Part Time Sustainability Project Coordinator: Resource Conservation

Position Summary:

This position will be considered temporary part-time, no benefits, working May - December 2021.

The Hanley Sustainability Institute (HSI) is searching for a recent graduate to join our team as a project coordinator focused on resource conservation projects. A recent undergraduate or graduate student available for 30 hours/week during summer and fall 2021 is preferred. HSI currently hosts a project coordinator (Spring 2021) with our energy team and an additional 12+ undergraduate student sustainability leaders addressing waste diversion, the campus garden and pollinator prairies, energy conservation, and student peer education.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage in multiple components of HSI’s sustainability work, but will primarily focus on providing leadership in composting and waste diversion, garden production, and establishment of native pollinator planting areas. In addition to facilitating HSI student leader teams in these areas, the coordinator will support hands-on learning and volunteer opportunities related to compost, waste, garden, and native plantings. This position works closely with the HSI campus waste and growing teams and works in coordination with Facilities Management, Dining Services and additional campus partners. The position is limited to 30 hours/week. The successful candidate would preferably have an academic or professional development interest that is resonant with sustainability. HSI project coordinators have the opportunity to develop and manage new initiatives within the scope of campus sustainability that support their professional or academic interests.

Over the last five years, HSI has developed a cross-disciplinary network of innovative people and projects, stimulating and supporting dynamic collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, School of Education and Health Sciences, School of Business Administration, the University of Dayton Research Institute, Facilities Management, and within the community. Students from all programs at the University of Dayton are encouraged to apply.

Roles and Responsibilities

30 hours/wk

• Provide leadership and coordination of the HSI campus waste team, facilities management and dining services with respect to optimizing collection and transportation of campus organic waste, on-campus composting, recycling, zero waste initiatives, and researching best practices for waste diversion. Current waste team projects include:
  • Student Neighborhood and Dining Services Composting Programs including support of Flyer Enterprises composting efforts
  • Optimizing Waste Diversion including coordinating waste audits, zero waste events and outreach and education
  • Supporting outreach, education, and coordination for Dining Services reusable container programs.
• Provide support and coordination for the campus garden, including building a student and staff volunteer base, coordinating with Facilities Management, Dining Services and Catering, and the Farmer’s Markets initiatives, and becoming proficient in garden management.
• Provide hands-on support and coordination in the management of the campus native pollinator prairies, including controlling invasives, site preparation, herbicide application, manual pruning and trimming, and providing educational opportunities.
• Engage student volunteers to work on campus sustainability projects, especially including campus waste team, garden, and pollinator prairie projects.
• Represent HSI in sustainability outreach events.
• Mentor, as part of the HSI student leaders program (leaders and volunteers)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• Desire and enthusiasm to accelerate composting and waste diversion efforts on campus and be part of a more sustainable UD, including composting and zero waste events
• Interest in and excitement for working on active campus projects focused on sustainability, waste and composting, food and growing, and native pollinator plantings
• Familiarity, experience, and/or interest in natural areas management and native plant identification
• Desire to work as part of a team to set and achieve project goals
• Good organization, communication, and time management skills
• Demonstrated record of self-initiated projects and ability to work with limited supervision
• Innovative thinking and problem solving
• Enthusiasm for outdoor summer work and comfort weeding by hand and learning to use a power weed trimmer and other equipment
• Ability to complete pesticide serviceperson training for herbicide application and willingness to use herbicide for control of invasive species under supervision

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with natural areas management and/or vegetable growing (urban agriculture)
• Familiarity and/or experience with waste systems, recycling programs and/or organic waste & composting
• Interest in a career involving sustainability, team leadership, and/or project implementation and management
• Experience with project coordination among multiple stakeholders over multiple year time frames
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of time, including carrying and shoveling materials of up to 25+lbs.
• Eligible to become UD Driver Certified and willingness to drive vehicle pulling small trailer

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Closing Statement:

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.