate must be comfortable driving in any environmental conditions (daytime, nighttime, rain, fog, sleet, ice, and snow) Candidate must be willing to drive to any location within Polk County, Iowa Candidate must pass a motor vehicle record check before they can operate any county vehicle Candidates with limited driving experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Benefits:

Segal Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service Living Allowance Professional development seminars and opportunity to network with Polk County staff Childcare coverage if the member qualifies Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans Housing opportunities provided by Polk County Conservation upon request Iowa Pesticide applicator's Certification Extensive chainsaw training and tree-felling experience GIS experience

Performance Evaluation & Reporting Requirements:

Member Performance Evaluation requirements during the term Regular bi-weekly submission of member timesheets Regular weekly submission of project data from each site a member works on Daily progress reports to Polk County Conservation staff Consistent recording of project areas using GIS in Field Maps application

Pay:

$9,564.00 per year Application Question(s): Are you 17 years of age or older? Do you hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident? Are you willing to complete a national service criminal history check, which includes an FBI name database check and an in-person fingerprint scan? Ability to

Commute:

Maxwell, IA 50161 (Required) Ability to

Relocate:

Maxwell, IA 50161: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

In person Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Environmental Steward Crew Member 11204 NE 118th Ave, Maxwell, IA 50161 $9,564 a year - Temporary $9,564 a year - Temporary Polk County Conservation envisions a transformative process of utilizing AmeriCorps members to manage under-managed natural ecosystems in Iowa. The Natural Resources Crew Member plays a vital role in the management and stewardship of natural resources within Polk County Conservation's parks and green spaces. Working under the direction of the Environmental Steward Crew Leaders and Natural Resources full-time staff, the Crew Member participates in a wide range of natural resource projects aimed at enhancing and maintaining the ecological health and biodiversity of county-owned lands. The Reduced Half-Time Natural Resource Crew Member will serve with Polk County Conservation as part of the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps members develop skills that build a strong, leadership-packed résumé, earn a living stipend ($9,564) paid equally over the course of 675 hours from the start to end of service; and receive a Segal Education Award upon completion ($2,817.14) to pay for higher education or qualified student loans. These positions are half-time members who will serve a minimum of 675 hours over 25 weeks, serving 28 hours per week. This posting is not a direct position of Polk County Conservation, and successful applicants will not be employees of Polk County. Successful applicants will not be subject to terms and conditions of Polk County employment and will not be eligible for any employee benefits provided by Polk County. However, these positions will be serving with Polk County Conservation, a host site of the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program, and will be subject to AmeriCorps rules, benefits, and federal requirements. Daily Times Weekly schedule is 6:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Thursday, totaling to 28 hours per week Every service day will include two 15-minute breaks, additional breaks must be taken if the temperature is above 85 degrees A 30-minute lunch period is included with every service day, these 30 minutes cannot be counted towards the required service hours during the term • Members must not serve any hours on the major federal holidays - New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This includes checking emails, self-directed training, or teleservice. If the Host Site is open on one of these holidays and members are expected to serve, the site supervisor should work with Program to gain approval for this member service prior to the holiday. For any of the other federal holidays, including MLK Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Veterans Day, Host Sites will communicate expectations of member service in advance. If the Host Site is closed on one of more of those lesser holidays (including the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas eve) or the Host Site recognizes other workdays when major federal holidays fall on weekend days, members should not check their email, complete timesheets, or do teleservice on those days either unless they follow the procedure above. Sick or personal leave, and holidays is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance. All members will go through one week of intensive in-person training to learn the essential skills necessary to complete the member duties outlined below. Additional training for service activities will occur throughout the service term to ensure the member is caught up with fellow crew members. The Natural Resources Crew Member AmeriCorps member will actively participate in a variety of natural resources management and conservation activities. The focus of the position is hands-on service, fostering environmental stewardship, and contributing to the overall improvement and preservation of natural habitats. The Crew Member will be responsible for working alongside a team of fellow AmeriCorps members in executing impactful projects such as invasive species removal, timber stand improvement, prairie seed harvest, trail maintenance/construction, and native plantings. Members will receive the following training and certifications before service activities begin: Members will participate in a 1-2 day chainsaw handling and maintenance training and pass a in-person practical skills test with full-time Polk County Conservation natural resources staff members Iowa Pesticide Applicator Certification in Core AND 2 (Forestry) OR 6 (Right of Way) Members must read each designated booklet in order to register for each corresponding category test Testing occurs online and utilizes LockDown Browser application that records video of the tester during the timed tests, personal laptops may be utilized for testing or computers will be available for members to use Members must receive an 80% or better to receive category certifications Members receive their Iowa Pesticide Applicator's Certification once all three category tests are successfully passed All Environmental Steward members in the Polk County Conservation AmeriCorps Program are required to complete Iowa Pesticide Applicator tests in Core

AND 2 OR 6

within three weeks subsequent of their official start date. Failure to complete these trainings and certifications in a timely manner will result in a member not receiving integral certifications utilized by the Program. Missing or skipping trainings and certifications could impact the ability of a member to remain enrolled within the Program. Below is a list of allowable member activities and responsibilities; members will be properly trained in all areas:

Essential Functions:

Follow strategic harvesting plans and species' seed viability timelines identified by the natural resources full-time staff to meet desired quantity of native seed species for the Polk County Conservation seed bank Follow burn plans created by natural resources full-time staff to manage prairie and oak savannah ecosystems Implement plans created by the natural resources full-time staff to manage and plant native plant pollinator gardens Complete tree planting projects around Polk County Conservation parks Filling five-gallon buckets of mulch and soil for planting projects Digging holes to plant native tree species carefully selected to thrive in the local ecosystem Securing tree poles on tree saplings to increase their chances of survival while they are rooting Build and maintain soft trails Complete in-person training with Polk County Conservation Trails Coordinator to understand the fundamentals of properly building a soft trail system Training includes PowerPoint visuals, lectures, and hands-on training with trail building tools to ensure complete understanding of trail terminology, why we build trails, what tools are used to build trails, and how to properly build a trail utilizing the tools available Utilize hand tools such as buckets, pick mattock, bow saw, hand saw, loppers, pruners, McLeod, rhino, rogue hoe, sledgehammer, landscape rake, round point shovel, tamper, pole saw, chain saw, and leaf blower Maintenance of soft trails includes felling hazardous trees, improving fall lines and down slope of trails to reduce erosion, removing woody stumps from trails, addressing invasive species via mechanical or chemical intervention, brush mowing trails to prevent regrowth of plants on the trail Communicate with crew members and natural resource staff about day-to-day project assignments and accomplishments via daily morning briefing and end of day debriefs

Non-Essential Functions:

Engage in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills related to natural resource management Gain additional day-to-day training from staff on equipment, vehicle & tool maintenance. Learn about park facilities Attend Volunteer Events that occur during the member's typical weekly schedule to provide assistance with preparation by collecting tools, PPE supplies, preparing mulch buckets for tree planting events, providing demonstrations of how the task should be completed, provide additional in-field support to volunteers assisting with the natural resources project, and participate in the volunteer event when not assisting with the previously listed tasks Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description but that support the AmeriCorps program design and that aid the Program in meeting its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities.

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

Interest or passion in the environment, environmental science, Iowa ecology, conservation practices, or GIS In progress or completed degree in environmental science or related field Ability to work in all outdoor elements with a variety of terrain for extended periods of time Walking a minimum of five miles per service day Ability to carry 20-25 pounds on your back, our backpack pesticide sprayers weigh this much when filled for invasive species management Ability to maintain consistent strong communication skills with Polk County Conservation staff and fellow AmeriCorps members Comfortable learning how to operate various hand tools, county equipment and vehicles, and trailering

Eligibility Criteria:

Be 17 years of age or older Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident Possess a valid driver's license and previous driving experience: Candidate must be comfortable with driving on all road types (gravel, grass, highways, rural, and city roads) Candidate must be comfortable driving in any environmental conditions (daytime, nighttime, rain, fog, sleet, ice, and snow) Candidate must be willing to drive to any location within Polk County, Iowa Candidate must pass a motor vehicle record check before they can operate any county vehicle Candidates with limited driving experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Benefits:

Segal Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service Living Allowance Professional development seminars and opportunity to network with Polk County staff Childcare coverage if the member qualifies Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans Housing opportunities provided by Polk County Conservation upon request Iowa Pesticide applicator's Certification Extensive chainsaw training and tree-felling experience GIS experience

Performance Evaluation & Reporting Requirements:

Member Performance Evaluation requirements during the term Regular bi-weekly submission of member timesheets Regular weekly submission of project data from each site a member works on Daily progress reports to Polk County Conservation staff Consistent recording of project areas using GIS in Field Maps application

Pay:

$9,564.00 per year Application Question(s): Are you 17 years of age or older? Do you hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident? Are you willing to complete a national service criminal history check, which includes an FBI name database check and an in-person fingerprint scan? Ability to

Commute:

Maxwell, IA 50161 (Required) Ability to

Relocate:

Maxwell, IA 50161: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

In person