Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/04/2025

End Date: 05/03/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 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).
  • For 52-week-long positions only:
    • Healthcare Coverage
    • Childcare Coverage

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 Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will assist in a variety of ways: citizen science programs offer a cost-effective method for monitoring wildlife over large geographic areas and for long periods of time. Using citizen scientists accomplishes research objectives that might otherwise be financially unfeasible. By training volunteers on current science and research methods, Glacier’s Citizen Science Program increases our understanding about species while fostering greater awareness of the conservation challenges parks face.

As one of the most highly visited national parks, the number of participants interested in engaging with Glacier's research continues to increase. The Citizen Science program is nearing capacity for finding ways to meaningfully engage participants, especially short-term park visitors who have limited time to attend formal training programs. Also on the rise are the resource management needs that the Citizen Science program is tasked with addressing.

The member will help us tackle the growing need for citizen science engagement by bringing our work up to date with current technology in use by other agencies and organizations for citizen science and crowdsourcing. Successful science communication products and data interfaces developed by the member will expand the usefulness of the data collected as well and broaden the outreach of our program. We believe the member will assist with volunteer retention by developing tools to provide more timely and meaningful feedback to participants. Lastly, matching existing apps to our research needs will allow us to expand the breadth of resource topics we can address, while also providing a niche for the hundreds of potential volunteers that our VIP program turns away each year due to lack of capacity for formal training.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Glacier National Park’s Citizen Science Program, coordinated by the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center (CCRLC), engages park visitors, local community members, and students in research, fostering science literacy and resource stewardship among participants. We are seeking an innovative and dedicated SIP to bring our work up to date with current technology for citizen science and to pioneer new technologies to assist us with managing the enormous volume of data generated by the program. The member will also work to raise the bar on our data quality assurance/ quality control and will develop communication products for sharing our data on mountain goats, pikas, common loons, raptors, and huckleberries with the public and park managers. We will develop a more streamlined database for tracking volunteer engagement, training, and survey effort. We will also refine protocols and data collection tools for a pika pellet genetics program and begin to interpret data results for citizen science audiences. We will summarize results from our recent nocturnal pollinator bioblitz and other biodiversity inventories and the member will develop story maps and other science communication products to share the results. We will also develop public engagement plans and advertising materials and assist with the event. The member will also assist with communication for our sustainability efforts in Glacier.


KEYWORDS: Citizen Science, GIS, wildlife, mobile data collection, science communication, public engagement, sustainability

DELIVERABLES

  • Development of Survey 123 interface and other apps for citizen science wildlife surveys
  • Incorporation of new survey planning toosl into workflow for Survey 123
  • GIS maps and content for a Story Map or other science communication product to share wildlife monitoring results and sustainability information with park staff and the public
  • Development of volunteer database and integration into Survey123 workflow
  • Research into new research projects on wildlife tracking, behavior monitoring etc. and field testing
  • Presentation to park management on results of use of apps
  • Inclusion of reports described above in our annual technical report which is catalogued in NPS IRMA
  • Project results submitted for web content on the Park’s website, the NPS Citizen Science webpages and the NPS Biodiversity website.

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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Science communication and/ or science education experience
  • GIS, Arc GIS on-lone (AGOL) and/or Survey 123 experience
  • Experience working with apps
  • Experience with community outreach, volunteer coordination and/or crew leadership
  • Experience with data collection following detailed Standard Operating Procedures, and general attention to detail
  • Database design and/or data entry and management experience
  • Ability to conduct moderately strenuous field work, hike up to 12 miles a day and be comfortable in remote backcountry settings

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center is headquartered in the small town of West Glacier, MT. There are very limited facilities in town, but they do include a small grocery store, a post office, two restaurants, a gas station, and several gift shops. Most people make the trip to Hungry Horse (12 miles) or Columbia Falls (18 miles) for cheaper groceries and supplies. The towns of Whitefish (27 miles) and Kalispell (35 miles) both are larger communities with every imaginable chain or box store, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and a wide variety of restaurants.

Glacier is a 1.1 million acre park that is characterized by dramatic, glacially-carved mountains that are divided by the Continental Divide. Elevations range from just over 3,000 ft. (the elevation at Park Headquarters) to over 10,000 feet. It has an incredibly variable climate in the summer, requiring the member to be equipped for many conditions. Expect daytime temps to climb into the 90’s during July and August, while at night it can dip down to near freezing. During cloudy and rainy days in the lower elevations, it is not unheard of to encounter a snowstorm in the high country any month of the year.

The position will include office work at the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center within the park headquarters area. The work will be primarily office based, with up to 2 days of field work each week to conduct citizen science surveys, test apps in the field or conduct volunteer training sessions.

The office includes shared workspace with the Citizen Science Program Biologist (the primary supervisor of the member), two biological science technicians and one Sustainability Educator AmeriCorps member. The CCRLC Director and the Science Communication Specialist (secondary supervisors) also work within the same office building. The office is about one mile from the park’s main West side visitor center and administration offices. The office is within walking distance of park housing.

Fieldwork will require the ability to carry a 30 pound backpack over challenging terrain, hike up to 12 miles a day and the applicant should be comfortable in remote backcountry settings. Mountain weather can be highly variable –even in summer– and can include rain, sleet, snow, wind, and fog. Training in backcountry and bear safety will be provided.

The member will be part of the Science and Resource Management division, a team of over 40 staff, who work together on cultural and natural resource management projects throughout the lands and waters of Glacier National Park.


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 member will be housed in either a shared or private room in seasonal park housing or in a room shared with up to 3 other people at the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center (CCRLC) Research Residence. Housing units are shared with other employees or researchers. Both housing options have full kitchen and bathroom facilities and are furnished with beds, living room and kitchen furniture. The CCRLC house is also furnished with kitchen utensils and bedding.


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 Glacier National Park will host a Biology 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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