Individual Placement - Community Stewardship and Engagement Participant

Position Summary 

Organization Description: 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) and One Tam partners. 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. Join us.

Branch/Unit Description: The Parks Conservancy's Community Stewardship and Engagement (CSE) team is passionate about creating and strengthening connections between communities and parklands through a variety of programs that serve a diversity of Bay Area communities. We strive to build trustful relationships and impactful experiences that provide opportunities for stewardship and science, storytelling, recreation, exploration, and wellness. We work to understand the needs of our local communities, listen deeply, and collaborate with our community leaders to co-create programs. We seek to support the health, well-being and care of both our local communities and our flora and fauna and inspire new ways of learning and contributing to social justice and environmental issues. Our programs, partnerships and initiatives intersect with our core partners at the National Park Service and the Presidio Trust for both program development and delivery, and other Parks Conservancy teams such as Park Projects and Design, Conservation and Community Science, Youth Programs, Nurseries team, Volunteer and Intern Program, and One Tam partners to ensure that our service to youth, families, volunteers and interns is rooted in community values and needs. As a team, we are committed to centering our values of equity, justice and belonging as we learn and grow.

Position Overview: The Community Stewardship and Engagement Team is excited to welcome three new members to our team. The members will support Program Managers with the planning, communication, delivery and operations of community and/or volunteer programs at park sites within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Through our partnerships and programs, we serve our parklands and engage communities that have been historically underrepresented or have faced barriers to accessing nature, bringing awareness to racial, social, and environmental justice. While members will collaborate across focus areas, one intern will be focused on sustainable gardening with volunteers, one on ecological restoration and volunteer management, and two on community engagement and outreach. The member will be matched with a focus area based on their interest and passion.

Community Stewardship Programs: The member will focus on supporting our community stewardship programs for local community groups, community colleges, and high schools. Our programs include habitat restoration (ex: weeding and planting), hands-on experiential learning, and community building activities at National Park sites. We are looking for someone who loves talking to new people, bringing community together, and who enjoys connecting with community members of many different backgrounds and lived experiences. This member will also learn and practice skills in land stewardship and inclusive volunteer program management.

Community Engagement and Outreach Programs: The member will support a variety of engagement programs, nature-based activities, outreach and large public events that connect people to nature and our parklands both in the park and in community spaces. Our programs are often designed and co-created with community leaders to reflect and respond to community needs. Examples include events held at libraries, programs with community partners, and nature pop-ups or tabling events using our mobile outreach vehicles - the Roving Ranger and the Tam Van.

Hosting Organization

Golden Gate National Park Conservancy

Location 

Building 201, Fort Mason

San Francisco, CA

• This position is primarily in a front country setting where emergency services are accessible, but may be delayed by 1-2 hours. SCA Members regularly interact with members of the public. Access to public transportation at work site is limited or not possible. Cell phone reception maybe limited, spotty, or not available.
• This position may conduct work in a front country setting where emergency services are accessible, but may be delayed by 1-2 hours. Access to public transportation at work site is limited or not possible. Cell phone reception is limited, spotty, or not available.
• This position may conduct work in an urban setting where emergency services, public transportation, and cell phone reception are readily accessible. Interactions with members of the public are regular and frequent.

Schedule 

January 26, 2027 - July 10, 2027

32 hours/week, Wednesday - Saturday, 8-4:30 or 9-5:30 with some exceptions. The workday is 8 hours with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break and two scheduled 15-minute paid breaks throughout the day.

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Supports multiple community programs per week and assists with planning, content development, organization and facilitation. This includes set-up, coordination of food and refreshments, gathering activity supplies, loading and unloading vehicles with supplies, tools and supplies maintenance, office tidiness, audiovisual needs, etc.
• Programs can include (and will vary depending on placement): habitat restoration volunteer programs, nature-based walks and talks, tabling events, story times, queer- and trans-centered programming, cultural celebrations, community science activities, nature-based arts and crafts.
• Supports the development and implementation of educational activities and interpretive materials for programs Supports team in building safe, welcoming and accessible experiences for participants
• Supports communication and outreach materials for programs Assists with tracking and reporting on participant and program data
• Participates in meetings, workshops, and discussions with staff and other members.
• Additional responsibilities for Community Stewardship Member: Assists in the maintenance of native landscapes through weeding, planting, watering, and mulching. Develops knowledge of local ecology and shares it with visitors and volunteers in engaging and interactive ways.

Marginal Duties 

• Participates in job related trainings that include topics of safety; diversity, equity, and inclusion; workforce skills development; job search essentials; leadership; and field specific technical skills.
• By end of the placement, presents learnings and/or design final project or program

Required Qualifications 

• Interest in learning about national parks, love of the outdoors and curious about our local ecology, environmental issues, climate change; eager to learn and share information with others.
• Interest in building a safe environment for park visitors who may have little experience in the outdoors and who have faced systemic barriers to park access Interest in developing public speaking and visitor engagement skills
• Excited to represent the Parks Conservancy and other partners in a positive and professional manner.
• Responds to inquiries from the public in a helpful and friendly manner. Interest in developing community, youth and volunteer management skills with emphasis on training, supervision, and leading groups and individuals in planned activities and programs.
• Interest in developing engaging and creative educational and interpretive materials for programs and experiences
• Energetic and self-motivated; ability to work independently once provided direction; willing to ask questions or for support
• Good communication skills and respect for others.
• Responds to Teams messages and emails in a timely manner
• Enthusiasm for working with a diversity of people with different backgrounds, ethnicity, races, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints
• Reliable and punctual
• Ability to learn basic computer skills
• High school degree or equivalent
• Valid Driver’s License and clean DMV driving record. Position requires frequent driving of government vehicles in urban conditions, on highways, and sometimes on narrow, mountain roads. Some of these sites may not have cell phone service.
• We value and encourage candidates from all backgrounds, ethnicity, races, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints to apply.

Preferred Qualifications 

Multi-cultural/multi-lingual skills are a plus

Hours 

32 per week

Living Accommodations 

N/A

Compensation  

• $640/week - Living allowance paid bi-weekly

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

Personal Vehicle Information

Driving

Driving a motor vehicle for the partner agency/organization is a requirement for this position.

To be able to drive a motor vehicle for the SCA, you must:

• Be able to complete or fulfill all partner driving requirements.  

Additional Benefits 

Defensive Driving Training

AmeriCorps:

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The SCA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and performance, without unlawful discrimination.