Website County of San Mateo Parks & Recreation
Description
San Mateo County Parks is currently seeking a full-time extra help Bilingual Community Engagement Intern II.
This position would be based out of Flood and Friendship County Parks and primarily working with the communities surrounding these parks.
Friendship County Park is located in North Fair Oaks, an unincorporated area of Redwood City. Through community collaboration, the small urban park was developed to provide outdoor recreation and space to promote community gardening. The park is situated on San Francisco Public Utility Commission land and is managed by the San Mateo County Parks Department. Less than an acre in size, the park features 30 community garden planters, a playground, picnic tables and more. Staff from San Mateo County Health’s Nutrition, Education and Obesity Program provide nutritional education sessions for gardeners and families. Plot use is through an agreement with San Mateo County Parks and requires regular participation in meetings and clean-up days.
Flood County Park is a 21 acre park located in Menlo Park. It is primarily used as a location for family and group picnicking, playground use, and walking by the local community. The park is currently undergoing a planning process to renovate the facilities and encourage use by new sections of the local communities.
An intern at these locations would work on improving the interpretive elements of the park and provide programming and outreach opportunities for the local communities.
The Community Engagement intern will report to Flood Park and be able to drive to Friendship Park and other park locations as needed. The intern will be supervised by the Interpretive Division Park Staff. The position will be approximately 60% indoor, desk work/classroom programs and 40% outdoor, event/program work.
Examples Of Duties
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
A Bilingual Community Engagement Intern would be responsible for:
- Management of Friendship Park Community Garden, including but not limited to:
- Management of garden plot availability and agreements
- Primary point of contact for Community Garden participants; maintaining regular communications by County phone, text, and email
- Work alongside gardeners to identify and address any needs or challenges and maintain garden
- Lead and facilitate regular on-site educational opportunities for gardeners with staff from San Mateo County Health, Office of Sustainability, and community partners
- Manage on-site garden tools and supplies; identify additional supplies that may be required
- Community Program Coordination and Outreach, including but not limited to:
- Coordinating and leading programs with Community Based Organizations and Partner Organizations within the community near Friendship and Flood Parks (i.e. Libraries, Schools)
- Leading interpretive programs for the general public at Friendship and Flood Parks
- Tabling at local community events, such as Farmer’s Markets
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will:
- Have strong interpersonal skills and possess the ability to effectively communicate in English and Spanish with diverse community members and San Mateo County staff to support gardeners.
- Be an enthusiastic, outgoing, positive, and energetic person who can work collaboratively or independently with little to no supervision.
- Have the ability to learn new skills, the willingness to be flexible, and follow directions.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Bilingual in Spanish required
- Experience in food growing and garden management desired
- Knowledge of and ability to teach gardening concepts desired
- Ability to engage with individuals of many demographics and histories – youth, seniors, immigrants, economically diverse
- Strong planning and organizational skills with ability to plan events and organize participants and volunteers
- Must have a valid California Driver’s License
Due to the pandemic, modifications will be made to the programs to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. COVID-19 precautions in accordance with state and county guidelines will be in place.
This is a full-time position with flexible and negotiable hours requiring weekend work.
NOTE: This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.
Application/Examination
*Please note that there are no housing facilities for interns. You are responsible for your own housing, transportation, and meals.
How to apply:
Please submit an online application with a copy of your resume and cover letter attached to the application.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County’s website, you may click the “Apply Online” button above or below. If you are not on the County’s website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply.
Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.
Contact
For questions about this internship, please contact Katherine Wright at kewright@smcgov.org . For questions/comments/issues relating to the application process and material submissions, please contact Chaten Berry at cberry@smcgov.org .
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
