POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Science Communication Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Fort Collins, Colorado
Can this position be fully remote: Yes
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 06/01/2025
End Date: 05/31/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position.
- Living Allowance of $665.00 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).
- For 52-week-long positions only:
- Healthcare Coverage
- Childcare Coverage
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 help raise awareness of how NPS natural resource inventories and monitoring can and are contributing to improved park management, especially in the face of accelerated changing conditions. The Inventory & Monitoring Division has collected scientific information on NPS natural resources for nearly two decades, but the dissemination of information about the division’s impact has sometimes proved challenging, in part due to a lack of capacity for science communication. Yet science communication is essential for significant conservation impact. This position represents one way to help to fill that gap. The member will work directly with the division’s Science Communications Lead and convey information intended for public audiences. There will be an opportunity to build templates and create model content that can further increase capacity for future communications.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The proposed position would be responsible for writing and producing web articles, social media content, and internal communications that convey key stories about the impact of natural resource inventories and monitoring (I&M) in selected NPS units across the nation. Articles will be based on existing documents, research, and interviews with NPS scientists and other staff. They will be geared toward public audiences, and focus on telling the story of ways in which long-term natural resource monitoring is impacting or has impacted park decisions, management, and conservation strategies. Social media content will be produced in collaboration with staff from multiple offices. The successful candidate will gain experience with science writing, editing, and interviewing; use of HTML, graphics software, and content management systems; and 508 compliance. The position will support the Inventory & Monitoring Division's Science Communications Lead, and be remote.
KEYWORDS: science communication, writing, editing, research, interviews, internal communications, web content, outreach, ecology, publications, journalism, communications support
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables include multiple web articles of ~1,000 words in length, with accompanying graphics, to be published via the NPS content management system and archived in IRMA, (2) social media posts and stories to promote each article, and (3) internal promotion of the articles and creation of other I&M-related content, such as news items and the division's newsletter, via SharePoint.
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.
- 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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
This position requires strong reading comprehension, research, and writing/storytelling skills. It would be appropriate for a journalism student or someone with a liberal arts background, particularly someone interested in environmental journalism or science writing. A commitment to, and ability to convey, the meaning of ecological science in the 21st century is desired. Science writing experience is essential, with exceptional command of American English grammar. Experience with HTML is preferred, as is experience with running and generating content for social media accounts. An interest in the National Park Service and learning and innovating while working alongside a team of NPS and partnering scientists is essential, as is the patience and desire to learn about the practice of communication within a federal bureaucracy and its sideboards of policy and optics.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
All work is expected to be conducted in a home office environment. Travel may be possible if the member lives close enough to a work-related NPS site to warrant a trip there.
VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant will not need to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The member will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. This position is fully remote. No housing is available and no specific location (beyond being in the US) is required.
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.
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 Inventory and Monitoring Division 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!”