Urban Naturalist

PLEASE NOTE: Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. 

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) is an environmental and community nonprofit with a mission to help people and nature thrive. We partner with neighborhoods, local government, universities, community groups, and businesses to achieve our vision of an Indianapolis that is loved, cared for, and ecologically rich. We work with about 18,000 volunteers each year to plant trees and native landscapes, organize litter cleanups, turn vacant lots into pocket parks, restore habitat, and educate and employ youth. KIB helps people and nature thrive most effectively when we reflect the diversity of perspectives, voices, and abilities found throughout the city. KIB is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applicants – including people of color; people who are LGBTQ; veterans; people who are multilingual or multicultural; and individuals of various ages and abilities – to help us create a team with a broad range of backgrounds and thinking. 

Job Title: Urban Naturalist 

Full-time/Part-time: Part-Time 

Regular/Temporary: Temporary - Seasonal 

Reports To: Urban Naturalist Senior Manager 

Salary: $17 / hour 

Purpose: KIB’s Urban Naturalist (UN) Program exists as a professional development opportunity for college students with an interest in pursuing future careers in an environmentally related field or industry. The UN Team performs a variety of outdoor work geared towards the improvement of environmental and social conditions within the City of Indianapolis, while also participating in weekly enrichment activities with the purpose of exposing the UN team members to a variety of different environmental careers. The Urban Naturalists function as one of KIB’s primary boots-on-the-ground maintenance teams as well as helping accomplish cross-programmatic tasks. 

Time Commitment: 

• The UN Season runs from Mid-May to the beginning of August depending on school schedules. During this time, UNs are expected to work Monday-Friday with no more than 10 absences unless otherwise approved 

Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities: 

• Field Work 

o Work as a member of a seven-person team of college students in maintaining multiple horticultural projects across the city, including high visibility native landscapes and green stormwater infrastructure, with the goal of naturalizing, preserving, and maintaining healthy urban ecosystems 

o Water, weed, and pick up trash in stormwater planters and rain gardens to maintain functional green infrastructure 

o Manage habitat along riparian corridors and roadside property by removing invasive species from previously unmaintained areas as well as maintaining sites where previous restoration work has occurred. Maintenance will include monitoring and treatment of invasive species using herbicide 

o Perform tree maintenance work on 6-18’ tall trees, including but not limited to structurally pruning and mulching, installing and removing stakes and trunk guards, and collecting accurate monitoring data 

o Maintain and establish healthy native landscapes throughout Indianapolis by watering, weeding, and monitoring for invasive species 

• Intra-Department Collaboration 

o Participate in collaborative professional development opportunities between the UN team and KIB’s Youth Tree Team high school employees to perform a variety of maintenance tasks together while creating relationships and providing valuable college and career insight to KIB’s high school employees 

o Assist with intra-department or organization-wide efforts as needed. This may include helping to lead volunteers with tree planting, habitat restoration, or GreenSpace implementation projects 

o Assist KIB’s Community Forestry staff with unloading tree deliveries and perform mulch and tree drop offs as capacity allows 

• Professional Development 

o Attend and actively participate in education, training, and enrichment opportunities for the UN Team Members 

o Network with a wide array of environmental professionals both virtually and in person 

• Assist with other KIB programs, including but not limited to; leading projects on the Lilly Global Day of Service, the Great Indy Cleanup, and other large volunteer-corporate days of service events 

• Assist with any additional duties as assigned in service to the mission of KIB 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Experience or willingness to learn and perform all basic horticultural maintenance practices 

• Experience with small tools, including but not limited to; shovels, wheelbarrows, hand saws, chainsaws, and weed whackers 

• Experience or willingness to learn safety practices and appropriate/required PPE use 

• Posses an interest in gaining knowledge of Indiana native plants and invasive species and motivated in working outdoors 

• Passion for learning and helping others to do the same 

• Ability to use good judgment in decisions that help the health and safety of the team 

• Posses an interest in environmental topics and willingness to engage with the community 

Education and Experience: 

• Applicants must be currently in a college or university, or have graduated within one year of applying 

Requirements: 

• Able to commit to working the summer with fewer than 10 absences 

• Ability or willingness to learn how to utilize pesticides as necessary to complete habitat restoration 

• Able to accept payment via direct deposit (available through a banking institution, Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle) 

• Physically able to lift heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) consistently throughout a regular workday 

• Comfort walking, standing for long hours, and withstanding working outdoors in all seasons 

• Ability to accommodate seasonal nature of workload, including working weekends and/or evenings as needed 

• Valid driver’s license with six points or fewer 

• Ability to or willingness to learn how to: 

o Pull a 20-25’ long trailer behind a full-sized pickup truck 

o Operate large machinery, including but not limited to skid steers, excavators, and forklifts 

o Use a variety of small power landscape tools: chainsaw, brush cutter, etc. 

• Exhibit KIB’s Cultural Values of Teamwork, Accountability, Excellence, Welcoming All Voices, Balance, and Joy