Naturalist Assistant Student Employee

Overview:

The Naturalist Assistant Student Employee will join the Naturalist on a wide variety of ecological endeavors on both campuses, including conservation and restoration, propagation, seasonal projects, and educational activities, mostly outside. The student will receive training in local plant and animal ID and ecological restoration concepts and techniques, providing an excellent foundation for a career in ecological restoration.

Department Name:

Facilities

Campus Location:

Des Plaines, with occasional joint trips to Skokie

Length of Employment:

Spring 2023; with opportunity to renew employment for Summer semester 2023.

Can a student do homework in this position?

Never

Hours Available:

Spring semester 10-15 hours per week.

Schedule Flexibility:

Flexible, any hours between 8 am- 4 pm (Monday-Thursday). Student is expected to keep set schedule once determined.

Work Requirements:

Eagerness to learn about native ecosystems and ecological restoration. Comfortable working outside in all weather and incidentals, with training dealing with heat, rain, poison ivy, mosquitoes, and ticks. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities and Learning Outcomes :

- Learning plant & animal ID, and ecological restoration concepts (CD)

- Hand-pulling and cutting invasive plants, shrubs, and trees with hand tools (CD, CT, CM, TW)

- Collecting, processing, and sowing native needs (CD, CT, CM, TW)

- Collecting and recording data and photographs (CM, TC, CT, CD)

- Propagating plants and fungi by seed, cuttings, and plug spawn (CD, CT, TW)

- Assisting Naturalist with interpretive programs, groups, tours, and restoration work days, interacting with diverse people groups (EI, LD, PF, CD)

Student Employment Learning Outcomes Defined:

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified 8 career readiness competencies that broadly prepare college students for a successful transition into the workplace. Listed in alphabetical order, they include:

1. Career and Self-Development (CD)

2. Communication (CM)

3. Critical Thinking (CT)

4. Equity and Inclusion (EI)

5. Leadership (LD)

6. Professionalism (PF)

7. Teamwork (TW)

8. Technology (TC)

For more information about the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, please visit www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/.

Candidate Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Other abilities):

- Must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours during Spring 2023 semester.

- Must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and be in good standing at Oakton Community College.

- Must be making satisfactory progress as defined by Oakton's Standards of Academic Progress policy toward achieving their educational goals.

-Must be able to communicate effectively in English in both verbal (spoken) and written forms.

- Must be able to walk, bend, crouch, and kneel on uneven terrain for extended periods of time, and be able to withstand outdoor conditions including heat, humidity, rain, mud, dust, poison ivy, mosquitoes, and ticks.

- Must be able to lift 40 lbs comfortably and use hand tools including loppers, pruners, and saws.

- Must have a working proficiency in Google Drive and basic computing.

Application Process:

All interested applicants should complete an online application and provide a resume. Any questions can be directed to Amanda Krause at akrause@oakton.edu.