Chicago Programs Field Assistant - Continuous Learning Opportunities

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history

The Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center (KSAC) translates museum science and collections into results for conservation and quality of life. Our interdisciplinary team of ecologists, social scientists, community engagement specialists, and naturalists share a vision that all communities and neighborhoods are connected to healthy, thriving nature.

The KSAC Chicago Region program works at a local scale and through networks such as the Chicago Wilderness Alliance and the Calumet Heritage Partnership to advance our vision. Through the cultivation of community-based collaborations, we offer programs that include cultural events, nature-based volunteer opportunities, and youth and family experiences that focus on climate action, monarch and pollinator conservation, and more.

The Chicago Programs Field Assistant supports the team during the peak seasons of outdoor field activity, especially in the City of Chicago and the far south side into the Calumet region. The Chicago Programs Field Assistant reports to the Field Naturalist.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide full-time (35-hour/week), temporary (6-month term) program support for the Keller Science Action Center Chicago Region’s fieldwork.
• Support nature-based public program development and implementation on the South Side of Chicago, in the Calumet and Pembroke Regions, and at the Museum’s Rice Native Gardens.
• This includes the development of program materials and kits, supporting efforts to build relationships and collaborations with community members and partner organizations, assisting with public events and stewardship activities such as seed collecting, plant distribution, and the gathering of supplies, and assisting with data management and follow up evaluations.
• Attend monthly volunteer ecological restoration workdays at Beaubien Woods and work some evenings and weekends for special events.
• Create engaging outreach materials, recruit program participants (virtually as well as in person), and support community engagement events in the Chicago and Calumet region as needed.
• Contribute to overall Chicago Region operations and the ongoing development of KSAC’s community-centered conservation approach and strategy.

Qualifications:

• At least two years of professional experience in environmental education, event planning, or related field OR Bachelor’s degree OR currently attending college or university in environmental science, education, social science, or a related field.
• Experience working in the outdoors with community organizations, youth, and educators; demonstrated passion for working in nature and with people.
• Experience in event design, planning, and logistics.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Proficiency with MS Office and Google Workspace.
• Ability to take initiative and guide projects to successful completion; track record of prioritizing and managing several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a cross-cultural context that includes people and partners of varied cultural, economic, and professional backgrounds.
• Familiarity with local ecology, natural areas, and natural history and/or gardening.
• Knowledge of Chicago region communities/neighborhoods
• Ability to work on weekends (mostly Saturdays), and in both a hybrid online and in-person format
• Willingness and ability to travel within the Chicago region frequently, including some evenings and weekends. Access to own vehicle for transportation is preferred (with mileage reimbursement provided for work travel)
• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

If you think you or someone you know would fit this role, but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you/them to still apply. Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), women, and LGBTQ+ are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. The Field Museum is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace. You/they may be just the right candidate for this role or one of our other openings.

Important Note: In order to protect the health and safety of our employees, guests and their families, the Field Museum is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for exemptions from the vaccine will not be considered as given the nature of this position, we are unable to provide an accommodation for anyone who has not been vaccinated.

The Field Museum is an equal opportunity workplace and employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class. We strive to create a working environment that is free of all forms of discrimination and one that promotes human dignity and mutual respect among all staff. We believe every member of our organization enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, to identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

The Field Museum strives to ensure that our career website and recruiting process are accessible to all. If you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application, or if you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].