Jessie Hess

Experience

• 

  Peace Corps

  Feb 2012 - Apr 2014

  Forestry Extension Agent

  • Implemented projects and conducted conservation farming trainings with community members to improve household food security and promote income-generating activities• Supported women’s literacy classes and small business groups to promote gender equality and improve resource access• Led workshops and demonstrations on how to build and operate fuel efficient cook-stoves to promote forest conservation, resource sustainability, and childhood nutrition• Organized yearly tree nursery in collaboration with community groups, raised, distributed, and planted over 600 native trees to promote sustainable agroforestry and reforestation practices• Conducted surveys with the Zambian Wildlife Authority to monitor animal populations and alleviate human-wildlife conflict in North Luangwa reserve Show less

• 

  GROL Garden

  Jan 2015 - Apr 2015

  Garden Manager, Volunteer Coordinator

  • Live-in manager of urban organic farm hosting up to 14 work-exchange volunteers, coordinated planting timelines, produce harvest, and garden projects• Organized volunteer arrival and schedule, delegated duties to ensure the smooth operation of permaculture farm and timely distribution of produce to local buyers

• 

  Ten Thousand Villages US

  Apr 2015 - Dec 2017

  Outreach Coordinator, Volunteer Manager, Assistant Store Manager

  • Managed social media accounts for fair trade nonprofit retail store, developed newsletters and promotions for over 1,000 email subscribers, organized store events, delivered public presentations• Trained and managed up to 20 volunteers, reviewed applications, managed schedules• Organized fundraisers in collaboration with local nonprofits including outreach, logistics, and promotion

• 

  Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

  Aug 2016 - Oct 2018

  Bartender

  • Demonstrated excellent customer service and multitasking in a heavily-trafficked, award-winning local restaurant• Responsible for money management including calculating tips, balancing drawers, depositing cash without defect

• 

  Bar Charley and El Chucho Cocina (GoodBar Mgt)

  Dec 2018 - Oct 2019

  Bartender

  • Leveraged interpersonal skills with both customers and employees to provide an enjoyable dining experience, constantly communicating with managers and kitchen staff to ensure great customer service• Demonstrated extensive memory, problem solving skills, and adaptability in a fast-paced setting• Manager on duty over front of house staff, money management and record keeping responsibilities

• 

  Integrated Program in the Environment, Indiana University-Bloomington

  Aug 2020 - Jun 2022

  Graduate Fellow

  • Supervised undergraduate residential environmental program, advised on projects and tracked member requirements for around 30 students• Created and formatted monthly newsletter content using Salesforce Marketing Cloud software• Researched and synthesized data on peer university environmental commitments, results were presented in a report to IU’s President

• 

  Indiana University Bloomington

  Aug 2020 - May 2021

  Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Developed and led small group discussion classes while encouraging participation, critical thinking, and understanding of the course material• Utilized Canvas instruction platform to grade class assignments and communicate in a timely and constructive manner with students

• 

  Sustainable Food Systems Science, Indiana University-Bloomington

  Dec 2020 - Jul 2021

  Policy Research Assistant

  • Researched and analyzed Indiana’s food and agriculture legislation for policy briefs and a report to the City of Indianapolis with recommendations to address food insecurity and food access issues

• 

  Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

  Jan 2022 - May 2022

  Capstone Project Consultant

  • Environmental Lead on the project “Assessment of Electricity Ratemaking Policies in Indiana” directing research and analysis of the environmental impact of Indiana’s public utility policies• Presented findings and recommendations for alternative ratemaking methods to the IURC in collaboration with team members and instructor

• 

  U.S. Forest Service

  Oct 2022 - now

  Europe & Eurasia Program Manager

  • Collaborate with domestic and international partners to develop scopes of work, work plans, strategy documents, activities, and reports for Forest Service programs in the Europe & Eurasia region• Recruit, prepare, and manage over 20 natural resource management experts to interface with international partners primarily from the Caucasus through technical exchanges and remote assignments• Organize travel and logistics and participate in international assignments and exchanges, facilitating environmental knowledge sharing and capacity building for over 100 individual participants• Facilitate 3 study tours to the US for 20 international participants in collaboration with US-based partners• Develop and submit grant proposals including scopes of work, detailed budgets, and logic models, collect and report monitoring and evaluation metrics• Manage and monitor over 12 outgoing grants and cooperative agreements to international partners• Manage, monitor, and reconcile project budgets; responsible for programming over $1.5 million to date• Create and distribute communication materials for a variety of uses, both internal and external facing• Support program monitoring & evaluation activities Show less