Cooper Environmental Sustainability Intern
University of Michigan
Dearborn, MI, USA
Job Summary
Season/hours: May through November, approximately 300 hours total. Hours may vary between 8 - 10 hours/week, Monday - Friday. Scheduling is flexible.
Summary: This internship offers candidates an opportunity to develop skills in organic gardening, native plant gardening, community building, and volunteer management. The position assists the EIC staff in managing two garden areas: The Community Organic Garden (COG) and the EIC Native Plant Gardens. These sites are a vital component of the Center's environmental sustainability initiatives.
The intern will be supervised and mentored by Center staff.
Responsibilities*
Community Organic Garden:
- Regularly monitoring the condition of the garden sites to determine maintenance issues and needs.
- Overseeing regular garden maintenance and organizing garden volunteers for watering, weeding, digging, turning compost bins, mulching, pruning, etc.
- Serving as a liaison between the garden community and the EIC.
- Assisting with communications and outreach to COG plot renters and volunteers.
- Regular onsite interaction with garden plot renters.
- Planning and hosting a small number of events that will foster increased personal interaction and goodwill among the gardeners.
Native Plant Gardens:
- Assisting with maintenance, including weeding and seed collecting.
Required Qualifications*
Qualifications:
- Organized and self-directed
- Ability to work independently as well as with diverse groups of people
- Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
- Ability to perform moderately strenuous labor
- Knowledge and experience with sustainable gardening practices and native plant life is preferred
- Knowledge and experience with project or group coordination is preferred
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.