Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Southern Plains Network, Pecos, New Mexico

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 $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 assist with monitoring the health of native vegetation communities and detecting the establishment and spread of exotic plants. Monitoring data collected by the SIP Members are used by park managers to assess, plan, and develop natural resource protection activities at SOPN parks. This information is analyzed and conveyed to park managers regularly, providing them with the scientific information on resource condition that they need to make decisions and take actions to conserve park resources.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

This position will work for the Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (SOPN) and will assist with long-term, vital signs monitoring in 10 SOPN National Park Units. The members (2 expected) will support the collection of vegetation and invasive plant data in grasslands. This information is crucial to our understanding of the current status and trends in the health, diversity, and resilience of national park ecosystems. The position will provide members the chance to explore and learn the flora of the Southern Plains ecoregion while gaining valuable field sampling experience and learning critical data management protocols. The position can serve as an excellent introduction to plant taxonomy and identification, or act as an opportunity to further develop advanced skills such as the use of dichotomous keys and grass identification.

During the summer growing season, members will conduct vegetation sampling following standard protocols and operating procedures in both upland and lowland habitats. Work will include re-visiting permanently established plots as well as establishing new monitoring sites. Sampling methods include line-point intercept, recording species presence/absence in quadrats, densiometer readings and mapping of invasive plant infestations. Ideally, candidates will have a strong background or interest in botany and plant sciences. Members will learn to identify grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees of the Southern Plains using field guides and dichotomous keys. They will use sophisticated field sampling equipment including handheld high precision GIS/GPS systems interfaced with a GNSS receiver and ruggedized laptops; use database programs to input field data and maintain digital records of monitoring activities in the office. Work time will approximately be 80% field work and 20% office time. Member would work as part of a 2-4-person team. Most sites are off-trail in a front country setting, and hiking and carrying equipment in a backpack for moderate distances is necessary.

In the office setting, the member will assist in the identification of unknowns and support data entry and management. Experience in technical writing and the creation of analytical reports and summary products that are designed to inform managers and decision-makers may also be helpful. Other work activities could include data certification, production of visualizations, and review of other SOPN web reports or products.


KEYWORDS: ecology, vegetation surveys, inventory, monitoring, long-term studies, field work, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas

DELIVERABLES

The candidate will collect detailed vegetation and invasive plant data, from long-term grassland and fire effects monitoring sites across 10 parks. Data is used to perform statistical analysis and prepare individual status (annual) and trend (multi-year) reports using SOPN's certified vegetation datasets from the following park units: Bent’s Old Fort NHS, Capulin Volcano NM, Chickasaw NRA, Fort Larned NHS, Fort Union NHS, Lake Meredith NRA, Lyndon B. Johnson NHS, Pecos NHP, Sand Creek Massacre NHS, and Washita Battlefield NHS. The candidates could work on park-specific textual or map-based summaries using previous years published data packages. Summarized results will be shared with park managers and scientists to improve their understanding of grassland and exotic plant changes within and across SOPN parks.


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
Applicants must have completed at least three years toward an undergraduate degree in natural resources, botany, ecology, or a related field. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, previous experience or demonstrated ability to work as part of a small team for extended periods (2 to 4 people for up to 4 months at a time), and an interest in and ability to work in rural locations. Applicants must be physically able to work in off-trail terrain and extreme temperatures; an ability to conduct fieldwork in arduous situations (heat, high humidity, and carrying a backpack); must have an ability to work well independently and with little supervision; must demonstrate skills and abilities to conduct scientific studies and produce summary documents from this work; and must possess good computer and organizational skills. Plant taxonomy, botany, and vegetation field measurement experience and/or coursework is preferred. Previous experience with technical writing and ArcGIS is welcomed.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Position setting will be approximately 80% in the field and 20% in the office. The position will be located at Pecos, NHP near Santa Fe, NM, which will be the primary office environment. Santa Fe boasts a vibrant culture and the amenities common to a large city. Summer climate in this area can range from 50-90 degrees F. Monsoons can produce regular rains during late summer (late July through September).

The incumbent will participate in long-term ecological monitoring in 10 national park units across the Southern Plains ecoregion. The Southern Plains Ecoregion includes portions of central and northern Texas, western Kansas and Oklahoma, and portions of southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico. The terrain of the Southern Plains is a mix of prairie interspersed with tablelands and low, rolling hills. Vegetation includes mixed grass communities in the eastern portion extending to shortgrass-dominated communities in the western portion. Summer temperatures can exceed 100F and off-trail hiking in uneven terrain will be common. Work occurs in areas with hazards that include venomous snakes, poison ivy, and biting insects.


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. Park housing is NOT available. The member will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. A housing stipend will be provided with housing options predominately available in nearby Santa Fe, NM with potential rentals in Albuquerque, Pecos, or Las Vegas, NM. Apartment rentals can range from $750-$1500+ a month in Santa Fe, NM.


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 Southern Plains Network 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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