Agroforestry Business Development Assistant – AmeriCorps (1 opening, PART TIME) 

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: Arizona State University Walton Sustainability Solutions Services (777 E. University, 3rd Floor Suite 364, Tempe, AZ 85287)

Term of Service:

Start Date: 5/26/2026 (anticipated)

End Date: 2/26/2027

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: Two 300 hour terms, served back-to-back 

Status: Part-time, 20 hours per week

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at Arizona State University as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects with Arizona State University.

AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson. 

Arizona State University Walton Sustainability Solutions Services:

The Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Services (RMWSSS) is the practice arm of ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and is a strategic implementation partner for businesses, governments, and non-government organizations. RMWSSS works with partners to understand what is possible and develop actionable strategies, transformative programs and scalable systems that solve some of the most audacious and complex sustainability challenges.

Since 2012, the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives have engaged more than 320 organizations that affected more than 500,000 people across five continents, completing 86 projects, trained 7,271 students and professionals, provided continuing education for 816 teachers and science educators and engaged 114,182 event attendees around innovation and sustainability thus far.

The Sustainability Solutions Service is an evolution of one of the original initiative programs and will be housed within ASU Knowledge Enterprise Development. This sustainability consultancy, a progression of the traditional cooperative extension service model, co-creates solutions-based projects with faculty, students and external partners such as the city of Phoenix, international aid organizations and established and emerging businesses.

Such an ambitious, entrepreneurial enterprise requires a dynamic team. The Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service has assembled a distinguished group of committed academic leaders, business professionals and international specialists to advance this effort. In concert with our clients, students, fellows and partners, the Sustainability Solutions Service focuses the immense knowledge assets of ASU on the social, environmental and economic challenges of sustainability. These teams actualize the charter and the design principles of ASU as a New American University, in particular entrepreneurship, social embeddedness, use-inspired research and global engagement.

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual variety and cultural embeddedness, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

For more information on the Arizona State University Walton Sustainability Solutions Services, please visit their website at https://sustainability-innovation.asu.edu/sustainabilitysolutions/.

Description of Duties:

Arizona State University’s Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service was awarded a $5 million grant by the USDA Forest Service to grow the tree and shade canopy in metro Phoenix, while also growing a thriving urban forestry industry through community-industry partnerships. Urban Nature is implemented in collaboration with 5 community-based organizations, 4 municipalities, 3 industry partners, and 3 national organizations and 4 ASU departments.

As part of Urban Nature’s urban forestry and agroforestry initiatives, especially related to workforce development and long-term sustainability of the collaborative, we are recruiting for a part-time intern who can help with business development, with a focus on harvest and post-harvest date palm operations. This contributes to ASU’s sustainability goals, such as zero waste, and ASU’s date palm collection, consisting of more than 40 varieties of rare date palms.

The intern will have multiple and ongoing opportunities for job shadowing and networking with leaders in various strategic and field-based positions in university, community, and industry settings. Our team, comprised of leaders in community-based conservation, urban planning, landscape design, agroforestry, and urban forestry will engage in collaborative mentoring with the intern related to the particular tasks the intern is completing / learning to complete.

The intern will assist in standing up a self-sustaining business harvesting, packaging, marketing, and selling dates grown on Arizona State University’s campuses, starting with the Tempe campus.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Assist in researching and documenting best practices for Standard Operating Procedures during various growth, harvesting, and post-harvesting phases.
• Attend all safety trainings for field work and food safety.
• Gain food handler card and follow all food safety protocols.
• Assist in developing training instructions and materials to support seasonal workers (i.e. ASU students and Urban Nature Community Trade School participants) in harvesting, washing, sorting, grading, and packaging dates.
• Assist in logistical planning and provide field support for various growth, harvesting, and post-harvesting operations.
• Assist in tracking production from tree to bin to sample.
• Assist in planning and developing a date dashboard containing seasonal information for each date palm.
• Assist in developing food safety protocols and checks from harvest to sales.
• Assist in logistical planning for freezer use, cold storage, and date packing.
• Assist in business development for date operations, such as researching operational costs, potential end markets and regional price points.
• Assist in planning a Date Harvest event for donors.
  
  

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• A self-starter that demonstrates professionalism, both in demeanor and appearance.
• Good communication and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license (must be over 21 OR have had license for 3 years if under 21).
• Experience with field-based operations in a related field, like agroforestry, urban forestry, conservation, sustainability, etc..
• Experience with relevant technologies, such as use of spreadsheets and databases.
• Experience or interest in tracking field data.
• Experience or interest in leading small groups in learning new information and practices.
• Must have reliable transportation and be over 18.
• The intern must be able to independently travel to work sites such as ASU Tempe campus, with occasional or seasonal travel to other locations, such as ASU Polytechnic campus and community locations for kitchen, freezer, and cold storage as well as local end markets for dates.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework or experience in agribusiness or agroforestry.
• Coursework or experience in business development or business operations.
• Demonstrates proficiency in GIS.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Navigating uneven terrain, exposure to extreme heat during certain times of year (intern must understand the need for heat safety). To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

Member will receive an Arizona Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program New Member Orientation at start of service that involves training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Participation and Expected Behavior:

Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences. 

Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, co-workers and agency staff. Appropriately represent Arizona Conservation Corps, Arizona State University, and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.

Safety and Judgment: 

Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions. 

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08 with successful completion of each 300 hour AmeriCorps term (total of $3,130.16 for this position).
• Living Allowance of $240 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $85 per week.
• Childcare Coverage.
• Qualifies for Student Loan forbearance and Interest Payment reimbursement through AmeriCorps.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service. Reporting requirements involve, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name:

This position reports to Jen Clifton, Assistant Director, Community Economic Development, Arizona State University.

To Apply:  

Please submit a resume and cover letter along with the online application by clicking the APPLY link on this page.

If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Coordinator Preston Sands at [email protected]. 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.