Position Title:  WV Rural Engagement Ambassador for Development and Youth (WV Ready) – AmeriCorps Member at Ohio County Solid Waste Authority

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: The Ohio County Solid Waste Authority
176 Satterfield Dr.
Wheeling, WV 26003

 Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 03/31/2025
• End Date: 11/07/2025
• Application Deadline: 02/21/2025
• Number of Positions Available: 1
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The West Virginia Rural Engagement Ambassadors for Development and Youth (WV READY) is a new collaborative AmeriCorps program sponsored by Stewards Individual Placements. Stewards, in partnership with Volunteer WV, and local community organizations such as the Ohio County Solid Waste Authority (OCSWA), is working to support WV’s transition to eco-tourism and outdoor recreation.

The purpose of OCSWA is to protect the public health and welfare of citizens by providing for a comprehensive program of solid waste collection, processing, recycling and disposal. The OCSWA also works to establish programs based on source reduction, recycling, reuse, material recovery and lastly, landfilling.  Ohio County Solid Waste Authority is proud to provide Ohio County, WV with source reduction, recycling, conservation, and waste management solutions through our recycling center, events, educational outreach, and collaborations with other like-minded entities.

The WV Rural Engagement Ambassador for Development and Youth (WV Ready) AmeriCorps Member at OCSWA will promote conservation and sustainability in the area through organics waste recycling, education, waste reduction, proper disposal, and recycling services through OCSWA’s many initiatives serving Ohio County and its neighbors. The WV Ready Member will support, develop, and implement various outreach, education, and community engagement projects that support Ohio County Solid Waste Authority's initiatives. The WV Ready Member will collaborate with OCSWA community partners to empower and support citizens to be stewards of health and the environment and live more sustainably. The WV Ready Member will develop educational materials and curriculum to engage youth and community members to empower them to reduce their household's impact on the environment through waste reduction, sustainable practices, and gardening. They will also attend community outreach events to promote environmental stewardship including litter walks and creek cleanups. Lastly, the WV Ready Member will utilize and enhance the Solid Waste Authority's outdoor green space to incorporate an interactive educational destination with year-round vegetable greenhouse growing, as well as maintaining and enhancing a pollinator garden, educational kiosks, and water quality and conservation demonstration site.

Description of Duties:

To achieve the goals of this WV Ready position, the Member will:

• Develop educational and outreach curriculum, materials, and activities to promote and educate youth and community members on waste reduction, conservation, sustainability, and recycling
• Attend/organize community events and workshops to connect with community members around waste reduction, sustainability, conservation, recycling, and composting
• Collaborate and network with community partners and community leaders to support initiatives by connecting the value of healthy soil and water to recreational use and eco-tourism
• Design and implement an interactive educational destination at The Highlands Recycling Center’s green space.
• Collect organic wastes to recycle into compost and partner with and educate community members, groups, organizations to utilize and understand the value of compost as a soil amendment to enhance community, school, educational, and backyard gar
• Build an interactive GIS map for tracking and monitoring Ohio County litter walks and statistics from the events

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Able to commit to 32 weeks of service
• Willing to serve in West Virginia, West Virginia resident preferred
• Must possess a current driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Professional communication skills: written, presentation, and public speaking
• Customer Service experience
• Ability and willingness to work actively outdoors for several hours
• Ability to work with Youth

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

 Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Tuesdays 7A-3P, Thursdays 11A-7P, Saturdays 8A-12P, and be available for community events that may take place outside of those specific hours. Exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term
• The Member will be included in the WV Ready Member cohort; this cohort will meet on a bi-weekly basis for 1.5 hours and Members are expected to attend

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive training on Community Asset Mapping (CAM)
• Member are provided with training on safety when working with tools and heavy machinery
• Member are provided with training on safely managing litter pickups and when working with community members of different backgrounds
• Member will be trained on OCSWA's current composting process and will be required to watch the Master Gardener's Guide to Composting Webinar

Benefits:

Although each WV READY Member’s project will look different depending on host site needs, they will still be able to lean on a cohort-style model for support, shared experiences, and professional development. Ideal candidates for this initiative are young adults looking to build a career and be a part of this larger movement in the Mountain State!  Additional benefits include:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5176.50, pre-tax
• Living Allowance of $600 per week
• Receive tuition and fee waivers at West Virginia institutions of higher education
  • Learn how to maximize your education award in West Virginia!
• Paid Training & Professional Development
• Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
• Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
• Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter.  In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.