Position: MN Energy Climate Corps Member/Leader/Field Specialist (AmeriCorps, ages 18 - 30)
Location: North Minneapolis, MN
This is not a residential program; participants must secure housing within a reasonable commuting distance of the program’s base location.
Service Term:
- Leader/Field Specialist Positions: 1700 hour AmeriCorps position; January/February - December 2025
- Member Position: 1200 hour AmeriCorps position; March-December 2025
Benefits:
- Living Allowance: $2,600/month
- Education Award: Leader/Field Specialist: $7,395.00, Member: $5,176.50 upon successful completion of program
- Student loan forbearance on qualifying student loans
- Health insurance
- Childcare assistance
- Hands-on training and industry-level certifications
- Networking and exposure to sustainability career pathways
Help our buildings be better for the climate! Minnesota Energy Climate Corps AmeriCorps members (“Climate Crew Members”) participate in industry-level training while completing audits, energy conservation projects in public and nonprofit facilities. The Minnesota Energy Climate Corps is a team-based program that prioritizes personal and professional growth through hands-on experience while working on challenging and impactful energy efficiency projects. Projects include performing energy audits (data collection) and natural resources. Crew Members will also gain experience engaging youth and adult community members in learning about energy efficiency, sustainability, and climate impact mitigation.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Complete energy-conservation related service projects in cooperation with fellow members safely, effectively, and efficiently and to the satisfaction and specifications of the project host.
- Abide by Corps program safety regulations and PPE policies as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents.
- Contribute actively to the team throughout the program, demonstrating a commitment to the Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity, and community as well as justice, diversity, and inclusion.
- Display a positive attitude, desire to learn new skills and interest in community service; represent Conservation Corps in a positive manner in public.
- Complete the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement.
- Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in a timely manner.
Crew Leaders: Minnesota Energy Climate Corps Crew Leaders will be the primary on-site point of contact for crew interaction with the project host. They may also act as the point of contact between program staff and crew. They will provide daily coaching to their crew and perform reviews at the mid-point and end of the service term. Minnesota Energy Climate Corps Crew Leaders hold their team to safety standards.
Field Specialist: Field Specialists provide training, education, coordination, and leadership to AmeriCorps Members (18 - 30). The Field Specialist will help fellow AmeriCorps members and participants achieve personal and program success through the principles of teamwork and service-learning. In addition to providing support and training to members and participants, Field Specialists help support a variety of natural resources projects.
Primary responsibilities include fostering AmeriCorps member development through experiential learning, providing technical skills training, providing trainings on JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) principles and practices in line with CCMI values, monitoring field safety and conducting equipment maintenance. In addition, the Field Specialist helps coordinate logistics, tools and equipment for AmeriCorps members and participants' natural resources projects, shuttles vehicles and/or equipment as needed, and serves alongside AmeriCorps members on more technical field projects.
Hours & Schedule
Schedules may vary. Climate Crew Members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule for Twin Cities based work is Monday –Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, including a mandatory 30-minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Overnight travel (up to 4 consecutive days at a time) will be required for service projects outside of the Twin Cities region. A typical schedule during out-of-town travel may be Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM. Some special opportunities (including emergency response assignments) may require members to deploy for several weeks at a time. Travel, lodging, and food are provided, along with special field opportunities, when crews are away from home.
Training & Development
The Corps provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year. Additional region or project specific training may be included throughout the service term depending on project need, length of term and other factors. Examples of potential trainings include:
- Energy systems and performance surveys
- Building Science Principles
- Conservation and natural resources management
- OSHA 10 construction safety
- Safe use of tools and equipment
- Team building and conflict resolution
- Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion
- Leadership
- Safety and risk management
- MN Safety Council defensive driving
- First Aid/CPR/AED
- AmeriCorps benefits
- Public outreach and education
- Disaster Response
Qualifications
- Ability and desire to work well with others in a team setting.
- Willingness to learn and adapt to changing plans, work, and project needs.
- Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, justice, stewardship, community and leadership.
- Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service.
- Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include but are not limited to:
- Long (8-12 hour) days engaging in physically demanding work using various hand and power tools.
- Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds.
- Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain.
- Working outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US.
- Must pass a criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. Passing the criminal history check is defined as no positive hits on the NSOPW and no history of violent offenses on the state or FBI checks.
- High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED.
