Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Gulf Islands National Seashore, Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 2

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/05/2025

End Date: 11/03/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.00 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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will likely be multi-focused, assisting park staff with various projects aimed at monitoring, protecting, and improving the parks natural resources. This project ties into the NPS mission by aiding in the monitoring of wilderness character and park resources, to identify status and trends, and to evaluate the efficacy of current management practices.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The SIP member will assist resources staff with monitoring and management activities related to but not limited to the treatment and/or removal of invasive animal species. This position may involve routine contact with the public to enhance understanding of natural resources within the Park. The SIP member is expected to positively represent the NPS at all times.

The member will be responsible for collecting accurate data by adhering to established protocols. Field training will be provided to identify invasive plants and animals, as well as nutria tracks, scat and burrows. Training will also be provided to accurately collect, interpret and illustrate geospatial and biological data. The member will also be tasked to assist in the collection of marine debris data as well as assisting with coordinating volunteer marine debris cleanup efforts and assist park staff in clean-up efforts. The member will also assist in the monitoring and recording of various nesting shorebird and seabird species throughout the spring and summer seasons. Further training will be provided to identify shorebird species by sight and sound and accurately reflect and record observations.

Additional duties may include data entry, routine upkeep of supplies and equipment, shorebird, sea turtle and marine mammal mortality/stranding surveys and stewarding. The member may also become involved with community outreach events promoting the conservation and management of natural resources.


KEYWORDS: Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wilderness, Nutria, Marine Debris, Shorebird Monitoring

DELIVERABLES

The selected candidate will be able to, using ESRI's suite of products, record and report the results from various surveys of Gulf Islands natural resources. The member will also be responsible for carrying forward projects previously established with SIP members. Members will also be given the opportunity to compile, evaluate, and report field data collected. Members will work on a final SIP project that can vary in scope but will be a final deliverable/work product for the Park.


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 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
We're looking for members with a basic understanding and education in basic biological principles and processes that have a willingness to learn. Candidates must be able to assist in strenuous field work, often in hot humid field conditions with biting insects. Field work may consist of long treks through remote wilderness, often with little protection from the elements. In addition, field work is primarily conducted on a series of offshore barrier islands, ranging from 8 - 12 miles offshore requiring as much as an hour-long boat ride. Candidates should also be comfortable in the vicinity of animals being dispatched. Approximately 75% of work will be performed outside on barrier islands. Field work requires walking, bending, and lifting 25+ pounds on a regular basis. Participants may be subject to biting insects and inclement weather including extreme heat, humidity, wind, and rain. Members will be required to ride in a small boat to barrier island work sites and to traverse several miles in soft sand and/or brush while carrying a backpack and equipment. The remaining 25% of duties will be performed in an office setting. Member will be required to sit for extended periods of time while performing repetitive manual tasks.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Primary work duties will require participants to conduct field work in remote and often arduous field conditions with limited to no access to modern amenities. Participants will assist park staff in completing various inventories and monitoring of the Park's natural resources. Gulf Islands National Seashore is managed in two distinct districts, Mississippi and Florida. This position will work solely in the Mississippi District and housed in the Davis Bayou area. The Davis Bayou area is a very urban portion of Gulf Islands, nestled in the middle of Ocean Springs, MS. Ocean Springs, MS is a vibrant coastal artsy community of just under 20,000 annual residents and was recently named one of the 'USA's best coastal towns'.


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 available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Housing provided is a private bedroom with shared common spaces including bathroom, full kitchen (stove, microwave, refrigerator), and furnished living area with co-ed roommate(s). We can often accommodate a private bathroom.


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 Gulf Islands National Seashore will host a Natural Resource Management 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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