Stewardship and Trails Program Support

Portland Parks & Recreation’s City Nature Citywide Program is actively seeking a part-time staff member to work in various capacities supporting natural area volunteer stewardship and soft-surface trail maintenance. This is a field-based position, with very limited ability for telework. 

The City Nature Citywide (CNC) work unit, within the Land Stewardship Division of Portland Parks & Recreation, consists of two distinct programs:  

The Stewardship Program connects the work of City Nature Natural Areas to the community. The Stewardship Coordinators are a team of five staffers that build and maintain relationships with community organizations, schools, businesses, and individuals. They host environmental restoration, trails, and habitat improvement projects. They also host environmental education and community science events for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. 

The Soft-Surface Trails team assures that the pathways into and through PP&R Natural Areas are well built, safe, and welcoming for all. This team maintains and manages more than 120 miles of trails in PP&R’s Natural Areas, including Forest Park and Powell Butte. In addition to routine trail maintenance and technical construction and repairs, this team also plans and maintains trail signage and wayfinding. This team also completes storm response and downed- tree removal, assessing and monitoring trails for sustainability, accessibility, and user safety.  

This part-time position will support both programs, with a focus on the Volunteer Stewardship program. Under the guidance and direction of Stewardship Coordinators, this role will prepare for and lead habitat enhancement volunteer events and projects including, but not limited to: planting and caring for native plants, removal of nuisance weeds and non-native plants, basic trail maintenance, trash removal, and other habitat enhancement or community science projects. In the field, this role will teach safety guidelines and any specific techniques needed for the project at hand.  

The role will include professional development, networking, and growth opportunities, providing an excellent opportunity for those looking to develop and grow their skills and experience in volunteer engagement, habitat and natural area restoration, and soft-surface trails work.  

Information about the Parks City Nature Stewardship Program can be found here: www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/stewardship 

What you’ll get to do: 

• Under the direction and guidance of Stewardship Coordinators, this role provides support and engagement to a wide variety of volunteers, school groups, and other groups in habitat enhancement and restoration projects in PP&R’s natural areas.
• Provide direction and instruction to volunteers about projects at each event. For example, this role will instruct volunteers about tool safety, proper planting methods, and demonstrate best practices for a given task.
• Assist with pre- and post-event tasks such as loading and unloading supplies, as well event set up and clean up.
• Assist with general natural resource tasks which include, but are not limited to: installing native plants, removing non-native plants, litter pick-up/trash removal, storm response on downed trees, fence repair, and sign replacement.
• Conduct basic trail maintenance and repairs under the direction of the Trails Team staff.
• Pick up/deliver materials such as gravel, plants, fencing, etc.
• Occasional office support as needed. This includes, but is not limited to: basic data entry, assistance with organizing projects and event planning.

An ideal candidate may have one or more of the following: 

• Experience leading or teaching outdoor education and/or environmental education to volunteers of all ages and a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Pacific Northwest ecosystems, and/or other natural resource skills. such as plant identification, non-native nuisance weed removal, navigating through remote terrain, or leading wilderness trips, etc.
• Experience in various aspects of sustainable soft-surface trail building, maintenance, and repair.
• Understanding of and experience with Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) that can be applied in natural area habitat enhancement.
• Degree(s) or coursework in natural resources, environmental education, environmental science, horticulture, outdoor recreation, and/or ecology.

To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:  

• Experience leading, teaching, and working with volunteers, children or teens, and/or the public, preferably in an outdoor and/or environmental education setting.
• Experience working or volunteering in natural resources, such as habitat restoration, trail work or natural area maintenance.
• Ability to do repetitive motions, such as digging and tool management.
• Ability to lift and carry items up to 50 lbs.
• Knowledge of and/or lived experience with working and collaborating with diverse and/or historically underserved communities.

Applicants Must Also:

• Have a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record at the time of hire.
• Have the ability to pass a background check
• Have the ability to work outdoors for extended periods in all seasons, including in challenging weather conditions, off-trail, and on uneven ground.
• Have CPR and First Aid Certification.
  • Alternatively, a candidate must have the ability to acquire certification within 6 months of hire date.

Work Schedule: 

This role will work 16 to 24 hours/week with seasonal variability. A typical schedule will be 7:00am to 3:30 pm.  

• From December through March, there is potential for a 32 hours/week schedule during the busier planting season.
• Must be available most/many Saturdays from October through May for volunteer event support.
• There may be extended time off around the holidays and between June and September.

This role is expected to be available to work occasional evenings and holidays.  There will be some flexibility in this schedule. This position will work closely with their supervisor to determine their schedule, based on candidate and bureau needs.
 
Note: This Community Service Aide (CSA II) position has a maximum of 1,400 hours in a calendar year.