Work with us!
Roots & Shoots is looking for committed individuals who are self-motivated and who seek to grow and excel in a fun, sometimes demanding environment.

Career Opportunities
Regional Education Coordinator, Northern California
Volunteer, Tanzania
Education Volunteers, Uganda
Educator and Curriculum Volunteer, Uganda
JGI Career Opportunities

Internship Opportunities
Roots & Shoots Intern, National Office
Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellowship

Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellowship
Date Posted: 4/30/08
Location: Danbury, CT

The Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program is unique in its approach to youth empowerment. Through our Youth Leadership Councils and youth-directed community service projects, we provide opportunities for outstanding young people to hone their communication, planning and leadership skills. The Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellowship takes this aspect of our program to a new level.

The Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellow works with the Roots & Shoots College and University Programs Manager and the Youth Fellow to provide very important representation and outreach at Roots & Shoots and Jane Goodall Institute events. For the Graduate Fellow representation and outreach opportunities mainly focus on events that relate to College and University students. Beyond these outreach responsibilities, the Graduate Fellow also assists in the day to day operation and programming of the Roots & Shoots College and University Program. This work includes mentoring newly formed College and University groups of Roots & Shoots, as well as supporting current groups and supporting the College Leadership Council. This position offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at a fast-growing nonprofit organization, as well as the opportunity to effect lasting change on an evolving program.

Responsibilities:

The Graduate Fellow will be paid a monthly stipend of $1,000 (USD) in addition to a $400 (USD) monthly housing stipend (a total of $1,400 per month).

If you have any questions regarding the Graduate Fellowship please contact, 2007-2008 Graduate Fellow Shawn Sweeney via email at ssweeney@janegoodall.org or via phone 203-837-3260.

To apply please download the application and submit with a cover letter and resume. Send all materials via email to ssweeney@janegoodall.org or mail them to:

Shawn Sweeney, Graduate Fellow
Roots & Shoots College Programs Office
c/o Western Connecticut State University
181 White St., White Hall, Rm. 029
Danbury, CT 06810 USA

Regional Education Coordinator, Northern California
Date Posted: 10/15/2007
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

The Jane Goodall Institute is seeking an energetic, organized, goal-oriented individual who will support the program expansion of the Roots & Shoots California regional office and to provide strategic leadership of the Roots & Shoots youth network in the region.

Founded in 1991 by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of Tanzanian students, Roots & Shoots is about making positive change happen—for people, animals and the environment. With nearly 100,000 young people in more than 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network branches out across the globe, connecting youth of all ages who share a common desire to help make the world a better place. Roots & Shoots fosters a fun, flexible and supportive environment where young people and adults alike come together to share ideas and inspiration, implement service-learning projects and participate in special events and global campaigns. The powerful, interactive Roots & Shoots website supplies helpful online tools that allow members to connect globally and take action to make a difference.

Primary Regional Education Coordinator responsibilities include:

• Serving as primary contact and support for Roots & Shoots groups throughout the state and build a strong, sustained association between members and our programs
• Increasing the benefit of Roots & Shoots to youth and their communities by improving the quality of regional programming
• Creating and implementing a plan that increases renewal rates, grows the number new groups, delivers group orientations, supports projects, evaluates program performance, gains member feedback, and creates regular networking opportunities
• Building partnerships and associations with school systems, after school groups, clubs, and other organizations with shared goals that can help expand program reach
• Recruiting, training, and supporting youth as members of a Regional Youth Leadership Council and empower these youth to assist with program goals
• Ensuring youth campaigns achieve measurable community benefits
• Involving youth leaders as facilitators at events, orientations and trainings
• Involving adult volunteers as a support system for the youth as they plan and implement events and program directives
• Recruiting, training, and supporting adult volunteers that can assist with program goals, including: presentations, group orientations, events, and conferences
• Ensuring the creation and implementation of state-wide trainings and educational events – focus on opportunities that are financially sustainable and that pay attention to critical membership points (orientation, support, renewal)
• Expanding program reach to underserved and ethnically diverse communities
• Assisting the Regional Director with fundraising – including cultivation of individual donors and reporting/ writing grant proposals
• Ensuring state-wide participation in regional and national initiatives, through encouraging and engaging active members and volunteers
• Acting as a representative for the program at state, regional and national events – including giving presentations/ speeches as necessary
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Regional Director or by the National Director of Roots & Shoots
  

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree required, advanced degree preferred
• Minimum 4 years professional experience showing a commitment to education, service-learning and/or youth development
• Self-motivated with team spirit and creative ideas
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Organized with an ability to meet deadlines
• Proficient with excel, word processing, PowerPoint and web design
• Commitment to the mission
• Willingness to travel frequently
• Flexible schedule
• Bilingual skills preferred

Position to be filled immediately. Competitive salary and excellent benefits package. This position will be based in San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley or San Francisco).

To apply, email cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and three references to koxrider@janegoodall.org, including "Bay Area Regional Education Coordinator" in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

Job Description:

• Support local R&S clubs through attending club meetings, assisting with project creation and implementation, and making educational presentations. Successful projects have included: cleaning beaches and schoolyards, bird watching, tree planting, creating school gardens, visiting orphanages and hospitals, field trips to natural areas, and campaigns to raise awareness of local environmental and social issues such as HIV/AIDS and bushmeat.
• Represent R&S in the local community through conducting presentations, teaching workshops, exhibiting at a community event, visiting new schools who are interested in joining the program, or participating in partner organization's events.
• Aid in the planning, preparation and implementation of annual R&S events such as International Peace Day, African Child Day, and Roots & Shoots week.
• Develop and implement a volunteer project in collaboration with local R&S groups.
• Assist with on-going projects such at the Yatima R&S scholarship program which sponsors 25 orphaned children to attend secondary school.
• Assist with general office administrative tasks

Experience/Qualifications:

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: Roots & Shoots, community development, teaching, sciences, conservation, event planning, grant writing, computers/technology, administrative support
• The ideal volunteer will be mature, flexible, self-motivated, adapt to new environments easily, willing to work hard, culturally sensitive, have a sense of humor, and willing to do whatever tasks need to be done
• Experience working in Africa or a developing country a plus
• Must be 21 years of age or older

NOTE: For those with significant Africa experience, including conversational Kiswahili, opportunities in the Moshi/Arusha and Iringa Regions are available.

Program contribution:
$1,200 for three months and $200/month for every additional month

What is covered by the contribution?

• Mini-grant for local R&S project coordinated by volunteer
• Accommodation in country
• Work permit (good for two years)
• Local travel and communication
• Two weeks basic Kiswahili language
  training
• In-country program orientation, training and materials
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Professional staff coordination and support
• Administrative fees

What is not covered by the contribution?

• Airfare to and from Tanzania
• Passport fees
• Immunizations
• Visa entry fees
• Medical insurance
• Food
• Spending money

Send resume and cover letter to:
Megan Nelson
The Jane Goodall Institute
4245 North Fairfax Drive Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22203
If you are an African living in the region and wish to volunteer, please contact Erasto Njavike at emavike@hotmail.com.

Education Volunteers, JGI Uganda
Date Posted: 6/6/2007
Location: JGI Uganda
Status:

JGI Uganda periodically takes volunteers to assist with their Roots & Shoots and other education programmes, these include teacher workshops, material development and field education centres. These placements vary according to the time of year and current requirements. If you are interested in volunteering or want more information, please contact Stephanie Townsend (Education Programmes Manager), including your CV, on steph@jgiuganda.org.

Send resume and cover letter to:
Stephanie Townsend

Educator and Curriculum Volunteer, JGI Uganda
Date Posted: 5/24/2007
Location: Entebbe, Uganda
Status: Looking for volunteer to start at beginning of October 2007

We are currently looking for a volunteer for a 6-month placement from the beginning of October 2007. The volunteer will be largely office based for the first four months, helping with the reviewing and editing of the new environmental education primary school curriculum, as well as other tasks. The final two months will be field based at one of our education centre, helping to deliver an environmental education programme to primary school children.

The ideal volunteer will have teaching experience, be very competent with computing (particularly formatting and editing) and must be happy to live in a remote forest location.

Send resume and cover letter to:
Stephanie Townsend

Roots & ShootsInternship, National Office
Date Posted: 3/25/2008
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Status: Accepting applications for positions starting in July 2008.

Roots & Shoots®, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute, seeks a full-time intern for our National Office. Founded by Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE and a group of Tanzanian students, the global Roots & Shoots program is about empowering young people to take action through service-learning projects—effecting positive change for people, animals and the environment.

Roots & Shoots interns assist the National Office staff with the day-to-day administration of the Roots & Shoots program, including member services, program marketing, website maintenance and some outreach. While many of the interns' duties are administrative, these positions offer a unique behind-the-scenes look at a fast-growing nonprofit organization, as well as the opportunity to effect lasting change on an evolving program. Interns work closely with one another and as part of a dynamic team of individuals who share a commitment to high-quality work.

Intern responsibilities include:

• Serving as the first line of contact for general program information requests by phone, mail, email and fax (high volume of email correspondence)
• Distributing materials via mail, email or fax, as needed
• Archiving news articles and images
• Requesting and tracking media releases for photos submitted by Roots & Shoots groups
• Taking notes at monthly staff meetings
• Attending weekly check-in meetings with the Roots & Shoots National Office team
• Reviewing and approving Project Reports received from members through the website
• Facilitating membership fulfillment through database maintenance
• Assisting in the design and implementation of the program's membership plan, as needed
• Interacting with the public and representing the program at events, as needed (potential for participation in Dr. Goodall’s lecture tour events)
• Writing content for Roots & Shoots newsletter, eNewsletter and website (approximately one piece of writing each month)
• Administering interactive, member-based website to ensure quality and usability
• Providing phone coverage, on a rotating basis, to JGI's receptionist two days each week
• Potential for completing 1-2 long term projects based on intern's interests and program need
  

The successful candidates will possess:

• An interest in empowering youth to make a positive difference by offering in-office support to Roots & Shoots members and groups
• The ability and willingness to be flexible in a fast-paced and changing environment
• Office/business experience and a sense of professionalism
• Strong computer skills and Internet savvy (Microsoft Office and prior database experience preferred)
• A courteous and professional phone manner
• Initiative and ability to work both independently and cooperatively
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• A bachelor's or equivalent degree or be currently enrolled in a college program
• Experience working in youth development, education or service learning preferred

The internship requires a minimum 4-month full-time commitment (six months preferred) and provides a $1,000 (USD) monthly stipend, as well as a $50 (USD) monthly D.C. Metro allowance. Hours are full-time, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday (with some flexibility). Work will be based out of the Roots & Shoots National Office in Arlington, Virginia (Ballston Metro). Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

The Roots & Shoots National Office empowers interns to participate on many levels in a friendly, productive, team-based work environment.

Please, email resume, cover letter and references to Amy Vaerewyck at amyv@janegoodall.org. No phone calls, please.