Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Science Communication Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, California

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/18/2025

End Date: 08/08/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.00 upon successful completion of position.
  • Living Allowance of $760.00 per week.
  • Relocation Allowance of $400.00 distributed as a one-time lump sum.
  • Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
    • Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The position will close after receiving 75 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, 19 January, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 19 January, 2025.

PURPOSE

This Science Communication Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will ​address the impacts and management challenges posed by climate change. These resources will be used to educate the public in-person and/or online. Additionally, they will assist park staff in effectively informing visitors about these critical issues. The parks web page and interpretive exhibits are a source of information gathering for programs and general learning. Information that is consolidated by this position will also be used to tailor talking points for the park’s Public Affairs Team, who annually respond to 50+ interview requests from national and international media specifically on the park’s famous heat and climate.​

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Science Communication Member(s) will research and develop educational materials to emphasize the impacts of climate change on Death Valley National Park. Known as one of the hottest places on Earth, Death Valley recorded its hottest summer in history in 2024, with an average temperature of 104.5°F (day and night temperatures combined). This trend is alarming, as seven of the ten hottest summers have occurred in the last decade. Significant weather events, including multiple thousand-year rain events in recent years (2015, 2022, 2023), have impacted park resources. Climate models predict that this region will continue to warm, with storms likely becoming more intense and frequent in the coming decades.

The extreme conditions in Death Valley mean that plants and animals are already struggling for survival. Even slight increases in temperature or changes in precipitation could displace certain species from the park. A 2022 study highlighted the impact of climate change on the Great Basin bristlecone pines, known for their resilience and longevity. Additionally, western Joshua trees, once considered stable, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to drought, herbivory, and wildfires. Recent data indicate that these trees are showing signs of stress, with increased leaf herbivory and periderm stripping. Notably, a researcher reported no new seedlings in 2022—an unprecedented finding in over 20 years of study.

Death Valley has made strides in enhancing climate change outreach materials, but more work is needed to engage visitors. The primary focus of the member will be tailored to the applicant’s strengths, experiences, and interests and will be chosen from one of the following projects:

  • Updating and expanding the park's climate change webpage.
  • Creating a new climate change display for the park museum.
  • Developing a standardized climate change interpretive program to be used over this season and in future years. Crafting appropriate climate change messaging for park waysides.

Each project will be designed with the goal of reaching broader audiences and should incorporate multilingual or accessible elements as appropriate. This project aims to educate both general public and park staff about the tangible impacts of climate change on the park's ecosystem.


KEYWORDS: Interpretation, Science Communication, Climate Change, Visual Media, Visitor Services

DELIVERABLES

​​ONE project will be selected and completed within the 12 week position. Specific projects, goals, and materials to be produced will be tailored for each participant and will be defined at the time applicants are interviewed and selected. Specific projects include overhauling the parks climate change webpage, developing a standardized climate change interpretive program, creating a climate change interpretive exhibit, creating a climate change wayside next to the thermometer at Furnace Creek, or inventorying waysides and identifying where climate change messaging would be appropriate. These projects were all chosen for their potential to provide lasting value well beyond the conclusion of the position. ​


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 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.
  • Must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD degree program at an accredited institution of higher education for the duration of the position and graduate after the completion of the position. Certificate programs do not qualify for DHA positions.
  • Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the NPS site location.
  • The applicant must be available to participate for 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
​​Bilingual (Spanish), experience in public speaking, education, environmental studies, environmental science, biology, botany, geology, meteorology, communications, design. ​

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

​​Most work will take place predominately inside an office or visitor services setting at the Death Valley Headquarters/Visitor Center in Furnace Creek, CA. Due to extreme summer temperatures employees are required to adhere to the park’s heat safety policies when working outdoors.

Death Valley National Park stretches across the states of Nevada and California. The park is home to the hottest, driest, and lowest elevation in North America. During the summer months Death Valley is often one of the hottest places on Earth. Gift shops, gas, and convenient stores can be found within the park’s boundary. However, the closest amenities (major grocery stores, restaurants) are an hour outside of the park in the town of Pahrump, NV. Las Vegas, NV is two hours away, has a major airport and all the amenities and entertainment of a major city. Cell phone service is spotty with limited 3G but internet is available in park housing and at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.​


VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
  • A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. ​​Housing is a shared dormitory with individual rooms and a shared kitchen and living room space. Members may share a bathroom with one other person. Wifi and cable are provided. SIP participants will need to bring toiletries, pillows, and linens.​


HOW TO APPLY

Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) Resource Assistant Intern position. Eligible participants must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD degree program at an accredited institution of higher education for the duration of the position and graduate after the completion of the position. Certificate programs do not qualify for DHA positions. Upload an unofficial transcript from your current institution to help us verify your enrollment status when applying. To learn more about eligibility and benefits for DHA positions, read more on our program page.

Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.


ADDITIONAL DETAILS


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of 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. Exerting up to 25 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.


TIME REQUIREMENTS

  • This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
  • Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
  • Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

  • Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
  • Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service.
  • Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff or the Ecological Society of America.
  • Opportunity to join one (or more) SIP Affinity Groups. Groups include: DEIJ Change Makers, Women+ in Science, BIPOC, or Pride in STEM.
  • Opportunity to present the outcomes from the SIP position at national scientific meetings held by the Ecological Society of America and Geological Society of America.

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 include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.


Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Death Valley National Park will host a Science Communication Assistant.


Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements.


If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact us!”

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