Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Natural Resource Program Center-Fort Collins, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins, Colorado

Can this position be fully remote: Yes

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 06/02/2025

End Date: 06/01/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 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).
  • 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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will help address the outstanding need across the NPS for assistance and guidance related to sea level rise, restoration, and sediment and shoreline management issues. NPS manages more than 14,000 miles of coastline, along which exists a diverse collection of natural, cultural, and historic resources; essential park facilities and infrastructure; and public recreational opportunities. These coastlines are experiencing or are threatened by sea level rise, coastal flooding, erosion, deposition, island migration, degradation of habitats and ecosystem function, among other impacts. As a result, there is an increasing need for pro-active management actions along park ocean, bay, estuarine and Great Lakes shorelines. However, these issues are complicated and challenging to address, often associated with both anthropogenic activity and natural processes that are exacerbated by climate change. While it is recognized that management action is sometimes necessary to reduce or mitigate unavoidable impacts to park resources, there is often uncertainty regarding the specific actions (including no action) that should be taken and their potential effectiveness. Parks are also in need of easily digestible resources to understand anticipated coastal change due to climate change impacts, as well as the range of feasible management and conservation options available to address these impacts. By providing parks with current and relevant science, tools, and technical assistance related to these topics, this position will help parks make informed planning and management decisions to promote coastal resiliency.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The NPS Ocean and Coastal Resources Program of the Water Resources Division provides support for 88 coastal, ocean and Great Lakes park units. Topic areas of focus include sea level rise, restoration, and sediment and shoreline management. Action plans were developed for these topics to provide parks with relevant data, information, and guidance materials to help inform management decisions related to addressing climate change-related issues, especially within the context of the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework. Some of the main concerns parks face are sea level rise; coastal flooding, erosion and island migration; and degradation and loss of habitats and ecosystem function. These issues impact parks on a broad level, including natural resources, cultural and archaeological resources, facilities and infrastructure, and visitor use and safety. The member will primarily build on project work that has been completed to date and focus on helping parks identify short- and long-term solutions for addressing coastal management issues. Tasks include: 1) Assist in updating or developing NPS guidance documents, case studies, and StoryMaps; 2) Assess resources available to parks for monitoring sea level rise and storm surge (e.g. tide gauges) and assist in the development of alternative methods for acquiring water level data; 3) Continue to update resource catalogue with current information, guidance, tools, and data; 4) Assist with TBD park specific requests and studies (e.g. project design discussions, technical report reviews, data collection/processing, communication); and 5) Assist with communicating and distributing information to parks through various mechanisms, such as internal and public websites, ArcGIS Online maps, StoryMaps, webinars, reports, and meetings with parks. These tasks will provide the member with opportunities to engage with staff across NPS and other Federal agencies (e.g. USGS, NOAA, USACE, USFWS, NWRS). The member will also have opportunities to present their work to the NPS staff at the park, regional, and national level, and potentially at a more formal conference or gathering that reaches a broader audience.


KEYWORDS: sea level rise, restoration, coastal processes, shoreline change, coastal resiliency, sediment transport, coastal hazards

DELIVERABLES

- Update/develop case study briefs, StoryMaps, and other science communication materials focused on restoration, nature-based solutions (NbS), and other potential options to promote proactive management actions to increase resiliency at coastal parks due to climate change;

- Maintain geospatial databases in AGOL;

- Update resource database that lists and briefly describes relevant resources (documents, webinars/presentations, GIS and web-based tools);

- Develop web content for internal and public facing NPS sites;

- Develop presentations as needed for formal and informal meetings;

- Additional products may be requested (to be discussed) as member engages with parks and others;

- Note: The member will also regularly participate in meetings with parks; while there is no deliverable associated with this activity, it will serve to build the member’s knowledge and understanding of park (and broader) issues, and provide the member with opportunities to contribute their thoughts.


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
Required: Ability to be self-directed and work independently, as well as part of a team; interest in learning new skills, critical thinking, and problem solving; attention to detail; basic knowledge of processes influencing sea level rise and coastal change; basic knowledge of ecosystem restoration, coastal geology, engineering, and/or modelling; moderate GIS skills; ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing; experience developing communication and outreach materials. Preferred: Experience and/or technical training in one or more of the following topics: restoration, sea level rise, coastal hazards, coastal engineering, coastal geology, geological oceanography, physical oceanography, sediment transport/budgets, hydrodynamic/sediment modelling. Additionally, advanced GIS skills (including coding and python) and familiarity with geospatial data analysis are preferred. The tasks associated with this position would likely be most enjoyable to a person who can think critically about complex issues; enjoys problem solving and defining innovative approaches to problem solving; and is interested in conducting literature reviews and communicating relevant information in a manner that can be easily understood by park managers. We recognize that the tasks outlined for the position require a broad range of skillsets, which we do not necessarily expect applicants to possess. We will do our best to tailor the project tasks to the member’s interests and skillsets.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The Water Resources Division office is located in Fort Collins, CO, though the member also has the option to work remotely. Either way, there will be opportunities to participate in fieldwork as part of the position; activities for FY25 are yet to be defined. Fort Collins is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and has an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet. The weather is fairly mild in the spring and early fall, hot and dry in the summer, and cool with occasional snow in the winter. Days are sunny most of the year and there is low humidity. Fort Collins offers great access to a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, and camping. The location of Fort Collins permits day or weekend trips to a number of National Parks and other areas of interest. Fort Collins is a well-developed area; grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, etc. will likely be accessible within walking distance.


VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicant will not need to drive a government vehicle.
  • A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is NOT available. The member will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. Note: This position can be a remote position. If member chooses to live in Fort Collins, CO (location of Water Resources Division office) there are a wide range of housing options in Fort Collins, including apartments, houses, and in-home room rentals. Rent costs start around $600-$800/month and increase with size, furnishings, privacy, and amenities. We will do our best to help connect the member with housing options. We recommend the applicant explore housing options before applying for the position; if selected, we recommend the applicant pursue housing as soon as they accept the position.


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 Natural Resource Program Center-Fort Collins, Water Resources Division 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!”

%FOOTER_POWERED_BY%breezy