Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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 $665.00 per week.
  • Relocation Allowance of $1,050.00 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 Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will play a vital role in the conservation, management, research, and interpretation of the Park’s water resources, particularly focusing on anchialine pool ecosystems. By engaging in assessments and data collection, the participant will contribute to the understanding and preservation of native and endangered species that depend on these unique ecosystems. The insights gained from this work will inform management strategies and enhance educational outreach, ultimately supporting the long-term sustainability of these critical habitats.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP is a 1200-acre national park unit located on the west coast of Hawai‘i Island. The Park was established in 1978 for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of traditional Hawaiian activities and culture. The Park contains spectacular cultural sites and history, Hawaiian fishponds, anchialine pools, native endangered waterbirds and other wildlife, coral reefs, and coastal dryland forest.

The participant will support data management, data analysis, and writing tasks related to the Park’s water resources, including coral reefs, anchialine pools, and Hawaiian fishponds, along with various scientific and field monitoring activities. The primary focus of this position will be analyzing assessments of over 200 anchialine pools within the Park to develop management priorities. The participant will summarize findings, perform literature reviews, and work with collaborators to assist in developing an Anchialine Pool Management Plan. Other duties will include entering and managing survey data, completing data entry for water resource projects, conducting quality assurance and quality control checks on data entered by others, and using ArcPro to analyze and map geographic data. Field opportunities may include collecting diverse habitat data, utilizing a sonde to measure water parameters, using Field maps/Survey 123 data collection techniques to gather data. Additionally, the participant will use the information gathered to create educational and outreach materials and interpretation of the Park’s anchialine pools.


KEYWORDS: anchialine pools, management plan, data analysis, data collection, GIS, resource management, coastal ecosystems,

DELIVERABLES

The key deliverables for this position include assistance in drafting the Anchialine Pool Management Plan, data analysis and summary reports, updated GIS features and maps, and the creation of at least one outreach or educational material.


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
Preferred qualifications for the member include a bachelor's degree with coursework in biology, ecology, or a related natural resource field; proficiency in Microsoft Office, ArcPro, and Field Maps/Survey123; experience in data analysis, report writing, and data management including GIS geodatabases. Background in resource management and management plan writing. Additionally, experience presenting both technical and non-technical educational information to the general public about ecosystem restoration and species in Hawaii; must be able to swim and feel comfortable around water. Knowledge of Hawaiian culture and Hawaii’s coastal invertebrates and plants is beneficial.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Physical/Natural Environment: The Park is located in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii, approximately three miles from the Kona International Airport and five miles northwest of Kailua-Kona. The park is at sea level and averages less than 25 inches of rainfall annually. It includes three beaches and extensive archeological ruins. Complete shopping facilities and rental units are available in Kailua-Kona. This is a high cost of living area. Hospital and medical facilities are five to ten miles away. Public schools are conveniently located within the surrounding area and distant bus service is provided for students. No public transportation is available. For more information, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/kaho and the park's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/KalokoHonokohauNPS.

Special Consideration: The island of Hawai'i is subject to high concentrations of volcanic fumes (VOG), especially sulfur dioxide gasses and fine particulates. The fumes are known to be hazardous to an unborn fetus, and persons with heart and respiratory problems. The Kona coast experiences VOG conditions throughout the year. Long-term effects on normal healthy persons are unknown.

Position Environment: Work involves a variety of sedentary tasks in an office setting including sitting in front of computers for prolonged periods of time. Other work may involve field conditions of moderate to heavy physical stress in a hot, humid, and sunny environment with prolonged standing, hiking carrying equipment, walking, and bending. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) may be lifted and carried.


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 NOT available. The member will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. Open market rental studios and rooms in shared houses cost approximately $800 - $1500/month. Craigslist, Marketplace, and West Hawaii Today classifieds are the best sources for locating housing


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 Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park will host a Biology 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!”

%FOOTER_POWERED_BY%breezy