Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys, Georgia

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 2

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/04/2025

End Date: 09/21/2025

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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will fill a needed mechanism to monitor threatened & endangered sea turtle species nesting on CUIS. The park does not have sufficient staffing to conduct the work which requires a daily presence for 6 months annually. The members would help continue a monitoring and protection project that has been in place for over 40 years. CUIS is responsible for 25-30% of Georgia’s annual nesting activity. Continuation of the project is critical to enhancing success and survival of multiple sea turtle species that nest on park beaches and providing valuable data on a state, regional and broader level for overall population analysis and management.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

99% of the members’ work will be on Cumberland Island. Daily duties involve patrolling 17 miles of beach searching for sea turtle crawls; evaluating crawls for nesting activity; relocating nests that could be inundated by high tide events; taking location data using GPS units; recording data for each event on paper data sheets and subsequent computer database entry into seaturtle.org; screening and marking nests; monitoring incubation periods and checking for hatch activity; post-hatching inventory of nests to determine success; taking genetic samples (eggs) as part of an ongoing multi-state population project; utilizing database summaries to plan field work during hatching season; monitoring for predator impacts and coordinating response with park staff; responding to sea turtle and marine mammal strandings; giving formal presentations at the park’s ranger station and informal interaction with park visitors. The 2025 members may be tasked with developing an adopt-a-nest program and gauging local interest in developing a friend’s group specific to the project. Field transportation will be by park-provided pick-up truck and/or UTV. There is computer and internet access and phone service in the Resource field office located across from the living quarters. 1% of the members’ time may be spent off the island assisting with public outreach conveying sea turtle conservation messaging during local events and meetings.


KEYWORDS: Sea turtle nest monitoring, Cumberland Island National Seashore

DELIVERABLES

Continuation of the park’s sea turtle nesting project; conveyance of the sea turtle conservation message to park visitors and local interests; collection of data important for park, state and regional.


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
Degree in wildlife management, conservation biology, or associated field. Although many field techniques and skills will be developed throughout the duration of this project, it would be beneficial if the successful candidate had some experience with fieldwork collecting, processing, and reporting data; experience with Excel, Access, or similar database management systems; familiarity with GPS units; ability to operate 4WD vehicles and UTVs; ability to work outdoors for long hours in a hot, humid climate; experience leading small groups; familiarity with GPS units; public speaking experience; ability to work in group settings and alone.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

CUIS is a remote barrier island in Georgia only accessible by boat. The island has all necessary infrastructure including treated water, electricity, internet, phone system, Wi-Fi capability, vehicle fuel and maintenance facilities, law enforcement and emergency response. Field working conditions include strong sun, hot temperatures, high humidity, wind, sand, biting insects and potential exposure to tropical storms and associated preparation/evacuation/clean-up. The park’s mainland offices are in Saint Marys, GA and personal vehicle parking is available. All shopping and restaurant amenities are available within 7 miles of the mainland offices. Park boats and the passenger ferry make multiple trips to/from the island daily.


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. The park provides housing consisting of a 4-bedroom/2-bathroom upstairs living space in one of our historic buildings on the island. There is a kitchen with two refrigerators, a dining area, and common area. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, utensils, and cookware. There are linens, but it is recommended members bring their own pillows and bath towels. There is central heat/AC in the common area and each bedroom has a dedicated AC unit. There is a third full bathroom, laundry facilities and office space downstairs. A cell signal booster is present to facilitate Wi-Fi and other phone-related communication.


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 Cumberland Island 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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