Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Washington

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

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 Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will support the mission of the US Biosphere Network and OBR to promote the natural world and the health and well-being of individuals and communities that live, depend, and/or recreate on it; and to foster and support integrated environmental research and education to address global, national and regional challenges. The broader OBR includes 8 tribes, Olympic National Forest, Olympic Coast landscape scales to address issues and impacts that cross the boundaries of public and private lands, including wildlife corridors, recreational uses, invasive species, wildfire, and the broader impacts of rapid environmental change. The position provides direct support for achieving this goal by providing informational tools and coordination support on landscape scale conservation for the OBR.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Guest Scientist will provide program support to the Olympic Biosphere Reserve (OBR). The Guest Scientist will perform tasks assigned by Olympic National Park (OLYM) and other OBR partners on coordination, outreach and communications regarding landscape-scale research and monitoring, climate change adaptation and other priorities. This position offers an invaluable opportunity to gain experience working with parks and other public land managers from different levels of government, as well as universities and nongovernmental organizations in a science-based context. Olympic National Park is a national park of the United States located in Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula. The park has four regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west-side temperate rainforest, and the forests of the drier east side. Within the park there are three distinct ecosystems, including subalpine forest and wildflower meadow, temperate forest, and the rugged Pacific coast. The OBR is also has a wealth of human history and cultural resources. In 1976 the park was declared an International Biosphere Reserve and in 1981 Olympic National Park became a World Heritage site. The OBR brings organizations together to explore cooperative approaches to understanding and sustaining the beauty and value of the region across a large landscape. The Guest Scientist will have three main responsibilities: 1 – Developing and disseminating web-based and GIS-based media, written documents and reports. 2 – Assisting with landscape-scale data and information collection and aggregation on climate, ecological connectivity, and socioecological aspects of visitor use. 3 – Providing administrative support such as coordinating outreach activities and organizing meetings on behalf of the OBR. This position will report directly to the OLYM Resource Management and Science Division and work closely with other parks and partners. The Guest Scientist will be co-mentored remotely by the NPS US Biosphere Network Coordinator.


KEYWORDS: climate, wildlife, wilderness, sustainability, education

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables will include project assistance, coordination and administrative support to the OBR. The Guest Scientist will develop maps and geospatial informational tools to support visualization and communication of various geographic information and data layers related to the OBR. These informational tools will portray ecological and visitor-use connectivity among public lands and demonstrate shared management concerns. This work may assist with coordinating research and monitoring, landscape-scale climate vulnerability assessment, and visitor use projects that seek to ensure that people and nature can thrive in an ecologically enduring landscape. The guest scientist also will assist with research, monitoring, and resource management projects at OLYM or other locations as assigned.


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
The applicant must have strong communication and writing skills including the ability to work with a variety of people from diverse partner organizations. The applicant must be self-directed, self-motivated and organized. Other key skills include critical thinking and knowledge of science applications to natural resource management or community management issues, and the ability to develop related mapping tools, web-based communication products, and outreach activities. The ability to use standard office software such as Excel, Word, etc. is required. The ability to use ArcGIS and online GIS (e.g. ArcGIS Online, Google Maps) is preferred including ESRI StoryMaps. Good data organization skills and being detail-oriented is critical. The ability to work collaboratively with others in a group with diverse backgrounds and skills is critical. The ability to organize, promote, and schedule meetings and activities with people and organizations to discuss partnership and engagement with the OBR is required. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent legal resident (“green-card-holder”). Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Port Angeles is located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, which means the city gets significantly less rain than other areas of western Washington. The average annual precipitation total is approximately 25 in (640 mm), compared to Seattle's 38 in (970 mm). Temperatures are moderated by the maritime location, with winter lows rarely below 25 °F (−4 °C) and summer highs rarely above 80 °F (27 °C). However, in the winter, the city can be vulnerable to windstorms and Arctic cold fronts that sweep across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Port Angeles receives about 4 in (10 cm) of snow each year, but it rarely stays on the ground for long. Park headquarters is located in Port Angeles.


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. Park housing is fully equipped with kitchen, laundry facilities and restroom facilities. Housing maybe shared by other seasonal staff.


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 Olympic National Park 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!”

%FOOTER_POWERED_BY%breezy