Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Bluestone National Scenic River, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, University Park, Pennsylvania

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 2

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: No

Start Date: 05/12/2025

End Date: 09/26/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.00 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 promote science-based adaptive management of key park resources in a collaborative partnership between park staff and Inventory and Monitoring staff. Forest health monitoring provides parks with early detection of new invasive plants and forest pests / pathogens, as well as information on changing forest conditions so parks can mitigate threats and protect resilient forests. Training and experience in monitoring natural resources will be valuable career development for the SIP Member.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network conducts long-term forest health monitoring as part of the nationwide Inventory and Monitoring Program of the National Park Service. Forests are vital park resources for visitor experience, ecosystem services, and habitat for countless organisms. This forest health monitoring program provides information on forest condition and trends to park managers to guide management of resilient forests in parks. While assisting with ERMN forest health monitoring, the SIP Member will be expected to work on a team (with 1-4 other individuals) collecting data from permanent monitoring plots in the parks. They must be prepared to work in hot and humid conditions, including carrying up to 40 lbs of sampling gear in a backpack across uneven, steep and rugged terrain. Plots are located in remote locations of each park, and often include hiking 1-5 miles (or more) per day. The successful candidate will learn and conduct complex detailed field data collection protocols for tree diameter measurements, tree regeneration and shrub assessments, down woody debris counts, and stand characterization. In forest health monitoring crew works in 4 large parks centered on rivers (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Gauley River National Recreation Area, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and Bluestone National Scenic River), as well as four smaller parks with historical focuses (Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, and Friendship Hill National Historic Site). A week or more may be spent collecting field data in riparian areas to monitor rare riverscour communities in the large river parks. This project will offer the SIP candidate an excellent opportunity to learn the local flora across parks within the Appalachian Mountains, understand threats to park vegetation, and work with vegetation ecologists and park natural resource staff. The ideal candidate would be interested in Appalachian forest ecology, and enthusiastic about working outdoors in a team setting. Meticulous data collection skills, strong work ethic, and positive attitude are desired. Candidates should enjoy working outdoors in a variety of conditions and be able to identify common trees and shrubs of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Familiarity with entering data into Access databases on field tablets is preferred.


KEYWORDS: Vegetation monitoring, forest health, plant identification, field ecology

DELIVERABLES

Quality controlled Access database and paper data sheets containing field data, along with photographs and some mapping information.


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
The ideal candidate would be interested in Appalachian forest ecology and enthusiastic about working outdoors in a team setting. Meticulous data collection skills, strong work ethic, and positive attitude are desired. Candidates should enjoy working outdoors in a variety of conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, fog, etc. Ideally, candidates will be able to identify common trees and shrubs of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, however this can be taught if candidates are enthusiastic about learning to identify plants. Familiarity with entering data into Access databases on field tablets is preferred. Applicants should be familiar with navigating in the woods by compass and using GPS.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Nearly all of the SIP member’s duties will be performed in the field, with a minimal amount of office work (<5%). Parks in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) are located in the mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The SIP member will be expected to work as part of a small crew hiking to remote locations within each park, and have the ability to hike (with a 40lb pack) across steep and rugged terrain for upwards of 1-5 miles/day. Summer temperatures range from mid 70’s to mid 90’s (F), with afternoon thunderstorms likely in the late summer. Biting insects, ticks, and venomous snakes are part of the work environment. Bug spray, clothing treatment for ticks, and snake gaiters/chaps will be provided by ERMN. The SIP member will be expected to carry their own water and food. They will be expected to review the ERMN Job Hazard Analysis for vegetation monitoring prior to beginning the field work.


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 will be provided in parks for most weeks during the summer. The SIP Member will live with other researchers in park housing and will have either a private bedroom or a shared bedroom with one other person. Each park house contains multiple shared full bathrooms, as well as full kitchens stocked with cooking and eating utensils. Bed linens and towels are not provided and should be brought by the Member. Most park houses have clothes washers and dryers on site. If park housing is not available for two weeks in July, the Member will stay in a hotel nearby the park and will be reimbursed for approved travel expenses.


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 Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Bluestone National Scenic River, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve 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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