Individual Placement - Native Plant Nursery and Community Participant chez The Student Conservation Association

Position Summary 

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.

The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors, and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. 

Branch/Unit Description: The Park Nurseries support the mission of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) by growing native plants for restoration efforts and connecting local communities with nature. With the involvement of volunteers, the Park Nurseries grow up to 150,000 plants a year. As a team and as a public-serving program, we are committed to equity and inclusion and are working to increase access for historically excluded communities.

Position Overview: Are you interested in native plants, working outdoors, and growing plants for restoration? Do you want to work with a wide range of community volunteers and youth? If so, we invite you to apply for a 9-month position with us!

The Park Nurseries team is looking for three SCA members. As part of a community-based restoration nursery program, members gain hands-on experience in growing plants, collecting seeds, and leading volunteer programs. members practice leadership skills during volunteer and community programming for participants of all ages. Additionally, this training program includes workshops and discussions about job readiness, professional skill building, conservation, climate change, social and environmental justice, plus the opportunity to work at other park sites within the GGNRA.

Location 

San Francisco, CA

Worksites

Presidio Nursery in San Francisco and Marin Headlands Nursery in Marin County, CA

Schedule 

January 20, 2026 - September 26, 2026

32 hours per week, Tuesdays - Saturdays

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

Volunteer and Community Programs: Members receive training to assist with volunteer programs, which includes:

• Leading recurring weekly volunteer programs

• Supporting and leading one-time community events

• Building relationships with returning volunteers and welcoming new volunteers

• Educating new volunteers, students, and seasonal youth crews in nursery practices

• Speaking in front of a variety of groups to provide instructions on nursery tasks and information about the nursery

• Ensuring the quality of work completed by volunteers

Plant and Nursery Work: Members receive training to assist with growing native plants for restoration, which includes:

• Transplanting seedlings and upsizing plants in pots

• Performing routine plant care such as watering, weeding, pruning, and fertilizing • Following best management practices for nursery sanitation

• Collecting seeds and cuttings in the field

• Processing, storing, germinating, and sowing seeds

• Participating in testing plants for Phytophthora pathogens

• Caring for on-site native garden areas

• Conducting basic facility maintenance, repairs, cleaning, and improvements

Record keeping: Members receive training to keep detailed, accurate records of propagation, seed collection, and plant inventory. This includes:

• Entering data into spreadsheets and custom online nursery database

• Accurately recording information and self-checking work

• Recording seed collection data using ArcGIS

Marginal Duties 

Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications 

• Interest in volunteer programs and community access: Interest in working with and leading volunteers and youth groups. Interest in working with our team to make programs accessible and meaningful to people from a wide range of communities, including those historically excluded from environmental experiences.

• Interest in plants and restoration: Interest in working with plants in an outdoor setting. Interest in native plants, nursery work, habitat restoration, or another related field.

• Independent work and teamwork: Able to work in a focused manner, whether alone or in a team. Able to build effective working relationships with a variety of people, inclusive of different backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints. Supports fellow team members. After initial guidance and training, can work on projects independently.

Education and/or Experience:

• Either a high school degree (or equivalent) OR work experience (in any field)

• Applicants must be 18 years or older.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications 

Valid Driver's License with successful record check

Hours 

32 per week

Living Accommodations 

Responsible for own housing

Compensation  

$640/week Living Allowance

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

Not needed

Additional Benefits 

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.