Job Detail
Collections Volunteer Coordinator
Location: Lisle, IL
Salary:
The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned nonprofit botanic garden dedicated to the study, growth, and conservation of trees both in the Chicago region and worldwide. We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team to engage the volunteer community within the Collections Division, which includes natural resource and horticultural programs. In our work at The Morton Arboretum, we strive to be inclusive, work together, and keep learning so that we can make the Arboretum exceptional.
Position Summary: Coordinate volunteer efforts within the Collections program, especially Natural Resources, Living Collections, and Landscape Horticulture departments. Assist with the design, development, coordination, evaluation, and promotion of programs for the volunteer community, including workshops, workdays, training, and outreach programs for volunteers, and staff.
Essential Functions:
- Train, support, and fully engage the volunteer community within the Collections program.
- Work with the Volunteer Services department to support recruitment, onboarding, and engagement for volunteers within the Collections program.
- Routinely work alongside volunteer communities within natural areas, collections, and gardens.
- Engage staff to develop volunteer opportunities and improve natural areas, collections, and landscape maintenance.
- In collaboration with supervisor and relevant Arboretum staff, create content and reports about volunteer projects and support creation of training and educational materials.
- Create and sustain a sense of community among the collections, gardens, and natural area volunteer groups.
- Serve as liaison to external partner groups as needed.
- Participate in development and coordination of the Natural Areas Conservation Training Program and future programs developed in Living Collections and Landscape Horticulture.
- Become proficient in all safety procedures. Train, supervise, and enforce safety procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Develop routine communication and build excitement about programs and volunteer opportunities through email, print and social media, as well as the Arboretum’s website.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Associate’s degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred. 2+ years experience in natural resources, horticulture, environmental science or related area required. Experience as a volunteer, supervising volunteers, or working in an organization that relies on volunteers is preferred. Experience in horticulture and ecological restoration required. Strong verbal and written communication skills required; prior experience presenting in front of an audience or working with volunteers preferred. Creativity and a highly organized and enthusiastic personality are required. Experience with digital image editing and developing online content preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google applications, and web technology is beneficial. Ability to learn specialized database and learning management and other software required. Must possess a valid driver’s license, which is subject to insurability and an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report. Must become certified and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR (classes provided).
Success Factors: Proactive, creative, self-motivated, highly organized, and detail oriented. Strong collaboration, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines. Comfort working on teams across departments. Ability to lead and inspire volunteers. Excellent public service attitude and genuine enthusiasm for working with the public. Stamina and ability to manage programs and work outdoors in various weather conditions. Professional demeanor with strong ethical standards and ability to adapt to change.Ability to embrace and align with the organization’s employee core values to be inclusive, take ownership, work together, keep learning and make the Arboretum exceptional.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
- Physical Demands: Requires some physical activity: limited lifting and carrying (up to 25 lbs.), bending, pushing and pulling. Ability to travel around the Arboretum on paved, wood- chipped, and dirt paths over varied and uneven terrain, in various weather conditions on foot or in a vehicle.
- Work Environment: Work is performed in a combined indoors, outdoors and off-site locations. Exposure to loud or prolonged noise and/or vibration. This position is designated as a hybrid-eligible position, allowing for some work to be performed off premise, during regular hours of work.
- Equipment: General office equipment, gardening tools and landscape equipment, audio- visual equipment, microscopes, two-way radio, Arboretum van and utility vehicles.
- Schedule: Position requires some evenings and weekends as assigned.
For full consideration, please include resume and cover letter with application.
The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.
To apply, visit: https://mortonarb.org/join-support/employment/
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