Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, Michigan

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/19/2025

End Date: 08/08/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.00 upon successful completion of position.
  • Living Allowance of $760.00 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 conservation, management, research, and protection of Great Lakes Piping Plovers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The survival of this critically endangered species has been heavily reliant on natural resource management strategies. Approximately half of the Great Lakes population nests within Sleeping Bear Dunes each year, and thus the conservation and research efforts within the park contribute greatly to the success of the entire population.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Piping Plover Monitoring (60%): Member will monitor piping plovers through their breeding season. This daily monitoring effort includes censusing nesting birds, re-sighting and recording band combinations, locating eggs and nests, constructing predator exclosures, maintaining psychological fencing, and assisting with chick banding. Member will work with staff to ensure proper and timely installation, maintenance, and removal of predator exclosures and protective fencing around piping plover nesting areas. They will adhere to a set monitoring schedule on both the mainland and North Manitou Island. Part of each month will require overnight time at a rustic camp on this remote island.

Data entry and management (10%): Member is responsible for entering the data they collect in the field into a master spreadsheet. Prompt and accurate data is paramount to the success of a nesting site, and the member will be required to follow quality control measures to ensure this accuracy.

Member Project Development and Implementation (30%): Member will work on a research project to develop survey protocols that assess habitat suitability and washout risk. This protocol will be used to assign a washout risk index to each piping plover nest upon establishment. Using this index, monitors and park staff will have the capacity to flag sites with a high washout risk that need extra attention during incubation.


KEYWORDS: Endangered species, wildlife, natural resources management, outreach and education, backcountry work

DELIVERABLES

In the first four weeks of the position (30%), the member will develop a methodology for measuring habitat quality at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Alongside a mentor who helped produce the standards for the designation of critical habitat, the member will creatively design a Sleeping Bear specific model that produces a localized, real-time metric for piping plover habitat suitability. The member will have opportunities to use their methodology in the field to help managers make informed decisions.

The member best suited for this position will have in-class experience using ArcGIS, and an interest in analyzing established habitat models. Their final report will ideally include a way to produce a visual model or map of plover habitat.

The member will monitor piping plovers throughout their season, reporting behavioral observations, management actions, and survey logistics (70%). Importantly, they will have an opportunity to assess habitat suitability based on their own field observations. Habitat selection models developed in 2001 and 2014 will be tested by these ground-truthing efforts, and the member will be actively involved in taking further measurements as recommended by their proposed methodology. Ample support will be provided to the member as they create and utilize this methodology, and NPS monitors will assist in taking measurements and assessing suitability and risk.

This data and subsequent report will influence management practices used at Sleeping Bear when evaluating monitoring locations and washout risk, and it may inform future decisions about at-risk nests.

The member will then deliver a presentation to NPS stakeholders about the results of their summer's work.


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.
  • Must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD degree program at an accredited institution of higher education for the duration of the position and graduate after the completion of the position. Certificate programs do not qualify for DHA positions.
  • 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 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Members must be able to work in a variety of outdoor conditions over challenging terrain. Exposure to high and low temperatures, harsh sunlight, rain, and biting insects should be expected. Member should be able to carry moderate loads (30–50 lbs.) over distances up to ten miles. Terrain includes unstable and uneven footing on sand, and some transects include crossing water that may be hip-deep. Member must maintain organized records and notes with attention to detail. They must be able to accurately and quickly collect data in the field. The ideal candidate will be able to work independently with minimal field supervision after the initial few weeks of training. Candidates who are outgoing, personable, and willing to engage with others will excel in the position. Applicant must be willing to stay up to four nights in a row at a remote camp on North Manitou Island with rustic conditions.

Priority will be given to applicants with a demonstrated knowledge of Great Lakes natural history, basic proficiency in Great Lakes native plant and bird ID, and some experience using a handheld GPS unit. Preferred qualifications include: a familiarity with ArcGIS mapping software; the completion of three years of study toward an undergraduate degree in environmental studies, biology, wildlife management, or a related field; a willingness to be flexible, engaging, and upbeat while helping to advance plover conservation.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The work environment will be a mix of office and field work. Applicant should have a positive attitude toward working outside in heat, cold, rainy weather, or with biting insects. After a training period, most fieldwork is conducted individually. Field work will include walking on uneven terrain or steep slopes. On a typical field day, the member would be in the field for five to seven hours and in the office for one to two hours. Field work requires the ability to walk up to seven miles in a day, often on sandy and challenging terrain, carrying up to twenty pounds of field gear. Office work will include frequent standing, sitting, and computer use. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is within a beautiful scenic area on the northeastern shore of Lake Michigan. Housing, medical facilities, shopping, grocery stores, churches, banks, day care, recreational activities, schools, and colleges are readily available within a 30-mile radius in Traverse City. Laundry is available within 18-25 miles from park headquarters in Empire. High temperatures average between 70-80 degrees in the summer, some days will reach the mid 90s.


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. The member will have a private or shared room in park housing, depending on availability. The majority of bedrooms have one or two beds, though there are a few bedrooms in park housing with four beds. Member will live in a fully furnished home with a shared kitchen and living room. Couches, chairs, dining room tables, and storage hutch are available. Kitchen will have utensils and standard appliances, along with small countertop appliances such as a coffee maker and toaster. Bedroom will have a bed, side table, closet or clothing rack, and lamp. Member will need to bring bedding and linens including pillows, sheets, and towels along with any personal items. The majority of park housing is within ten miles of the office. The dune ecosystem in which the park is situated makes the surrounding areas hilly, which makes it difficult, but not impossible, to bike to the office from a number of park houses.


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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) Resource Assistant Intern position. Eligible participants must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD degree program at an accredited institution of higher education for the duration of the position and graduate after the completion of the position. Certificate programs do not qualify for DHA positions. Upload an unofficial transcript from your current institution to help us verify your enrollment status when applying. To learn more about eligibility and benefits for DHA positions, read more on our program page.

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 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 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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