Illegal Dumping Ambassador
19 days ago
Philadelphia
Position Summary Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) seeks four (4) passionate and community-oriented individuals to serve as Illegal Dumping Park Ambassadors as part of a citywide initiative to reduce illegal dumping in public parks. This grant-funded position is a key component of an innovative interdisciplinary program focused on prevention enforcement education and community engagement in four priority park sites: Tacony Creek Park Cobbs Creek Park Fairmount Park and Mifflin Square Park. Illegal dumping is a persistent issue in many Philadelphia parks particularly in communities that are historically underserved. This program aims to cut illegal dumping at target sites by 50% over two years by pairing rapid response and data-informed interventions with deep sustained community partnerships. Park Ambassadors will be the trusted visible presence in their assigned park arealeading outreach efforts hosting quarterly engagement events with community groups monitoring environmental conditions and supporting enforcement through public education and coordination with other PPR teams. Park Ambassadors will work in close collaboration with local environmental organizations community-based organizations (CBOs) Park Friends Groups Recreation Outreach Workers Environmental Education ce4nters Advisory Councils and other relevant stakeholders to support a culture shift in how residents view value and steward their parks. Responsibilities include coordinating volunteer activities organizing community meetings distributing educational toolkits and reporting dumping activity. Ambassadors will also receive training in conflict resolution and engagement strategies equipping them to build meaningful relationships with residents and activate long-term change. To support the programs community-driven approach applicants with lived experience in or strong connections to the neighborhoods surrounding the four priority parks are especially encouraged to apply. This may include familiarity with local organizations experience working in or near these park spaces or a personal investment in the well-being of these communities. PPR values the insight trust and relationships that locally rooted individuals bring to the role. This role is an exciting opportunity for leaders who are passionate about environmental justice urban greening and public service to help shape a cleaner safer and more welcoming future for Philadelphias parks and the people who use them. Evening and weekend hours will be required. Essential Functions Park Presence & Community Engagement • Serve as a consistent and welcoming presence in one of the four focus parks: Tacony Creek Park Cobbs Creek Park Fairmount Park or Mifflin Square Park with a preference for candidates who live nearby or have existing ties to the community., • Organize and execute community-based activities that promote public awareness and participation in illegal dumping prevention efforts., • Coordinate and host regular community events including cleanups educational workshops resource giveaways and tabling at neighborhood gatherings or City sponsored events., • Facilitate stakeholder engagement activities to foster collaboration and information sharing among partners., • Support the facilitation and development of community leadership groups to build local capacity for preventing illegal dumping., • Monitor environmental conditions and illegal dumping activity in assigned parks including litter patterns dumping hotspots and damaged infrastructure., • Collaborate with City enforcement teams to coordinate anti-dumping enforcement efforts including issuing violations and fines in accordance with City procedures and policies., • Assist with monitoring and managing the illegal dumping camera network to support effective surveillance and response., • Support litter and dumping cleanup efforts including occasional hands-on participation alongside volunteers and City crews., • Track and document illegal dumping occurrences and community interventions using provided data tools., • Aid in compiling monthly and quarterly reports summarizing initiative progress challenges and successes., • Directly support initiatives that strengthen community capacity for long-term place-based illegal dumping reduction and public space stewardship., • Attend regular team meetings and trainings in areas such as trauma-informed care conflict de-escalation and environmental justice., • Maintain detailed records of outreach enforcement and community feedback. Community Engagement & Cultural Competence • Demonstrated ability to engage respectfully and effectively with diverse communities including residents of historically underserved neighborhoods., • Deep understanding of and/or lived experience in one or more of the focus park communities (Tacony Creek Park Cobbs Creek Park Fairmount Park Mifflin Square Park) is strongly preferred., • Basic understanding of illegal dumping issues litter dynamics and public space challenges in urban environments., • Experience or interest in environmental justice waste reduction public health or sustainability., • Strong organizational skills with the ability to track data manage event logistics and maintain accurate records., • Comfort with using mobile devices basic data entry tools (e.g. Microsoft Excel Google Sheets) and digital survey platforms., • Ability to think critically troubleshoot issues in real-time and propose community-informed solutions., • Flexible and adaptable to changing field conditions team priorities or emergent community needs., • Familiarity with or willingness to be trained in trauma-informed practices de-escalation strategies and respectful enforcement., • Capacity to issue violations or citations in a professional and equitable manner in accordance with City protocols., • Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and across agencies or community groups., • Commitment to shared goals and ability to represent the program with professionalism and integrity., • Multilingual candidates especially those fluent in Spanish Mandarin Arabic or Russian are strongly encouraged to apply., • Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to document community feedback and share information clearly. Qualifications : Minimum Qualifications • Must be a Philadelphia resident., • Valid PA Drivers License (Must be able to travel city-wide to program sites)., • Familiarity with the city of Philadelphia and its neighborhoods., • High school diploma or GED required., • At least two (2) years of relevant work or volunteer experience in community engagement environmental stewardship waste management enforcement urban planning or a related field., • Ability to work evenings and weekends regularly for community events or cleanups., • Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and participate in physical activities such as walking lifting and site inspections., • Strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills., • Bachelors degree in environmental studies urban planning public policy public health criminal justice communications or a related field or equivalent work experience., • Lived or professional experience in or near one of the focus areas: Tacony Creek Park Cobbs Creek Park Fairmount Park or Mifflin Square Park., • Familiarity with illegal dumping issues and/or City enforcement processes., • Experience facilitating or supporting community groups public meetings or neighborhood cleanups., • Ability to track data and use basic tools like Microsoft Excel Google Workspace or mobile data collection apps., • Multilingual skills particularly in Spanish Mandarin Arabic or Russian are a strong plus. Additional Information : TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume. Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee: • Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTAs Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses subways trolleys and regional rail for their daily commute and more., • Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave., • We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents., • Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan, • Employees receive paid vacation sick leave and holidays, • Generous retirement savings options are available, • Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness. *The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire Effective May 22 2023 vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses doctors emergency medical personnel) must be fully vaccinated. The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race ethnicity color sex sexual orientation gender identity religion national origin ancestry age disability marital status source of income familial status genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. 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