Community Environmental Services, a program of the Center for Public Service, is recruiting a current PSU student to serve as a project lead for our EPA Region 10 Healthy Sustainable and Resilient Communities grant.
The HSRC Project lead will work in partnership with the Portland Fruit Tree Project and Trash For Peace’s Environmental Promoters to reduce food waste while increasing access to fresh produce for low-income families in Portland.
Please share this opportunity with your list servs and networks. Any questions can be directed to Hannah Carleson (cesadmin@pdx.edu) or Dr. Christa McDermott (christa@pdx.edu).
EPA Healthy Sustainable and Resilient Communities (HSRC) Project Lead
(Hourly student position)
Community Environmental Services
Portland State University
Application review and interviews begin immediately
Position Description
Community Environmental Services (CES, https://www.pdx.edu/ces/) a program of the Center for Public
Service (CPS) at Portland State University (PSU) is recruiting a project lead for the newly funded EPA Healthy
Sustainable and Resilient Communities (HSRC) Project. For over 30 years CES has worked directly with
governments, educational institutions, and private-sector partners to develop and improve materials
sustainability programs, through education, technical assistance, and research.
This hourly student position will work in partnership with the Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) and Trash For
Peace’s (TfP) Environmental Promoters to reduce food waste while increasing access to fresh produce for
low-income families in Portland. Work will take place primarily in the Rockwood Station community in East
Portland.
CES seeks a highly organized, self-motivated student interested in community development, project
management, food systems, and supporting low-income or food-insecure families. The preferred candidate
will have experience working in a professional office environment and in the field and familiarity with food
systems and food waste reduction strategies. A high level of dedication, rigorous hands-on fieldwork,
attention to detail, and excellent communication skills are all crucial aspects of this position.
Compensation: Hourly wage for the position is $15.00 per hour. Starting wage may be higher depending on
experience.
Hourly Commitment: Variable, approximately 5 hours per week during the school year and 10 hours per
week during the summer, depending on project needs.
Appointment Term: January 2022 - March 2023.
Responsibilities
● Work with PFTP staff to:
○ Conduct outreach to property owners with fruit trees. Assist in recording information such
as location and proximity to low-income multifamily housing communities (January - May).
○ Organize and execute fruit tree harvest and distribution of fruits (May - October).
● Work with TfP environmental promoters to:
○ Develop outreach materials on food waste reduction to primarily Spanish speaking,
low-income multifamily households in the Rockwood Station area.
○ Organize and execute fruit distribution on-site.
● Participate in meetings to coordinate activities between CES, PFTP, and TfP. This includes staying in
excellent communication with the CES Director, Program Administrator and PFTP and TfP contacts.
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● Post updates about the project to social media
● Assist CES with additional project work as needed, such as the Metro Decal Project and Recycle at
Work Outreach in Fairview and Troutdale. For a complete list of projects, check out
https://www.pdx.edu/community-environmental-services/projects.
Requirements
● Must be enrolled in a PSU undergraduate or graduate program currently and through Spring 2023.
● Competency with MS Word, MS Excel, Google Suite.
● Able to commit to in-person work on weekdays and weekends in Rockwood Station in east
Portland. All in-person work will be conducted in compliance with CES’s COVID safety protocols.
Preferred Qualifications
● Conversational/intermediate Spanish speaking proficiency. Able to comfortably participate in
meetings with fluent Spanish speakers.
● Competent working independently and leading small groups.
● Strong communication and organization skills.
● Ability to think critically about data, synthesize findings, and make recommendations.
● Ability to conduct outreach and engage in conversations with community members.
● Vehicle access if not in immediate proximity to Rockwood Station.
How to Apply:
Please email your resume and the attached supplemental questions to the CES Program Administrator at
cesadmin@pdx.edu. Please put “CES HSRC Application” in the subject line of the email.
If you have any questions, please contact CES Program Administrator, Hannah Carleson: cesadmin@pdx.edu.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2022.
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Fruit Tree Project Lead
Community Environmental Services
Portland State University
Supplemental Questions
Winter 2022
Please respond to the following questions with 150- 250 words per answer.
1. What interests you about CES and this position in particular?
2. Describe a project or task you consider one of your most significant accomplishments to date. Tell us the plan
for it, how you managed it, how others were involved, how you measured its success, mistakes you made, and
what you learned from them.
3. Please describe any experience you have with food waste reduction, food donation or diversion, and food
systems.
4. Please share a time that you worked with or managed people that were different from yourself. How did you
communicate and connect them to get the job done?
5. What PSU program are you currently accepted in and what is your anticipated start date and graduation date?
(Quarter and Year)
6. Do you speak Spanish? If so, please indicate skill level using the scale of Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.
7. Please describe your familiarity with Portland and Multnomah County.
8. Do you have a valid Oregon (or other state) Driver’s license? If yes, when did you obtain it?
9. Do you have a personal vehicle?
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