The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a MD Oyster Gardening Assistant to be field based in Annapolis, MD with travel to Baltimore, MD, Shady Side, MD, and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established over 50 years ago, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated solely to restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay, our nation’s largest estuary. With 300,000 members, an annual operating budget of $26 million, and a $55 million endowment, CBF’s 190 full time staff work in offices in Annapolis and Easton, MD; Richmond and Virginia Beach, VA; Harrisburg, PA; Washington, DC; and in 15 field education program locations across the Bay watershed.
CBF’s headquarters – the Philip Merrill Environmental Center – in Annapolis is the world’s first USGBC LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach; the Brock Center is the tenth certified Living Building and one of the most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings in the world.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
Environmental Protection and Restoration
CBF’s Environmental Protection and Restoration department defends and restores the Chesapeake Bay by protecting the Bay’s natural resources from pollution and other harmful activities by fighting for strong and effective laws and regulations; restoring the Bay’s essential habitats and filtering mechanisms; and involving citizens in CBF’s environmental efforts by recruiting, training, and incorporating them as effective partners and leaders.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Oyster Gardening assistant will help CBF staff with the planning and execution of our Oyster Gardening Program. CBF’s Oyster Gardening Program is a community-based program that teaches hundreds of people how to grow and care for oysters to use in restoration projects throughout Maryland. The majority of the work will take place in Anne Arundel County but travel to other areas within the state such as Baltimore, the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland is required. The role will consist of both field work to prepare materials for the oyster gardening program and administrative aspects of the program, such volunteer engagement and event planning. The Oyster Gardening Assistant must be prepared to attend all oyster gardening events, which may include evenings and weekends.
Essential functions include:
- Attend and help CBF Oyster Team staff manage all oyster gardening events
- Assist with other hands-on restoration activities including oyster planting, shell recycling, etc.
- Help prepare materials for each event including advocacy asks, spat-on-shell, cages,
spreadsheets, etc.
- Help CBF Oyster Team staff with general office/administrative support, including data entry and filing, digital and material organization, among other tasks.
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Successful candidate should have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; an ability to work effectively with staff and volunteers, as well as independently; and an ability to be a self-starter. Excellent time management skills needed to handle multiple, concurrent projects. Familiarity with Excel, Word, and Outlook required. We seek a creative thinker interested in learning about the Chesapeake Bay as well as furthering the Foundation’s mission to “Save the Bay.” This internship will take place in September to Mid-November. The successful candidate must have reliable daily transportation for travel in Maryland. In addition, in order to help manage oyster gardening events, this position must work some evenings and weekends. Housing is not provided. Due to the physical capacity of this job, interns must be comfortable lifting 30- 50 pounds and be in good physical condition to work outside in all elements.
Salary: $14/hour not to exceed 24 hours per week
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
- Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
- Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
- Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
- Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.
CBF requires that all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.
CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
