Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 36 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/05/2025

End Date: 01/12/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.00 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 work directly with an interdisciplinary team to conduct critical monitoring and research in a variety high priority freshwater and coastal resources, as well as contribute to essential data analysis and science communication activities. The priority projects for this position are some of the highest management priorities for CACO, and the monitoring and research conducted directly informs managers’ decision making at CACO and surrounding municipalities. The aquatic program undertakes several critical scientific projects to address the impacts of climate change, harmful algal blooms, and focused condition assessments on several key lake resource areas, as well as large tidal restoration projects. This position will work on many aspects of these projects.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Aquatic Ecology: Water Quality, Biota, Hydrology, Science Communication, Restoration Tasks

Background: The Aquatic Ecology Program at CACO works in coastal and freshwater environments, with a focus on coastal water quality, tidally restricted waters and wetlands, and submerged resource mapping. This position will conduct monitoring and research in the field and laboratory. In addition, they will assist with data analysis. They will also contribute to important science communication products to promote stewardship and science literacy, and will make a presentation at a scientific conference.

The member will be involved with field and lab work for natural resource projects, including NPS Inventory and Monitoring program and applied research to inform salt marsh restoration and natural resource management. Projects include horseshoe crab surveys, seagrass and salt marsh monitoring, pond and estuary water quality sampling, and hydrologic monitoring. The member will gain experience working in many coastal environments, on a range of monitoring to management-oriented projects, with a variety of field and laboratory methods and equipment.

Tasks:

  • Collect and process shallow water and benthic samples for sediments, plants and invertebrates.
  • Assist with lab analyses including using analytical instrumentation for water and sediments by standard laboratory methods.
  • Assist with benthic mapping, process data and create maps, with biological, physical, and chemical data.
  • Maintain, calibrate and deploy instruments for water quality monitoring
  • Collect water samples, process long-term data.
  • Assist with hydrological data collection - groundwater and surface water levels and tidal data.
  • Assist with pond shoreline restoration projects.
  • Science communication activities to promote natural resource stewardship and science literacy.
  • Perform in-depth data analysis and scientific conference presentation.

KEYWORDS: coastal, climate change, communications, water quality, ecology

DELIVERABLES

  • Field data and results of lab analyses (water quality, chlorophyll, color, grain size, etc.) following CACO data management procedures for collection, handling, QA/QC, and metadata;
  • Geospatial data sets and mapping products;
  • Completion reports based on these tasks;
  • Science communication products, such as web content, story maps, public presentations, and other visualizations;
  • Presentations of findings to CACO staff;
  • Presentation at a scientific conference.

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 36 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in water quality monitoring and instrumentation
  • Experience in laboratory analysis
  • Knowledge of marine vegetation, and invertebrates, and fish
  • Previous experience, or willingness to learn how operate small motorboats and non-motorized watercraft is desired
  • Knowledge of the natural history and scientific processes of the Northeastern United States; for example: ecology of marine ecosystems, dune and barrier beach ecosystems, coastal geologic processes, freshwater ecosystems, marine biology
  • Physically able to conduct field surveys under demanding weather in rough terrain and in water
  • Must know how to swim and demonstrate proficiency on site
  • Bilingual applicants are encouraged and welcomed

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Physical/Natural Environment: Cape Cod is a relatively mild coastal environment with summer season between May and September. Winter weather brings storms, winds and freezing temperatures with little snow accumulation. Beaches, ponds, forests and hiking trails abound. Supermarkets are in Provincetown (8 miles from the Lab) and Orleans (20 miles). Local amenities include many restaurants and small specialty markets. Nearest Mall stores are in Hyannis (45 miles). The summer tourist season brings bustling activity from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Position Environment: A rough breakdown of the member's time is 40% field, 30% lab, 20% data entry/management and 10% other duties as assigned. Work conditions include walking on soft sand and in marsh muds in moderate topography, swimming, boating, and snorkeling. Driving on unpaved roads is common and occasionally on off-road tracks and beach sand. Field work will require boat work via skiff, canoe or kayak. Hazards include exposure to sun, poison ivy, ticks and mosquitos. Safety training and gear is provided for all activities.


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. Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Cape Cod National Seashore offers housing within 10 miles of the North Atlantic Coastal Lab work site. Housing is typically a shared furnished house. Bedrooms and bathrooms will likely be shared with housemates. Residents bring their own linens. Kitchens are furnished with basics. Parking is available at the houses. Houses will be shared with several other residents that are also seasonal employees, members, or research technicians. Residents are responsible for cleaning, properly disposing of trash and utilities such as internet/cable/phone which are not otherwise provided. Heating and electricity are included. Houses are not air conditioned.


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 Cape Cod National Seashore 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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