PROGRAM ASSISTANT II- ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH- TEMP chez Town of Cary, NC

About the Department

We are seeking an energetic and enthusiastic staff member to join our Environmental Outreach Team!   

• Are you interested in protecting and preserving the environment and encouraging others to join you in growing a greener future- all while getting paid? 
• Are you enthusiastic about working outside and finding ways to connect the community to environmental education activities? 
• Do you have a desire to be involved in the community while also helping to develop written, printed, and in-person environmental education opportunities for the community? 

Sounds too good to be true, right? It's not! This may be the opportunity for you!

You will assist with program implementation, project development and other special projects- including written, digital, and in-person communication tactics. Under moderate supervision, you will assist with the organization, implementation, marketing, and supervision of environmental outreach programs, classes, and festivals/celebrations for the community.  Additionally, you will assist with recruiting new venders and community groups, managing related vender communications, and assisting with related purchasing and contract needs for environmentally focused festivals and celebrations. Work may include supervising and performing natural resources and urban agriculture-based work in our environmental education facilities such as our community gardens, teaching farm, and compost education center. 

Work will require a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and some holidays as needed.

This is a part-time, non-benefited, year-round position, up to 20 hours a week, with a maximum of 999 hours per year.

Position Duties

• Assists with programming ideas, leading programs, and creating festival features that engage the community in environmental education opportunities/sustainable behaviors. Programs may include basic environmental hands-on tasks (including weeding gardens, mulching landscape areas, collecting litter, and planting plants/trees). 
• Create communication and education tactics related to organic gardening, natural lawn care, invasive plant removal, litter collection/prevention, water quality, rain gardens, renewable energy, composting/waste diversion, and ecosystem restoration/native plants. 
• Assists with scheduling and participant communication for individuals, groups, and businesses to facilitate their participation in festivals and events. This can include basic contract management, purchasing, scheduling, and written and oral communications. 
• Performs marketing assistant tasks, such as creating and designing digital/print pieces, writing and submitting simple website updates, and drafting social media content. 
•  Will engage in significant contact with the public.
• Performs general office duties.
• Assists with maintaining “active” backyard style compost bins while monitoring public use 
• Performs other job-related tasks as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in engaging the public in programs, workshops, or event spaces.
• Experience developing and executing public events for 50-800 people.
• Experience in creating and designing various marketing material using a variety of technological tools.
• Experience in customer service and/or education.
• Working knowledge of basic sustainability topics related to water quality, waste diversion/compost, regenerative agriculture, transportation/mobility, natural resources, and community resiliency.
• General knowledge of computers and related software and standard office. practices/procedures. Ability to learn software related to contracts and purchasing. 
• Ability to remain organized, pay close attention to detail and meet deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with team members, vendors, and the public.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to maintain and establish effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of Town of Cary policies, procedures, and the services of the department. 
• May require the ability to supervise staff, instructors, and volunteers. 

Other Qualifications

Education and Experience

Requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to an associate’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of experience teaching and/or leading groups of youth and/or adults. Experience can include paid professional or volunteer experience. 

Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following:

• Some experience in educational program design and execution. 
• Some experience in event planning and execution.

Physical Requirements 
Work in this class requires an employee to be able to hear and talk in order to communicate with the public and with groups under instruction.  An employee must be able to climb, walk unassisted and move about freely in order to interact with patrons. Requires the ability to lift moderately heavy items (up to 25 lbs.) Visual acuity is needed to read typewritten and handwritten materials and to view a computer terminal. Work in this class is primarily clerical and may require sitting and use of a computer for extended time periods. Work will take place both inside in a variety of office and parks facility settings as well as outdoor work that will take place in a variety of temperatures and weather conditions. 
 
Conditions of Employment
Requires possession of a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal check, education verification and credit history review) prior to employment.