Portland Parks Community Gardens Botanist (Closes Dec 4)

Botanic Specialist I - Community Gardens **Revised Closing Date to 12/4/17""

Salary $27.83 - $35.53 Hourly

Location 6437 SE Division St, OR

Job Type Full Time

Bureau Portland Parks and Recreation

Job Number 2017-00832

Closing 12/4/2017 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position

The City of Portland, Portland Parks & Recreation is seeking a Botanic Specialist I - Community Gardens. The current vacancy is a part-time limited term position that is an integral member of a collaborative network that supports, coordinates, develops and manages educational programs, activities and co-maintenance standards in support of the new Native Gathering Gardens within Portland Parks and Recreation's Community Gardens program. This new position works to nurture community health and wellness, recognizing that land is our greatest ally in reclaiming health and wellness, both environmentally and socially. Specifically, the Botanic Specialist I - Community Gardens supports restoration, regeneration and the enlivening of land care ethics in the Cully Park Native Gathering Garden. The design feature of the Native Gathering Garden (NGG) at Cully Park emerged from recognition that Portland's urban Native American community, the 9th largest in the U.S., representing over 380 tribes and bands from across the country, faces barriers to accessing culturally significant plants for food, medicine and ceremony. The NGG will promote access to gather while reflecting the cultural identity of our region's First Peoples, promoting opportunities for cultural knowledge sharing, education, and land care ethics.

The Botanic Specialist I - Community Gardens will plan a seasonal calendar of culturally-specific activities and events to engage the diverse Indigenous community, and support the healthy restoration and regeneration of the 7-acre NGG at Cully Park. As this is a new position for a new Parks feature, the Botanic Specialist I - Community Gardens will assist with developing a strategic plan for the NGG and associated programming in collaboration with diverse and committed stakeholders. They will create outreach materials, program reports, and presentations to share information about the garden and program. To support special activities and program expansion, they will assist with developing grant applications and interagency agreements. Strong candidates for this position will possess several of the following competencies: have established relationships within the Native American Community; experience doing environmental/sustainability work that includes Indigenous perspectives; understanding of Tribal treaty rights, land use policy and current affairs affecting access to Indigenous cultural practices; proven flexibility collaborating amongst multiple stakeholders; and experience working with diverse communities and practicing cultural competency skills.

The incumbent will work 20 hours per week, evening and weekend work is required. This is a part-time (up to 0.5 FTE), Limited Term position which we hope will become a full-time regular position in the future. Persons appointed to limited term positions will be designated as limited duration employees whose appointment shall not exceed two (2) years except for the extension of grants or funding from outside sources.  The eligible list established may be used to fill future full and part time vacancies. 

This classification is represented by City of Portland Professional Employees Association(COPPEA). To view, this labor agreement, please go to https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bhr/27840  and click on the appropriate link.

The City of Portland, Oregon is a growing and diverse city of 620,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. The successful candidate will have experience working with people from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Portland Parks & Recreation values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in their resume. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

The City is offering an optional information meeting for this recruitment. Please see the Additional Information section below for details.

 

To Qualify

 

The following minimum qualifications are required and should be reflected in your cover letter and resume:

  1. Knowledge of native flora and fauna, plant physiology and ecology, and familiarity with diverse gardening practices.
  2. Ability and experience recruiting, training and supervising paid and volunteer staff from diverse backgrounds possessing a wide variety of skills.
  3. Ability and experience developing and facilitating culturally responsive educational programming for multi-age populations.
  4. Experience communicating effectively, orally and in writing, with individuals and groups.
  5. Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a diverse community of stakeholders including the urban Native American community, volunteers, supporting agencies and organizations, community groups, the public and others encountered in the course of work

 

The Recruitment Process

 

An evaluation of each applicant's training and experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter and resume weighted 100%. Do not attach materials not requested.  Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on an equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

 

Additional Information

 

Application Instructions

 

Applicants must submit a cover letter and professional résumé online, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement in accordance with the following Application Instructions:

 

Your résumé and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.

  • Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
  • Your résumé should support the details described in the cover letter.
  • If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, as identified below, please describe in your cover letter any transferrable skills obtained during your military service and how they relate to each of the required minimum qualifications under the "To Qualify" section above.

Your résumé and cover letter should be no more than a total of four (4) pages combined.

 

Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.  All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.  Do not attach materials not requested.   E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

 

If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, attach a copy of your DD214 / DD215 and / or Veteran's Administration letter stating your disability to your profile, as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veteran's Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment you apply for.

 

Veteran's Preference documentation must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.

 

Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at time of application.

 

It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply. If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, the requests must be made to the Analyst(s) named below No Later Than the Closing Date of This Announcement.


Questions?
Tamara Larison, Senior Human Resources Analyst,
Bureau of Human Resources
Tamara.Larison@portlandoregon.gov
(503) 823-3523

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

 

OPTIONAL INFORMATION SESSION(S)

To assist you in understanding this position and the recruitment process, we will offer an Optional Information Session that will provide you with details about the position and about the application process. You are not required to attend to apply for this job, but attending will help you with the application process. You are welcome to join us for this optional information session:

 

Gregory Heights Library
Community Meeting Room

7921 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213
Monday, October 30, 2017
6:00 - 7:00 pm