Environmental Conservation, Education, or Restoration (AmeriCorps)

JVC Northwest; Spokane (WA); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Spokane Riverkeeper is seeking a Community Water Quality & Restoration Coordinator to lead riparian restoration and water-quality monitoring near Hangman Creek. You will train volunteers, coordinate with tribal partners, and help turn field data into actionable improvements for native fish and clean water.

Join a team focused on ecology, restoration, and environmental justice, working outdoors in diverse Spokane-area settings and engaging with community members and landowners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Ability to lift 30–50 lbs and work outdoors in various conditions.
• Experience or willingness to work with volunteers and communities.
• Comfort with scientific note-taking, reporting, and basic GIS/data entry.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on riparian restoration projects and plant willows in the Hangman Creek basin.
• Train and engage volunteers; supervise field activities and safety protocols.
• Collect water-quality data and support data entry and dashboard updates.

Skills

Fieldwork

Outdoor work

Teamwork

Communication

Time management

Scientific writing

Excel basics

GIS basics

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

GIS

Job description

Opportunities to serve with JVC Northwest exist in the five beautiful states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska in remote, rural, and urban settings.

Jesuit Volunteers also have the opportunity to serve in other US regions through our sibling organization, Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Below is a list of opportunities organized by location and by category of service. As part of your application to become a Jesuit Volunteer, we’ll ask about your service preferences, but we ask all applicants to be open to where the need is greatest, and we may ask you to consider options you had not initially thought about.

Community Water Quality & Restoration Coordinator

Agency Website

Position Focus

AmeriCorps Status

AmeriCorps

Service Impact Area

Capacity Building

Primary Role

Environmental Conservation, Education, or Restoration (AmeriCorps)

Length of Service Term

12 months

Primary Service Area

Populations Served

Children and Families, Indigenous Communities, Seniors/Elders, Individuals experiencing housing instability and/or houselessness

Other Issues and Roles

Education (Community)

Brief Position Description:

Join Spokane Riverkeeper as our Community Water Quality & Restoration Coordinator and help protect one of the Northwest’s most treasured rivers. In this role, you’ll lead hands‑on riparian restoration projects in the Hangman Creek basin, plant thousands of native willows, and collect critical water‑quality data. You’ll train and engage volunteers, collaborate with tribal partners and landowners, and turn community science into measurable improvements for native fish and clean water. This is a chance to make a lasting impact on river health while building skills in ecology, restoration, and environmental justice.

Day in Life of JV

As a Spokane Riverkeeper JV/AmeriCorps member, no two days will look the same, but each one blends science, restoration, and community engagement. You’ll start your morning with a one‑on‑one check‑in with your supervisor, reviewing priorities, safety protocols, and upcoming fieldwork. These weekly structured meetings (about an hour) give you mentorship and guidance, while informal daily touchpoints keep you supported throughout the day.

By mid‑morning, you might head into the field to deploy or retrieve temperature and turbidity loggers along Hangman Creek. Serving alongside Riverkeeper staff, volunteers, or university partners, you’ll wade into streams, record observations, and collect samples that later feed into the Environmental Information Management (EIM) system. On other days, you could be harvesting willow stakes from the tribal nursery, preparing them for high‑density planting projects that combat invasive reed canary grass and restore riparian habitat.

Afternoons often bring opportunities to connect with the community. You may help coordinate a participatory science event, training volunteers to collect sediment data, or assist with a watershed tour for local students. You’ll also prepare outreach materials — social media posts, emails, or updates to the water quality dashboard — making sure data and stories are shared in accessible ways.

Throughout the day, you’ll collaborate with Riverkeeper staff, conservation district partners, tribal representatives, and volunteers. The people you serve include community scientists, landowners engaged in restoration, and residents of riverside neighborhoods who benefit from cleaner water and healthier habitat.

By evening, you’ll head home with muddy boots, new data points, and the satisfaction of knowing your service is helping restore cold, clean water for native fish and future generations.

Required & Preferred Skills

Education Requirements

Bachelor's Degree

Driver's License Requirement

Yes

Vehicle Requirement

A vehicle owned by your organization or program

Nature of Driving

The JV/AmeriCorps member will occasionally drive as part of their service, primarily to access field sites along the Spokane River and Hangman Creek. Driving is expected 2–3 times per week, depending on monitoring schedules, restoration projects, and outreach events. Distance: Most trips are local, within Spokane County and surrounding watershed areas, typically ranging from 5–40 miles one way. Occasional longer trips (up to 100 miles round‑trip) may be required for regional restoration sites or partner meetings. Vehicle Size: Driving will involve standard organizational vehicle or a full sized pickup truck used to transport monitoring equipment, willow bundles, and outreach materials. No commercial vehicles or CDL requirements are anticipated. Purpose: Trips may include transporting volunteers to cleanup sites, delivering restoration supplies, visiting landowners for riparian projects, or deploying/retrieving monitoring equipment. Frequency & Context: Driving is seasonal — more frequent in spring and summer during planting and monitoring, less frequent in winter when fieldwork is limited. All drivers are required to hold a valid state driver’s license, follow Spokane Riverkeeper’s safety protocols, and complete orientation on vehicle use and emergency procedures.

Spanish Language Requirement

No requirement other than English

Preferred Spanish Language Level

No requirement other than English

Additional Languages and Level Preferred

Required experience, qualities, or specialized training

Ability to lift 30–50 lbs (equipment, willow bundles). Ability to hike, wade in rivers and streams, and conduct field duties on uneven or muddy ground. Work in outdoor conditions including heat, cold, rain, or snow as needed. Driver’s License and clean driving record required.

Preferred experience, qualities or specialized training

Commitment to environmental conservation and Spokane Riverkeeper’s mission, values, equity principles, and community-driven approach. Ability to work outdoors in variable weather and field conditions (creek access, uneven terrain, heavy vegetation). Comfort around water including the desire to boat and be in water if needed, including in rivers and creeks. Strong organization, communication, and time-management skills. Basic experience with Microsoft Excel; willingness to learn data entry, management and GIS tools. Comfort with scientific writing, note-taking, and field documentation. Interest or experience in ecology, restoration, environmental science, or related fields. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including supervising or training volunteers.