About Mass Audubon

Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at www.massaudubon.org.

About This Position

TerraCorps is an AmeriCorps affiliated start-up environmental non-profit preparing and mobilizing emerging leaders to help communities gain access to and conserve land for people and nature. Working at the intersection of the land conservation and urban agriculture movements, our vision is to create a future where land is the foundation of health and well-being for ALL people in EVERY community.

This year’s TerraCorps program will support up to 60 full-time AmeriCorps Members across Massachusetts and Rhode Island each serving in one of five positions: Land Stewardship Coordinator (LSC), Land Conservation Coordinator (LCC), Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC), Youth Education Coordinator (YEC), or Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator (SAC).  Members will serve in full-time, 11-month terms (August 29th, 2022-July 28, 2023) in which they complete at least 1,700 hours of service with one of our partner organizations. Members receive a living allowance, education award, and additional AmeriCorps benefits (see full list at end of announcement).

Mass Audubon’s Metro South Region will host a Youth Education Coordinator for the 2022-23 service year. Information about all TerraCorps positions is available at https://terracorps.org/.

Duties & Responsibilities

Youth Education Coordinators (YEC) build the long-term capacity of their Service Site by engaging youth in service learning, experiential education, and inquiry-based science and nature learning projects. They collaborate with schools, libraries, and youth groups on projects that connect young people to the natural world, improve science literacy, and encourage healthy lifestyles. By serving with youth in an outdoor learning environment, they reinforce the connection between people, nature, and community and foster an inclusive land stewardship ethic in future generations.

TerraCorps members engage with their supervisors to develop and carry out three or more capacity building projects over the course of the service year. Some of these projects will involve recruiting, training, and/or managing community volunteers. Mass Audubon’s Metro South Region has proposed the following potential project(s) for their Youth Education Coordinator:

1. The TerraCorps member will increase outreach to students, teachers, and families in the Greater Boston region and South Shore, focusing on increasing the access under-served communities have to nature and high-quality nature-based STEAM educational programs, live animal programming, and Mass Audubon’s Science of Massachusetts Curriculum.
2. A major capacity building goal will be to develop new programming, expand on Metro South’s Nature in Your Neighborhood Family programming, and develop new school partnerships for underserved communities. A major goal of this project will be increasing the capacity of our new programmatic space, The Nest: A nature maker space, design workshop, and art studio space and continue our Nature in Your Neighborhood programming for youth and families in the Metro South Region. The TerraCorps member will responsible for developing at least two new nature-based STEAM education programs and Nature in Your Neighborhood programs for the Metro South Region. The TerraCorps member will provide outreach and deliver these programs to students in area schools and youth and family in the Metro South Region.
3. The TerraCorps member will market these programs and outreach work will include, but not be limited to, meeting with stakeholders and community partners, including principals, science and art coordinators, and teachers, to help them understand Mass Audubon’s mission and how we can help them meet their curricular goals. The TerraCorps member will also schedule, coordinate, and deliver programming to schools.

Development of these and other projects will occur during the first two months of service and consider the member’s interests and skills.

Qualifications

At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Required AmeriCorps Qualifications

• A US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
• At least 18 years old
• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• No more than three previous terms as an AmeriCorps member
• Pass a criminal history background check, including an FBI check

Desired Qualifications

• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Able to serve both independently and as a member of a team
• Comfort navigating computer software programs Microsoft Office suite of programs, a plus to have experience with the Adobe Suite, especially Spark, InDesign, Lightroom, and Photoshop
• Training and experience pertinent to the Youth Education Coordinator position and projects listed above
• Experience training and educating community members and volunteers
• Training and experience pertinent to the Youth Education Coordinator position and projects listed above
• Experience training and educating community members and volunteers
• Experience teaching or leading groups in the outdoors, preferably youth
• Experience with experiential education, service learning, and inquiry-based learning methods
• Experience with curriculum development and lesson planning

Compensation & Benefits

• TerraCorps Members will receive a living allowance of up to $18,500 (pre-tax) over the 11-month term of service, which is $740 (pre-tax) per 25 biweekly pay periods.
• TerraCorps assists Members in obtaining health insurance coverage. Reimbursement of costs may be available.
• Childcare assistance may be provided in cases of financial need.
• Upon successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps Members receive a taxable $6,495 education award that can be used for future education or to pay off existing school loans. See nationalservice.gov/resources/edaward for info and restrictions.
• TerraCorps Members are eligible for forbearance of most federally-guaranteed student loans, as well as payment of interest accrued during service.
• TerraCorps Members will receive mentorship, training, and career development opportunities while serving directly with community-based nonprofits.
• TerraCorps Members experience the personal rewards of national service
  and community engagement.

Note: TerraCorps members are responsible for their own housing and must have access to reliable transportation.

Additional Information

AmeriCorps Member Eligibility Requirements
All members are expected to serve full-time, commit to serve for the entire 11-month term, and complete at least 1,700 hours of service, including time spent in trainings and several service days with the full TerraCorps cohort. Weekly service averages 38 hours and commonly includes some night and/or weekend activities.

AmeriCorps programs provide equal opportunities. TerraCorps will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request.

Additional Information About this Program
TerraCorps Seeks to create change by achieving a broader, more authentic engagement of the diverse peoples living in our communities. When we do this, resources will grow, access to land will increase, the pace of land conservation will accelerate, and whole communities will achieve more resilient futures. To learn more about TerraCorps, visit: https://terracorps.org/.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 people in intensive service each year through more than 15,000 nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems and, also leverage their service by mobilizing volunteers to help address community needs for environmental stewardship, health, education, economic opportunity, disaster services, and support to veterans and military families. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit americorps.gov.

TerraCorps is a grant-funded program contingent upon renewal of federal funding from the AmeriCorps federal agency. TerraCorps is also supported in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance in MA and Serve RI in Rhode Island.

For questions about Mass Audubon’s Metro South Region’s service positions, contact Sean Kent, [email protected].

Other Requirements:

Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

COVID-19 Considerations

Mass Audubon requires that all staff, regardless of their work location, disclose their vaccination status. Proof of vaccination status will be required immediately upon hire. This should also include a booster shot if it has been 5 months since you were initially vaccinated.

Mass Audubon's Commitment To Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice

Mass Audubon's mission is to "protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife" by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

How To Apply

To apply for this position and to learn more about other TerraCorps service member opportunities, please visit the following page on the TerraCorps website at https://terracorps.org/member-position-listing/.

Note: A complete member application includes a resume and two professional or academic references that you will upload as part of your application.

Member applications will be collected by TerraCorps and shared with Service Sites. Do not send applications directly to a Service Site.

We strongly encourage interested individuals to apply as soon as possible once applications are posted in May 2022. Position offers and acceptances will be made on a rolling basis. The program aims to fill all positions by mid-July, but Service Sites will continue interviews as needed until all positions are filled.

For questions about TerraCorps please email [email protected]