Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 36 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/05/2025

End Date: 01/12/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.00 upon successful completion of position.
  • Living Allowance of $565.00 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 Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will assist with Grand Teton's very active vegetation management program, including sagebrush habitat restoration, invasive plant management, revegetation following construction, and whitebark pine conservation. Monitoring effectiveness of our management strategies is essential for adapting practices to meet our natural resource goals. For example, we applied monitoring results to modify restoration seed mixes and soil preparation techniques to improve outcomes. For another example, direct seeding whitebark pine and planting container plants at restoration sites are new this year; understanding survivorship will give us needed feedback on benefit to the desired outcome and cost-effectiveness. Long-term monitoring allows managers to detect changes in ecosystems to prepare appropriate responses and communicate that to other scientists, managers, and the public. Having such data has been invaluable to our understanding of whitebark pine decline from blister rust and mountain pine beetle and allows for data-backed conservation planning. Despite its importance, for some monitoring elements we have been challenged to properly steward, analyze, and present field data. Working with an member assigned specifically to monitoring will allow it to receive the attention it needs to optimize effectiveness.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

This position provides an opportunity to engage in a breadth of survey, monitoring, and mapping techniques for a range of management needs across a range of ecosystems. The member will perform ecological monitoring, surveying, and mapping for various programs and projects in the branch of Vegetation Ecology and Management at Grand Teton National Park. Monitoring ranges from qualitative (e.g. site observation and photo points) to quantitative data collection (e.g., recording plant species abundance in plots) and long-term trend monitoring to short-term efficacy monitoring. Examples include long-term sagebrush and high elevation plant communities; sagebrush restoration; grazing utilization; whitebark pine direct seeding germination and survivorship; sagebrush restoration planting success; revegetation success, invasive plant management outcomes, rare plant surveys, invasive plant surveys, and disturbance mapping. The duties will be a combination of data collection in the field and office-based field prep, data management, data summary, and analysis.


KEYWORDS: monitoring, habitat restoration, sagebrush, whitebark pine, native plants

DELIVERABLES

The member will be responsible for developing data products, analyses, summaries, and reports or presentations. We will work with the individual to tailor a specific plan scaled to their abilities, with the goal of developing new skills. An entry-level incumbent who needs more development may contribute to the following whereas a more advanced incumbent may lead product development. Additionally, the member may focus on one or more monitoring efforts for more in-depth analysis, summary, and reporting. Examples include:

  • Collect 2025 field data sets for Inventory and Monitoring Program Sagebrush and Sagebrush Restoration Monitoring.
  • Perform site visit observations, photopoints, and data summaries for revegetation projects; sections of 5-15 project reports.
  • Perform invasive plant early detection survey and treatment efficacy monitoring.
  • Summarize data and report or presentation on sagebrush ecosystem forb (wildflower) and shrub planting survival.
  • Contribute to whitebark pine direct seeding one-year and two-year germination dataset.

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 36 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Completion of a bachelor’s degree or demonstrated equivalent experience in ecological sciences or similar is required. Prefer a master’s degree or some graduate level coursework in ecological sciences or similar and experience with quantitative reasoning. Coursework and experience in statistics, coding in R, and study design are also helpful. Interest in and ability to identify plants to species is needed; ability to learn new plant species. Must be able to work well with others, take specific direction from mentor, and work independently in the field making decisions. For an incumbent entering with higher skill level and assigned to more leadership, ability to coordinate and direct others for field data collection would be required.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway preserve a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and extraordinary wildlife. The abrupt vertical rise of the jagged Teton Range contrasts with the sage covered valley, creating world-renowned scenery that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Park headquarters is located in Moose, Wyoming which is approximately 12miles north of Jackson. Jackson is a small, outdoor recreation focused, thriving community of 10,000 year-round residents. The town caters to four million tourists every summer, has an excellent hospital and medical community, a well-respected public school system, private schools, multiple grocery stores, excellent restaurants, and seasonal music and art festivals. Outdoor activities are available year-round and include easy access to three ski resorts (Snow King Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Grand Targhee), backcountry and Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, camping, backpacking, horseback riding, boating, rafting, kayaking, hunting, cycling, mountain biking, and world class fly fishing, climbing, and mountaineering. The climate can be as extreme as the activities that are available. Winter temperatures range between lows of 20 degrees below zero to highs of 30 degrees. Summer temperatures are comfortable, with highs between 65 - 80 degrees, and lows into the mid-30’s


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 likely a private bedroom with shared kitchen and bathroom. Beds and basic furniture are provided. Member must bring all bedding and kitchenware.


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 Grand Teton National Park will host a Ecology 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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