POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Science Communication Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Climate Change Response Program, Fort Collins, Colorado
Can this position be fully remote: No
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 be hosted by the National Park Service Climate Change Response Program (CCRP). The CCRP helps advance park efforts in support of the servicewide NPS Climate Change Response Strategy. The member will work on several projects to advance both servicewide and park-level climate change response efforts. The position also will provide outstanding developmental opportunities to cultivate relevant knowledge, skills, and experience in climate-related work, and provide a possible pathway to future employment. The CCRP Climate Science & Adaptation Coordinator will serve as the SIP position mentor. The selected member will work alongside CCRP subject matter experts, communication specialists, and park leads on a series of key projects to advance CCRP efforts. The member and mentor will also collaboratively identify a project that will provide experience and growth in the member’s preferred area(s) of interest.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The member will work with the NPS Climate Change Response Program (CCRP) on projects to advance climate change response efforts:
1) Climate Change Quick Guide: This Guide was developed to help parks coordinate, prioritize, and track their climate change response efforts. The member will produce SharePoint and web content to communicate about the Guide, its origin, purpose, and examples of park progress. They will coordinate with parks that volunteered to pilot test the Guide, including community of practice meetings, communication and documentation of results, and feedback to improve the Guide.
2) Climate Change Adaptation Case Studies: The member will work with parks to identify and document adaptation implementation projects. The member will develop original content that interprets the climate change impact to park resources and ongoing or completed adaptation activities. These case studies may include parks piloting the Climate Change Quick Guide but need not be limited to them.
3) Journal Publication: The member will collaborate with their mentors to write an article, which incorporates content from the above projects, for the journal Park Science.
4) NPS Data Store: The selected member will work alongside CCRP staff to make existing and forthcoming products accessible through the NPS Data Store application. The member will create new records, set permissions and metadata, and upload products for publication. The member will work to organize resources for optimal access by target audiences.
5) Additional Project-TBD: The member and mentor will work together to develop a project that advances the member’s experience and growth in the member’s preferred area(s) of interest, relative to CCRP operations.
6) Professional Growth and Development: The member will be encouraged to identify learning opportunities as they are made available, for which work time will be reserved to participate. The member also will be afforded opportunities to participate in this applied work.
7) CCRP Support: On an as-needed basis, the selected member will assist on miscellaneous CCRP work as education, skills, and experience allow.
KEYWORDS: climate change, adaptation, science communication, planning, coordination
DELIVERABLES
During the 52-week position, the member will produce: 1) SharePoint and web content about the Climate Change Quick Guide, its origin, purpose, and examples of park progress, 2) reporting of park progress using the Guide, and recommendations on how to improve the Guide, 3) at least 10 new park climate change adaptation case studies, 4) a journal article submitted to Park Science, 5) at least 10 new Data Store collections of park-specific climate science, 6) final report or other appropriate final product documenting outcomes from a negotiated, independent project, and 7) well-organized files carefully documenting the development of all deliverables.
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
Upper level undergraduate or graduate student with course work in the natural sciences and/or natural resource management; strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to work independently and with a team; and working knowledge of climate change impacts, adaptation, and related issues. Strong proficiency in creative and/or scholarly writing will be critical for success in this position. Preferred Qualifications: coursework and/or experience in climate change science and adaptation, science communications, and/or visual information. Additional education or experience in indigenous knowledges, cultural resources, engineering, facility management, education, or interpretive programming are welcome!
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Fort Collins is a midsize college town with a population of 170,000 people. The city is situated at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills of the northern Front Range, approximately 60 miles north of Denver. Restaurants and retail outlets are abundant, and community services are easily accessed. Fort Collins is located at about 5000 ft above sea-level and experiences a continental climate with four distinct seasons and low annual precipitation. The city receives 300 days of sunshine annually, and 29 days of 90°+ weather. Opportunities for outdoor pursuits are abundant.
VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license 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. Park housing is unavailable. The selected member will be responsible for arranging housing for the length of the position. Several rental options are available within biking distance of the work site, and many additional options are available within a reasonable commuting distance. Costs for a 1-bedroom, 1 bath apartment run between $1,200 and $1,600 per month.
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 Climate Change Response Program 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!”