POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Fort Pulaski National Monument, Savannah, Georgia
Can this position be fully remote: No
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/12/2025
End Date: 08/04/2025
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.00 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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will assist with the biological sciences at Fort Pulaski National Monument. The park completed its Resource Stewardship Strategy in 2024. Water was identified as a priority resource, and these hydrology projects were listed in the RSS, but the park does not have the staff and expertise to complete them. The member will help us start some of these priority projects.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The member will be responsible for launching an Adopt-a-Wetland program and developing protocols to ensure the project continues. The member will also help to supervise two Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) members and teach some water quality workshops at our Junior Angler Program. Depending on the member’s interests and qualifications, they may also assist with a variety of ongoing research and data collection needs relating to the monument’s water resources. These projects could include monitoring the freshwater pond for saltwater intrusion, studying the hydrology around the freshwater pond, studying the hydrology of the ditch and dike system, and monitoring the monument’s tidal creeks and moat for algal blooms.
KEYWORDS: hydrology, wetlands, marine science
DELIVERABLES
The member will establish the Adopt-a-Wetland program at FOPU and produce written protocols for its continuance. In addition, the member will develop one interpretative product about FOPU’s water resources such as water quality workshops, an ArcGIS StoryMap, or a walking tour outline that our interpretative department can use to provide additional programming.
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 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should be advanced undergraduate, graduate students, or recent graduates in marine science, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Applicants must have completed basic undergraduate course work toward a degree in marine science, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Preference will be given to applicants with coursework or experience in GIS, hydrology, and wetlands.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Fort Pulaski National Monument is approximately 14 miles from downtown Savannah, Georgia. The park consists of two islands along the northern Georgia coast: Cockspur Island, which has Fort Pulaski, and McQueen’s Island, which is mostly wilderness-eligible marsh. The environment is gorgeous tidal marsh and maritime forest. Work will be performed outside and inside at the monument. The member will share space in the Resource Department offices, which is in a dedicated building with its own bathroom and kitchen. Summers are very hot and humid. Insect repellent is necessary in warmer Fort Pulaski National Monument is approximately 14 miles from downtown Savannah, Georgia. The park consists of two islands along the northern Georgia coast: Cockspur Island, which has Fort Pulaski, and McQueen’s Island, which is mostly wilderness-eligible marsh. The environment is gorgeous tidal marsh and maritime forest. Work will be performed outside and inside at the monument. The member will share space in the Resource Department offices, which is in a dedicated building with its own bathroom and kitchen. Summers are very hot and humid. Insect repellent is necessary in warmer months. Gnats and mosquitoes are plentiful. Beware of biting fire ants. Deer, alligators, birds, raccoons, coyotes, snakes, and turtles are just some of the wildlife that inhabit the park. Alligators are native to coastal Georgia, and you may encounter them in Fort Pulaski's moat, and on the grassy areas around the fort. Stay at least 30 feet away. Weather conditions can change suddenly, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. When in the park, be prepared to take shelter. The Severe Weather Action Plan is required reading. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are possible in the summer months; we encourage all staff to stay vigilant about drinking water. We offer water fountains/refill stations near the visitor center restrooms. No vending machines or food concessions are available within the park.
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. There is no park housing at FOPU. If we don’t recruit locally, we can help the member obtain housing at a local university in their dorms. The member would get a private bedroom and would share their furnished apartment with another member(s). There is no security deposit. The member has access to wifi, a full kitchen, a central laundry room, and parking. Meal plans are available for an extra charge and public transportation is available to places around Savannah, but not directly to the park.
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 Fort Pulaski National Monument 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!”