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Community Engagement AmeriCorps Associate

Conservation Trust for North Carolina
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This position is with the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), based in Durham, NC. Triangle Land Conservancy is an accredited and well-respected land trust, having protected almost 21,000 acres in the rapidly growing Triangle region of North Carolina. For 38 years, TLC has conserved land to safeguard drinking water, to support family farms and the local food economy, to protect important natural habitat, and to connect people with nature. TLC is currently headquartered in downtown Durham with a field office at the Williamson Preserve in Wake County, NC. This is an exciting time to work at TLC as we have recently completed a strategic action plan that will guide us as we double the pace of conservation in the Triangle in the next seven years. TLC is committed to equal opportunity and follows recruitment and selection practices that comply with all applicable employment laws. To this end, TLC recruits, hires, trains, and promotes individuals without regard to color, race, religious belief, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, or age. For more information on TLC please visit- www.triangleland.org

 
The 2021-2022 positions will have a start date (for new full-time 11 month members) of September 1st 2021 and an end date of July 31st 2022.
**Please make sure you upload all of the required documents - Resume, Cover Letter, State or Federal ID, College Transcripts, Birth Certificate (if US Passport not uploaded).** If required documents are not uploaded at time of application, any offer for employment will be withheld until they are provided. All AmeriCorps Members must submit to having a National Sex Offender, State of Residence (if state is different than NC), State of NC, and Federal FBI Background check conducted. Any applicant denying to submit to these checks will be automatically disqualified as per federal regulations.
For the 2021-2022 service year, Resilience Corps NC offers a living stipend of $17,000 for 11 months, health insurance reimbursement for premiums, childcare assistance, and professional development opportunities (individual trainings, enrollment in NC Environmental Education Certificate Program, and conferences in conjunction with the NC Commission on Volunteerism). Participants who complete the program will receive a Segal Education Award of $6,345 from the National Service Trust. 
CTNC is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual preference or familial status.
CTNC seeks to engage applicants from underrepresented communities, particularly of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial, and Native American background, in conservation careers. Connecting more diverse applicants to an employment pathway has led to greater equity, diversity and inclusion of all people in conservation.

Purpose of the Position
The Community Engagement Coordinator at the Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve is a one year service term position with the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC). This role will focus on connecting members of the public to the agricultural activities and histories of the Williamson Preserve. Duties will primarily be outdoors with office space onsite in eastern Wake County. The Community Engagement Coordinator will support efforts to recruit new and beginning farmers to the property, lead farm tours for donors and organizational groups, work closely with local school groups, and manage seasonal high school intern(s) on the farm. Other activities will include supporting partnering farmers, presenting farm topics at local events and conferences, serving on local community advisory boards, and developing educational resources and tools for the farm.
In this role, service members will be a member of the Conservation and Stewardship (C&S) staff team that focuses on protecting and stewarding land across the Triangle Region. C&S prioritizes the land management and monitoring of owned TLC properties around the piedmont of North Carolina. The Community Engagement Coordinator will work most directly with the Farm Manager for the Williamson Preserve, Land Steward Associate, and the Education Manager to support the outreach and engagement goals of TLC. This position reports directly to the Farm Manager for the Williamson Preserve.   
See https://www.triangleland.org/explore/nature-preserves/williamson-preserve for more information about the Williamson Preserve and its agricultural goals and history. 

Position Responsibilities and Duties
The primary responsibilities of the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Williamson Preserve are to recruit, connect, and support new farmers on the preserve and to act as a liaison between the farm operations and members of the public. Duties include:
  • Building capacity for farmers at the Williamson Preserve by connecting growers with land on the preserve, infrastructure needs, funding, and educational opportunities.
  • Building capacity for TLC staff by helping connect farm programs with regionally appropriate programs and activities.
  • Managing TLC partnerships with participating Wake County Public Schools and associated programs like group field trips and high school interns.
  • Led farm tours for visitors, farmers, donors, and others.
  • Develop research tools and partnerships for the history of the farm property and communities linked to the Mial Plantation history, Williamson farm history, and other relevant narratives.
  • Actively develop and participate in anti-racism trainings, workshops, and actions on the farm and surrounding agricultural properties.
  • Documenting farm programs and activities through resources like photos, written pieces, photographs, and other medium.
  • Presenting farm activities and goals at conferences, events, and TLC functions such as Wild Ideas, Winter in the Woods, and other events.
  • Coordinating diverse partnerships on the property, such as educational groups (NC State, NC Central, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, others), partner organizations (Sound Rivers, GearUp, community groups), Scout troops, farm stewards and others.
  • Assist TLC staff in organizing and leading educational programming on the property.
  • Supporting the Farm Manager in equipment operation, volunteer workday activities, and other land management tasks on the property as needed.
Work Environment 
This position will take place outside at the Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve and inside at the White Barn Office at the Williamson Preserve. This mix of indoor and outdoor time is at the discretion of the Williamson Preserve Farm Manager and the Service Member based on the seasonal needs of the position. This role will work in a collaborative work environment with the Williamson Preserve Farm Manager and a small team of stewardship staff members. Some days may be completely independent, while other workdays may involve several large group events. The work environment throughout the year is diverse and dynamic, with each day being different.

Qualifications 
  • BA or BS or equivalent experience
  • Knowledge of and experience with diverse communities
  • Knowledge of regenerative agricultural practices for water quality, regenerative soil, and biodiversity.
  • Experience working in gardens, nurseries, farms, or other equivalent outdoor job environments preferred.
  • Experience with anti-racism work and diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) trainings.
  • Ability to effectively handle multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and to work comfortably in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
  • Ability to work well within a team and with individuals, both internal and external
  • Experience working with and leading both individual volunteers and groups of volunteers.
  • Experience leading agricultural or environmental education preferred.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Maintain a high level of professional conduct when faced with challenging or difficult situations with both partners and colleagues.
  • Experience with environmental education
  • Proven problem solver and the ability to work independently
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and website systems (WordPress, Instagram, Facebook)
  • Familiarity with land trusts and/or the Triangle is very helpful
  • Has valid driver’s license
  • Contribute to a supportive and collegial work environment and maintain a positive attitude with colleagues and organizational partners.
Essential Functions / Physical Demands
The Community EngagementCoordinator at the Bailey & Sarah Williamson Preserve is a full time, 40 hour/weekservice member position. Work hours will be conducted both indoors and outdoorsbased on seasonal conditions and weather. This position reports directly to theWilliamson Preserve Farm Manager to set weekly priorities and workschedules. Hours for this positioninvolve both weekdays and weekends, with the ability to be flexible based onseasonal events and workdays at the farm. In general, work weeks can be longer in the spring and summer months andmore abbreviated in the fall and winter, based on seasonal farmoperations. Candidates for this positionshould feel comfortable with a work schedule that is highly flexible andchanges week to week. The preferredschedule is 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and the occasional weekend duties forspecial events. The member will not berequired to work more than 40 hours per week, unless needed to obtain hours forAmeriCorps.
Preferred Schedule
Member will work in both an office setting and at our nature preserves. When working outside, the member will be in strenuous circumstances and should be physically fit and able to work in the outdoors. Member should be able to travel on uneven terrain and lift objects weighing at least 30 pounds. This position will primarily be located at the address: 4409 Mial Plantation Road, Raleigh, North Carolina on the 405-acre Williamson Preserve.