Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brecksville, Ohio

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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will assist with the preserved and restored eastern hardwood forests, wet meadows, and grasslands at CUVA providing habitat for many sensitive bat and migratory bird species; however, CUVA’s bird and bat species are experiencing sharp population declines. This position addresses a critical resource management need to monitor and track the park’s declining species of migratory birds and bats (SIP Program Scope: Biological Sciences). The member will assist in the development and implementation of a project that aims to monitor, track, and study habitat use of highly mobile volant species that breed in CUVA (bats, birds) by using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus), an international collaborative research network that uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals across the Hemisphere. The use of Motus at CUVA will shed light on how the lands protected by the national park are connected to adjacent and distant landscapes through migratory species. The member’s primary fieldwork focus will be in one of the park’s emblematic restoration sites, the Coliseum grasslands, which was restored from a sports arena to 80+ acres of high-quality grasslands. The results of the member’s work will illustrate how restoration efforts in the park are providing habitat for declining species and if these are able to support viable populations. Overall, this position supports two main areas within CUVA that connect to the NPS mission to preserve natural resources (migratory birds and T&E bats) and provide opportunities for the public to connect with these resources (citizen science).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The SIP Resource Management Assistant (Wildlife tracking & grassland bird monitoring) will assist park staff in the development and implementation of a National Park Foundation (NPF) funded project to establish Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus.org) in the park (Year 1 of 3, PMIS 329872). The position duties will cover three major areas. First, the member will play a fundamental role in conducting fieldwork to study breeding biology and migratory schedule of Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), a grassland-obligate bird of conservation concern. The member will assist with territory mapping, nest searching, target-netting, capture of adults for color-banding, re-sighting color banded individuals, and banding nestlings. The member will help develop a volunteer-driven monitoring program to resight color-banded individuals to determine return rates and survival of birds. The member will assist with recruitment, training, and organization of volunteers. The re-sighting monitoring scheme will provide critical information for radio-tagging efforts expected to start in Year 2 of this project. The fieldwork for this aspect of the position will be conducted at the Coliseum site's 80+ acres of restored grasslands. The second duty is assisting with the establishment of the physical infrastructure for Motus receiving stations as part of the NPF project. The member will be an integral member of a multi-agency team of local partners and will help coordinate purchasing, permitting and compliance, siting of receiving stations, and receiver registration and settings. This aspect of the position will require office work, site visits in and around the national park, and coordination with park partners. The third duty will be assisting with other wildlife tracking projects, including spring and fall bird migration banding station, a Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) banding station, and bat trapping and tagging (in coordination with partner Summit Metroparks). The member will join the park’s bird banding crew and will assist with the operation and setup of the stations. The fieldwork for will be conducted in restored wet meadows and prairies, and eastern hardwood forests. Duties: The member will be expected to collect detailed and accurate field notes, fill out data forms, write summaries and create simple tables, graphs, and maps. The member will be responsible for maintaining field equipment, storage and office space in a clean and organized manner. The member will work with volunteers in the field. Work will be performed both indoors and out in the field. The member will be required to hike on and off trail in muddy, hot, humid, and buggy conditions. The work in grasslands requires hiking on very uneven terrain in hot and sunny conditions. Fieldwork will regularly start pre-dawn (grassland and bird banding days) and will occasionally require late nights (bat capture and tagging). Job hazards include exposure to heat and humidity, ticks, insects, and occasional incidental exposure to poison ivy.


KEYWORDS: Motus, grassland birds, Bobolink, bird banding, radio telemetry, tracking, wildlife, bats, migratory birds

DELIVERABLES

(1) Data - the member’s primary deliverable will be the data gathered during fieldwork; specific data will include geospatial information on grassland bird nest locations, behavioral observations and geospatial information for color-banded individuals, age, sex and morphometric data on captured birds. The expectation for this deliverable includes the timely entry of data into spreadsheets and databases for long-term storage and use, and scanning/photocopying physical field data sheets for digital storage. (2) Technical Reports, Maps, and Materials –the member will present a written report in standard scientific formatting on the grassland monitoring project. This report will include a summary of nest monitoring (i.e nest locations, fate, timing), and summary of adult population at the Coliseum site. (3) Final Presentation - a presentation of results of the Coliseum grasslands bird monitoring (Year 1) with recommendations for Year 2. Usually members present during the Resource Management Division staff meeting (in person) and/or the parkwide briefing room (virtual). There may be an opportunity for the member to present their work as a poster presentation at the Ohio Avian Research Conference, which is usually in November and may align with the ending of this position. (4) Outreach – the member will develop materials to inform the public about the wildlife in the park. This will be left to the creativity and comfort of the member, and may include presenting during a public bird banding demonstration (part of the MAPS station), or developing flyers, blog posts, or content for the park’s social media (#WildlifeWednesday) or web site (#MyParkStory).


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
REQUIRED SKILLS: Candidate must have experience in avian ecology, conservation, and research. Experience with bird banding and/or nest searching is required. Candidate must demonstrate experience with bird banding (i.e. must be comfortable setting and storing mist-nets, removing birds safely from nets, knowledge of banding protocols and use of the “Pyle” guide). Excellent communication skills are critical. A degree in biology, zoology, wildlife management, or related field. Coursework in: Mammalogy, Ornithology, Field Methods, or related coursework. The member will work in the park’s bird banding stations, which requires early mornings (pre-dawn) starts and the ability to follow a flexible work schedule that is dependent on weather and field conditions. Candidate must be comfortable working outdoors in hot, humid, or buggy conditions, and walking in uneven terrain. PREFERRED SKILLS: Experience with birds and/or bats of the Eastern US is preferred, but not required. Experience conducting bat surveys (acoustic, mist-netting, roost or emergence) is not required, but highly preferred. Understanding of grassland ecosystems is a plus. Training is provided, but some preference will be shown for those having experience with the Motus network or with re-sighting color-banded birds. Candidate should feel comfortable speaking to groups of volunteers and/or park visitors. Though this position has a strong field component, the applicant should expect some office work (writing reports, entering data into spreadsheets), and attending planning meetings with project partners. This position will be 30-40% office work and 70-60% field work, but this may change throughout the season.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Located in Northeastern Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is situated along 26 miles of the Cuyahoga River Valley in a suburban setting between the cities of Akron and Cleveland. The park is predominately natural forest and meadow with some areas of agriculture and excellent outdoor recreation opportunities. Winters are moderately cold with average temperatures in the 20-30F degree ranges. Heavy snowfall is not unusual. Summers are moderately warm, average temperatures in the high 70-80F with occasional warm spells in the 90's. Rural, suburban, and urban communities are all within a reasonable commuting distance. Excellent K-12 schools, numerous colleges, universities, hospitals, and cultural attractions are available in the area. There are also many museums including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, National Football Hall of Fame, and many public art museums, as well as two NPS units within a 40 minute drive (First Ladies NHS and James A. Garfield NHS). Northeast Ohio is a mosaic of demographic diversity where individuals can find communities with shared cultural, ethnic, and religious associations. The area has diverse culinary opportunities (dinning and specialty grocery stores). Though there is no public transportation within the park boundaries, most of the area is bike-friendly and accessible through the Towpath Trail, a multi-purpose trail transecting the national park. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Park's Web Site: https://www.nps.gov/cuva.

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. Shared housing is available within CUVA, so the member will part of the community of member and seasonal staff living within the park boundaries. Members have their own private bedroom equipped with a full-size bed, dresser, and desk. Bedding and bath towels are not provided. The shared living spaces and kitchen area are fully furnished including plates, pots, pans, and silverware. All houses have shared bathrooms. Park housing accommodates between 3-6 individuals (depending on the house). Member will be responsible for personal items, clothing, and bedding. All park houses are equipped with Wi-Fi, central air/heating, TV set, and washer/dryer. Most of the park has excellent/good cellphone coverage.


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 Cuyahoga Valley National Park 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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