Careers

Description:

GrizzlyCorps Fellowship Application Portal Open

Start Date: September 8, 2021

End Date: July 31, 2022

Location: Various locations in California

About the Program

         GrizzlyCorps is an AmeriCorps program designed by Project Climate at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment in partnership with CaliforniaVolunteers. Our program sends recent college graduates into rural communities across California to promote regenerative agri-food systems and fire and forest resilience. We aim to expand capacity for organizations working on community resilience and climate action while bolstering the next generation of professionals at the forefront of climate change solutions.

         Each year, GrizzlyCorps sends fellows to placement sites in forest and farm communities throughout the state for 11 months. Our fellows have been placed with a variety of host partners and organizations, including cooperative extensions, resource conservation districts, research stations, non-profits, and other community organizations and agencies. Fellows support their hosts through a series of capacity-building projects that aim to improve the impact of their work, build community resilience, and respond to climate change. During their service year, GrizzlyCorps Fellows work on selected projects that promote regenerative agri-food systems and/or fire and forest resilience. 

Learn more and apply on the website! 

Areas of Responsibility and Essential Functions

As AmeriCorps members, GrizzlyCorps members can only engage in specific goals or tasks. All members will only engage in:

• Capacity building projects to address resilience and local climate needs.
• Volunteer engagement to recruit and build volunteer services, and support existing volunteers.
• Professional development to build both professional skills and community development skills, and to enhance the esprit de corps experience.

Tasks and Functions Include:

• Work on projects promoting regenerative agri-food systems (farm) or forest resilience (forest) in conjunction with project needs determined with site supervisor.
• Maintains detailed and accurate records of activities.
• Accurately records hours served and submits on-time biweekly timesheets.
• Notifies appropriate program staff of any concerns at the service site.
• Participates in community service projects and volunteer recruitment activities including those on National Service Days.
• Notifies site supervisor of any absence or tardiness prior to the absence or tardiness occurring.
• Adheres to a schedule agreed upon by member and site supervisor.
• Adheres to all AmeriCorps, program, and service site rules and regulations.
• Follows directions from service site and program staff.
• Wears program-issued AmeriCorps uniform at all times while serving.
• Maintains a consistent service schedule conducive to completing the minimum number of service hours.
• Attends training sessions provided by GrizzlyCorps and program site supervisors.
•    Regularly checks for program-related email correspondence daily and responds accordingly.

Explanation of duties

All GrizzlyCorps projects will increase the capacity of local communities to promote resilience and response to climate needs. Examples of projects include developing local plans, inventorying risks and vulnerabilities, implementing pilot and demonstration projects, and engaging key stakeholders.

Overall, all GrizzlyCorps members follow the same 4-stage intervention process to implement their service:            

• Gap assessment where members identify capacity building goals
• Research, planning, and implementation projects to address these goals
• Volunteer recruitment activities to engage the community in efforts
• Transitioning of knowledge to community members

Through this intervention model and these specific service activities, the member’s service will support GrizzlyCorps’ performance measures, including building local resilience capacity, completing professional development, and engaging volunteers.

Benefits of Service

In exchange for their service, members will receive the following benefits:

• Annual Living Stipend of $22,000 paid out monthly
• Medical health insurance at no cost (including vision and dental)
• $10,000 education award that can be used for eligible student loans, tuition, and other education related expenses after successful completion of your service year. See more information: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/segal-americorps-education-award/amount-eligibility-and
• Forbearance and Interest Accrual Repayment of Eligible Student Loans
• Child care expense reimbursement if you qualify - see www.americorpschildcare.com

Schedule Requirements

• Hours are generally Monday – Friday from 8:30 – 5:30 (varies by placement site), averaging 40 hours per week including some evenings and weekends.
• Serve a minimum of 1700 hours during the term of service.
• Of their total hours, the member is expected to log no fewer than 120 training hours, but is able to log up to 20% of their total hours as training hours. The remaining 80% of hours will be dedicated to public agency capacity building projects.
• The member will also log approximately 100 hours for volunteer engagement activities, which will be a mix of training and service hours.
• Must participate in 3 service days throughout the service year – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cesar Chavez Day, and AmeriCorps Week.

Eligibility Requirements and Qualifications

GrizzlyCorps members must have completed at least a 4-year degree and ideally have relevant experience in a related field. An ideal candidate will have the following characteristics:

AmeriCorps Requirements

• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States
• Be at least 17 years of age
• Ability to pass FBI, CA Department of Justice, out-of-state (if applicable), and National Sex Offender Public Registry background checks prior to service

GrizzlyCorps Requirements

• A 4-year degree (i.e. BA/BS) from an accredited college or university
• Commitment to the full term of service (11 months, 1,700 hours)
• Capability to serve in a professional office setting
• Strong communication (both verbal and written) and teamwork skills

Strongly preferred

• A degree in a related field
• Past service experience (e.g., volunteering, community service, etc.)
• Experience with, or training in, outreach, facilitation and/or education
• Comfort with quantitative tasks, including data collection and analysis

This is an equal opportunity position. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Functional Requirements

Mental/Emotional Agility

• Must maintain a professional attitude at all times and show respect toward site supervisor, co-workers, staff, and all other individuals the member engages with
• Must be able to adapt to change in a work environment, accept constructive feedback, effectively handle multiple tasks and competing demands, work cooperatively in a group, actively resolve conflicts, and work independently
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively handle multiple tasks

Safety Requirements

• Ability to be committed to a high standard of safety and willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all of the program’s safety policies and rules
• Be aware of safety protocols and report and issues to appropriate supervisory or management personnel

Physical Requirements

• Meet the program essential job functions; reasonable accommodations available upon request
• See attached form for physical and mental requirement specifics

To Apply

Please submit an application through our website: https://www.grizzlycorps.org/fellows

Your application will require three short essay responses (500 words or less) describing your experience and interest in the position and at least two academic and/or professional reference contacts. Any questions on the position may be directed to Michelle Feng - michellefeng@berkeley.edu