YTT Lead

PLEASE NOTE: Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) is an environmental and community nonprofit with a mission to help people and nature thrive. We partner with neighborhoods local government universities community groups and businesses to achieve our vision of an Indianapolis that is loved cared for and ecologically rich. We work with about 18000 volunteers each year to plant trees and native landscapes organize litter cleanups turn vacant lots into pocket parks restore habitat and educate and employ youth.

KIB helps people and nature thrive most effectively when we reflect the diversity of perspectives voices and abilities found throughout the city. KIB is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applicants - including people of color; people who are LGBTQ; veterans; people who are multilingual or multicultural; and individuals of various ages and abilities - to help us create a team with a broad range of backgrounds and thinking.

Job Title:Youth Tree Team Leader
Full-Time/Part-Time:Part-Time
Regular/Temporary:Temporary - Seasonal
Reports To:Youth Tree Team Manager (YTTM)
Salary:$17/ hour

Purpose:
KIBs Youth Tree Team (YTT) Program is a summer job skills development program for high school students and adult leaders. YTT functions as one of KIBs primary boots-on-the-ground maintenance teams and is responsible for the maintenance of trees planted within the city of Indianapolis through our Community Forestry program. The program also includes weekly enrichment activities that expose YTT members to a variety of personal and professional development opportunities. YTT Leaders are responsible for managing and transporting crew of 11 high school students to and from worksites to perform tree maintenance work throughout the city.

Time Requirements:

• Youth Applicant Event: Saturday May 9 (8am-4pm)
• Leader Training: May 26-29 (9am-3pm)
  • Adjusted schedule Thursday June 4 (1:30pm-7:30pm)
• YTT Season: YTT work season is 7 weeks long running from June 8-July 23 (no work June 19 or July 3). During this time YTT Leaders are expected to work Monday-Friday (Monday-Thursday with youth and Friday with co-leaders) 30-40 hours/week. Leaders are expected to miss no more than 8 days during our training and programming. Lunch is provided daily when we have student participants; leaders are expected to bring their own lunches during training week and on Fridays
• Additional hours may be available in the Fall

Duties Functions and Responsibilities:

• Crew Management and Supervision
  • In tandem with another YTT Co-Leader oversee and work with an 11-person team of high school students in caring for trees planted through KIBs Community Forestry program with the goal of ensuring tree survivability
  • In tandem with another YTT Co-Leader oversee daily activities of a Leader-in-Training a returning student with additional opportunities for learning and leadership
  • Motivate and initiate crew members to work efficiently and effectively as a team
  • Ensure all youth follow work safety practices and use appropriate/required PPE
  • Effectively manage and mitigate any conflict that may arise amongst team members as well as report any incidents or issues to the YTTM
• Field Work
  • Lead and work as a member of an 11-person team of high school students in maintaining tree plantings in parks neighborhoods and medians across the city with the goal of growing and maintaining a healthy urban forest
  • Safely transport crew to and from worksites in a 15-passenger van with a watering or flatbed trailer
  • Assist youth in the proper watering and mulching of all trees at each assigned project. Watering occurs on a weekly basis per site whereas each tree is mulched once annually. Crews will occasionally stake or remove trees on an as-needed basis
  • Accurately track and report the work as completed each day including any issues noted in the field such as dead missing or leaning trees that will require future action. Update GIS database with any necessary information
  • With other leaders complete specialized tasks including pruning staking and tree removal
• Professional Development
  • Attend and actively participate in education training and enrichment opportunities for the YTT Members
  • Encourage active participation and engagement from crew members in all enrichment activities
  • Lead team-building activities for crew and oversee group projects
  • Participate in collaborative professional development opportunities between the Urban Naturalist and YTT teams to facilitate mutual learning and provide valuable college and career insight to KIBs high school employees
  • Provide both positive and constructive feedback to crew members informally throughout the season as well as during formal mid- and end-of-season feedback sessions
• Assist with any additional duties as assigned in service to the mission of KIB

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Energetic and eager to motivate peers and team members
• Interested in gaining knowledge of urban forestry and motivated in working outdoors
• Passionate about learning and helping others to do the same
• Able to use good judgment in decisions that help the health and safety of the team
• Ability to receive and give both positive and critical feedback in a professional setting
• Understanding of work safety practices and appropriate/required PPE use
• Ability to or willingness to learn how to navigate PG Cloud via a company-provided tablet

Education and Experience:

• Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 19 years of age
• Completion of the summer season may fulfill college internship requirements. Please reach out to Audrey Brinkers Youth Tree Team Manager at with any questions

Requirements:

• Ability to or willingness to learn how to perform basic tree maintenance practices
• Able to accept payment via direct deposit (available through a banking institution Venmo Cash App or Zelle)
• Commitment to working through the summer program with minimal absences (<8 days absent)
• Physically able to lift heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) consistently throughout a regular workday
• Comfort walking standing for long hours and withstanding working outdoors in all seasons
• Ability to accommodate seasonal nature of workload including working weekends and/or evenings as needed
• Valid drivers license with six points or fewer
• Ability to or willingness to learn how to:
  • Pull a 20-25 long trailer behind a full-sized pickup truck
  • Operate large machinery including but no limited to skid steers excavators and forklifts
  • Use a variety of small power landscape tools: chainsaw brush cutter etc.
• Exhibit KIBs Cultural Values ofTeamwork Accountability Excellence Welcoming All Voices BalanceandJoy