Massachusetts Jobs

National Parks of Boston has aligned with the City of Boston, a legislated partner to the parks, to uphold, bolster, and become a lead contributing organization to the city’s commitment to environmental action and climate justice to work towards a goal of carbon neutrality and mitigating the effects of climate change for all Boston’s residents. The City of Boston has identified six areas of focus and advancing the goals of embedding community engagement through community-based projects, and creating a more resilient community through the initiative, Climate Ready Boston, for how the city will continue to thrive while adapting to long-term climate change.

The Stewards AmeriCorps VISTA will address the need at the park for a dedicated team member to lead a strategic planning process that will research, collect feedback, and identify a plan(s) along with key decision-making milestones to establish a new youth employment and development program, Climate Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC program vision is to employ up to 15 opportunity youth participants (ages 18-30) in climate resilience projects throughout the three park units. In FY23 and throughout FY24 the park will employ a pilot program of the Climate Conservation Corps. The program will target to recruit and give preference to opportunity youth for all these positions. Three AmeriCorps volunteers “Corps Members” and one Team Crew Leader will accomplish significant climate resilience related field work and research projects across three park units. The AmeriCorps VISTA will serve in a position to observe and collect feedback on the pilot program that will inform the development of a 5-year strategic plan.

Furthermore, the AmeriCorps VISTA member will serve in a catalyst role on the NPB Climate Response team to develop capacity to bring this new program initiative to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, and organizational maturity, so that NPB and the Climate Conservation Corps program can effectively and efficiently advance its mission into a future 5-year strategic plan. The member will provide new perspectives and approaches for accomplishing goals with an approach that can scaffold service-learning projects that youth participants would be engaging in and identifying training opportunities to build their skills to accomplish those projects.Job Responsibilities include but are not limited to:• Develop a strategic plan for Climate Conservation Corps (inclusive of the NPB Climate Response Program) to develop a roadmap to launch and grow projects and programs. • Serve as an intermediary between park management, program directors, managers, and coordinators to identify, discuss, and communicate goals, strategies, and programs. • Engage, motivate, and retain external/internal audiences (e.g., park staff, partners, local academic institutions, non-profits, city/state governments). • Conduct analysis and assessment of climate response park-based projects and build knowledge on trends, best practices, existing initiatives, gaps, etc. • Facilitate collaborative processes for developing mission statements, vision, and values; establish 3-5 year goals and outcomes.

National Parks of Boston supports professional development for its members, and training opportunities will be available, which may include but are not limited to: (CPR/First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, Plant Identification, chainsaw training, etc.)

Required Skills

Demonstrated experience or interest in climate resiliency planning, strategic planning, facilities management, GIS, nonprofit management, landscape design and architecture, strategic planning

Required Experience

Coursework or experience in nonprofit management, environmental studies, environmental science, natural resource management, sustainability, environmental engineeringFundraising/grant writingLeadership and youth developmentCommunity organization and engagement