Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Gulf Islands National Seashore, Gulf Breeze, Florida

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/05/2025

End Date: 09/22/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.00 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).

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 contribute to the daily monitoring for sea turtle nesting, which is a vital park need to address endangered species conservation. This monitoring and subsequent nest protection allows park operations to continue, allows for emergency personnel to access the beach without fear of nest impacts, and allows staff and members to document hatching success. Green and grey personnel are spread thin with budget cuts leading to a lack of staff, therefore this position not only acts as additional hands-on deck for monitoring, but also as a coordinator for the volunteer base to maintain better communication and recruitment over the course of the season.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Natural resource monitoring activities will be conducted to determine the status and trends of selected park resources, and to evaluate the efficacy of current management practices. This SIP member will mainly assist park staff with monitoring and management activities related to the marine sea turtle program which includes daily morning surveys, nest inventories, disorientation reports and stranding reports. The duties of the members may also include beach mouse track tube surveys, nesting shorebird surveys, Gulf Coast Solitary Bee surveys and Diamondback Terrapin surveys. These positions require routine contact with volunteers and the public to enhance the understanding of natural resources within the park.

The members will be responsible for collecting accurate data by adhering to established protocols, but will have the latitude to change existing protocols and data collection methods if deemed necessary. New technology acquired by the park will be given to the selected member to create high accuracy mapping protocols to document sea turtle nesting and current shoreline locations.

Training will be provided to locate and identify sea turtle crawls/nests to species and monitor nests throughout the incubation period for signs of disturbance (i.e. predation, flooding, human interference) and hatch. The members will also aid in the excavation and assessment of sea turtle nests post-hatch to determine success. Sea turtle stranding protocols will be taught to SIP members to accurately document and mark deceased turtles as well as live animals entangled or caught in fishing equipment. Beach mouse track tube surveys will also be completed by the member, and training will be provided to identify beach mouse tracks and burrows in the coastal dune habitat. Diamondback terrapin surveys will be incorporated to all other surveys to opportunistically enhance the park's dataset on terrapin nesting locations.

Additional duties may include data entry, routine upkeep of supplies and equipment, shorebird and beach mouse road mortality surveys, marine debris removal and beach stewardship. Occasional duties surrounding prescribed fire preparations, and wildfire mitigations will occur if certain field conditions are met. Members will also become involved with community outreach events promoting the conservation and management of natural resources. Important resource management issues addressed with this position include assisting the park in achieving its mission in protecting and preserving imperiled coastal species. This position will ensure imperiled species such as sea turtles and beach mice are monitored to determine occupancy, nesting success and management needs throughout the park. As needs are identified through this position, the SIP members and park staff will work to solve immediate issues and develop new management goals to address future needs.

Finally, members will assist with keeping daily operations running, which includes purchasing gas, recording credit card purchases, and ensuring the right supplies are in the right locations at the right times.


KEYWORDS: Sea turtle, coastal, monitoring, surveys

DELIVERABLES

The required project deliverables include creating and updating an ArcGIS Online (AGOL) map of all sea turtle nests and false crawls on all Florida units. With this map, associated Survey 123 datasheets to document nest number, species, date laid, etc. must be created and updated over the course of the season for in the field use. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sea turtle nesting and nest inventory data sheets must be completed on time (Index Nesting beaches specifically), and assistance with the end of season annual report will be required. Members will also be expected to document and report out all stranding events and disorientations that occur on the FL units. Recently, the park acquired an NTRIP base station which allows for incredibly accurate GPS locations to be documented. This position will assist with documenting high accuracy points for sea turtle nest locations, and current shoreline locations along 3 park units.


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 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Successful applicants must demonstrate an understanding of basic scientific principles, data collection and analysis. Applicants should be able to follow precise procedures and established protocols with close attention to detail. Strong oral and written communication skills are desired. Experience working in the coastal system is preferred but not required. Must be comfortable with ArcGIS online and other platforms such as Field Maps and Survey 123 and be able to operate a tablet for data collection while in the field. Previous experience with driving a UTV/ATV is preferred. Training will be provided to operate park UTVs and trailers. Applicants must either be currently enrolled in a degree in biology, ecology, natural resource management, environmental science, conservation, or a closely related scientific field OR be a recent graduate of one of the before mentioned programs.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The Florida District of Gulf Islands National Seashore contains sparkling blue waters and sugar white sandy beaches. The largest of the National Seashores, GUIS stretches for 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, bayous, and marine habitat. All units within the Florida district of GUIS are relatively close to civilization (Gulf Breeze, FL within 15 miles) and large city services are within a 30-minute drive (Pensacola, FL). The position setting will primarily be coastal beach starting pre-dawn to identify turtle crawls from the previous night and to monitor established nests. It can be relatively cool in the mornings then very hot and humid by the end of the service period with a typical daily schedule of 5am - 1pm for most of the active turtle season. Most travel will be by UTV to transport equipment on the beach. Physical labor will include installing wooden posts, rope, and predator screening to protect active turtle nests.


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. The member will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. No park housing is provided by Gulf Islands Florida district. Local housing costs can fluctuate, but rooms can be rented for $600-$900 a month in the local community. The community's members normally look to rent include Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and Navarre.


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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