Volunteer Program Specialist

Description:

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, is recruiting a Volunteer Program Specialist for the public lands of Southern Nevada. The specialist will work collaboratively with five Federal agencies (FWS, NPS, BLM, USFS and Reclamation) and their partners as part of a unique programming collaboration. The position offers an unparalleled opportunity to build programming, work closely with partners, manage complex projects, and gain experience working with five agencies. This is a great next step for candidates ready to move into project and program management. Programming will focus mainly on recreation, environmental education and volunteer management.

Job duties will include, but are not limited to:

Develop and plan single-day and multi-day (overnight) volunteer stewardship events.
Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers at stewardship events.
Coordinate volunteer work projects and activities with partners.
Develop content for non-personal interpretive material such as brochures, exhibits, and signs. Design products using standard graphic design programs such as Adobe CS.  
Develop content for social media, websites, and other electronic platforms. Maintain websites and social media pages.
Develop and implement annual outreach plan. Coordinate and staff outreach events.
Develop annual work plan for projects, programs and outreach. Evaluate programs at least once per year.
Develop and maintain working relationships with community organizations, nonprofits, State, County and Federal agency partners.
All programming development and implementation will be done in close collaboration with the Federal agencies and their partners.
Work in close cooperation with Refuge staff in all aspects of work duties. 

GBI and the USFWS are recruiting a specialist to support the work described through GBI’s Research Associate (RA) Program. The Research Associate will focus on volunteer program management and development, recruitment and outreach, and volunteer events while working closely with multiple partners.

Compensation: 

Rate of pay: Up to $23.00 per hour
Medical, dental, and vision insurance available at no cost
Paid leave and holidays
Eligible to enroll in a 401k with GBI matching (after 90 days)

Timeline: 

March 2022 for a 1-year duration; likely to extend pending available funding and positive performance review
Full time, 40 hours per week; weekend hours will be required
Minimal overtime may be required for events and/or special projects

Location:

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Ash Meadows NWR, Moapa Valley NWR, and Pahranagat NWR. These refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region and have a related purpose and management needs. The specialists will eventually have office space at the Refuge Complex headquarters, located at 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130.

In addition to the scenic desert beauty at the Refuges, there are several other recreation and natural setting opportunities to explore close by. Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and more are within a few hours driving distance and afford a variety of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing to fishing, boating and skiing/snowboarding.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in education or related coursework and commensurate field experience
Experience recruiting, training and/or managing volunteers
Experience conducting interpretation, highly desirable
Experience living or working in, and/or knowledge of the Mojave Desert (preferable) or desert ecosystems and natural/cultural resources, desirable
Experience developing and implementing outreach programs or events
Experience creating interpretive materials (e.g.: pamphlets, posters) or displays
Motivated, self-starter who is detail oriented and capable of working with little direct supervision
Flexibility to handle competing and changing priorities
Willingness to commit (pending performance and funding) to the full duration of the project (through December 2024), desired
Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse public in a variety of forums
Ability to speak Spanish conversationally, desirable but not required
Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments
Possess valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license.

The successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning this position.

As part of Great Basin Institute’s Covid-19 Vaccination Policy, all employees are required to receive and provide proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccine prior to the first day of employment, unless a medical or religious exemption is submitted and approved. All employees covered by this policy are required to be fully vaccinated as a term and condition of employment at Great Basin Institute. Employees are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing primary vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, with, if applicable, at least the minimum recommended interval between doses.

To review a copy of GBI’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, please visit our Field Updates page for more details. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact one of our staff members.

How to apply:

Follow this link to apply directly through our online portal:

https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=NAAEE&req=2022-RAP-016

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit Retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.