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Tallgrass Prairie Center AmeriCorps Position Description

Communications Associate

October 2025– August 2026
Three-quarter time: 1,200 total hour time commitment over the term (27–30 hours/week)

Anticipated service schedule for this host site is 8:00/9:00 a.m. – 3:00/4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday or 8:00/9:00 a.m. – 2:00/3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some nights and weekends as projects require.

Supervisor – Kristine Nemec, Roadside Program Manager, with assistance from Laura Jackson, Director

Host Site Overview

The Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa would like to host an eleven-month AmeriCorps member to help us expand our impact and expand their skills in mass communication, marketing, and networking. This person will serve with another 11-month member, a Volunteer Coordinator, at the Tallgrass Prairie Center for the duration of the term.

The Tallgrass Prairie Center is a nationally recognized center for ecological restoration of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Our mission is empowering people to value and restore resilient, diverse tallgrass prairie. We conduct research and provide technical support for roadside vegetation managers, farmers, conservation professionals, and native seed stakeholders. We are also responsible for the restoration and management of Irvine Prairie, a nearly 300-acre prairie in progress, and 64 acres of university grounds near the TPC encompassing prairie, woodland, and native seed production plots. In early 2021, the TPC was given responsibility for management and promotion of the UNI Biology Preserves. While the TPC has much of the equipment and skills for management of these natural areas, the TPC lacks the capacity to recruit, train and coordinate volunteers to help with the labor-intensive aspects of natural areas management. There is also a need to promote the responsible enjoyment and appreciation of natural areas.

This position will be funded through the Green Iowa AmeriCorps program. The benefits of the AmeriCorps program include individualized professional development opportunities, an education stipend upon successful completion, a monthly living stipend, and leadership experience. For more information about AmeriCorps, please visit: https://www.greeniowaamericorps.org. 

Position Outline

All of our programs have substantial, concrete impacts on the landscape, but we need more capacity to tell our story — not only through traditional print media, but also through digital media, such as website (CMS is Drupal) and social media, and interpersonal interactions at conferences, events, and visitor tours. You will support the implementation of these communications strategies.

Member Duties

  • Complete Green Iowa AmeriCorps performance metrics in collaboration with host site
  • Maintain records of service projects in Green Iowa AmeriCorps Reporting Logs
  • Submit Quarterly Reports of activities
  • Maintain a detailed timekeeping record of service hours and activities
  • Complete a Professional Development Project
  • Participate in mandatory AmeriCorps Trainings (Orientation and Life After AmeriCorps Training) and National Days of Service (MLK Day and September 11)

General Orientation to TPC and associated programs

  • Study TPC website and publications, and shadow program managers to learn about TPC programs, projects, partners, and history. 
  • Participate in weekly staff meetings and monthly Biology Preserves Committee meetings
  • Visit and become familiar with TPC grounds, campus preserves, Irvine Prairie, and community natural areas
  • Pursue relevant training for your position, especially safety training

Education and Outreach for Iowa Roadside Management (Lead Role)

  • Create content for social media outlets (Facebook and Instagram) 
  • Capture media (photo and video) to be used for outreach through social media, the website, or handouts
  • Curate photos, write educational text, and design the annual 12-month roadside program calendar that is distributed for public outreach (an InDesign template is available)
  • Organize volunteers and distribute bags of native seed at the annual county seed pick-up that is typically held in May or June
  • Table at workshops or conferences that may be held to build community support for the Tallgrass Prairie Center and county roadside programs; some overnight travel to conferences or workshops within Iowa may be possible (up to 10 nights total over the length of the position)

Education and Outreach for other TPC programs (Lead Role)

  • Support TPC project managers in communications, programming and events
  • Develop and curate educational activities to be used by TPC staff, students, volunteers, and AmeriCorps members 
  • With guidance from TPC staff, prioritize and respond to requests for prairie-related education/outreach programs (e.g. tours, presentations, displays)

Other Duties (Supporting Role)

  • Support AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator in natural areas management events that may include brush removal, seed collection, and prescribed burns
  • Augment Plant Materials Program, in coordination with Plant Materials Program manager and Supervisor, as schedule allows
  • Additional related duties as they arise or assigned by Supervisor in coordination with TPC program managers

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills

  • Interest in ecosystem restoration
  • Strong writing skills
  • Strong marketing skills
  • Small-team collaboration skills
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Strong record-keeping and reporting skills
  • Organized
  • Self-motivated
  • Punctual
  • Accountable
  • Passion for helping environmental causes
  • Experience with Iowa plant identification or conservation fieldwork
  • Comfortable interacting with a variety of people from different backgrounds and age groups
  • Comfort serving independently in rural and office environments
  • Experience with social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook)
  • Experience with manipulating video
  • Experience with digital photography
  • Knowledge of Microsoft, Adobe, and G - Suite apps, including Google Calendars, Google Documents

Members can expect to gain the following skills/experiences in this position

  • Experience coordinating with natural resource professionals at a nationally recognized center
  • Experience creating social media posts
  • Experience organizing volunteers, largely in coordination with the Volunteer Coordinator, Natural Resources Management position
  • Experience implementing tours and educational activities at public outreach events
  • Experience using InDesign to create outreach materials