Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Paleontology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Camp Nelson National Monument, Nicholasville, Kentucky

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: 06/02/2025

End Date: 08/25/2025

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 Paleontology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will have a positive impact on the paleontological resources at a cultural park that has not conducted a natural resource inventory but is uniquely located within a karst topography of the Inner Bluegrass ecoregion with geological features a significant resource in the foundation document for the park. The Park’s 466 acres can be inventoried, and a report can be created within the span of 12 weeks. The deliverables will help not only with management decisions, but with interpretating the natural resources that are here now and during the time of significance during the Civil War.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The paleontology member will assist with paleontological resource inventory and monitoring at Camp Nelson National Monument. The member will work with park and Geologic Resource Division staff to systematically inventory occurrences and document condition of fossil localities within the park. Detailed documentation for each site, including photographs and GIS locality information, will be recorded to incorporate into a park paleontology database and resource survey report. Data obtained through this inventory project will inform park management regarding science, resource management, interpretation, and other issues. Major responsibilities will include literature research to locate additional information on the paleontological resources in the Bluegrass Region for the time period of interest (Ordovician); survey for new, significant paleontological sites within park boundaries; record location and site conditions; site documentation through photography and on-site data collection; information entry into computerized databases; and utilize ArcGIS to develop maps of site locations; assistance to the NPS senior paleontologist in the development of a paleontological inventory of the park; and final report development for the CANE Paleontological Resource Inventory, along with presentations, and digital media to assist the NPS in showcasing and preserving the paleontological heritage of CANE and increasing visitor understanding about the significance of these resources. Fossil collection, if deemed necessary by the Senior Paleontologist, and preparation will be completed using standard paleontological collection techniques. All collected fossils will be curated into the appropriate museum collections. Other projects may include preparing maps using ArcGIS, working with other staff and outside organizations, and providing visitor education through interpretive programing.


KEYWORDS: Paleontology, Geology, GIS, Fieldwork

DELIVERABLES

The member will prepare a fossil locality report including photographs and GPS location for each paleontological site documented. The information gained during fieldwork will also be entered into a spreadsheet for park fossil localities. The report and spreadsheet will include recommendations for long term preservation and monitoring of each fossil locality. A secondary deliverable pertaining to interpretation will be set on an individual basis during interviews and the beginning of the position. Examples include creating a bulletin for public consumption of the findings within the park and creation of, or significant progress of a paleontology section on the CANE website for staff and visitors to view.


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 possess both education and experience in geology and paleontology, preferably with field experience identifying a variety of invertebrate fossils. Given the extensive amount of field work that is planned for the intended project, applicants with field experience and field methods training or field school are encouraged to apply. Experience with field mapping and GIS skills should be identified in the application. The ability to recognize and identify fossils in the field is important for this position. Additionally, the member will be required to perform field tasks independently much of the time. The member should be proficient and diligent in field note taking and have good writing and communication skills. Finally, preference will be given to applicants with sufficient outdoor experience, especially hiking with gear in rugged terrain.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Physical Setting: Camp Nelson National Monument consists of 466 acres of land approximately miles south of Lexington and six miles south of Nicholasville, KY along US Highway 27. Average temperatures range from highs of 86 F and lows of 62 F during the summer months. July is typically the summer month with the highest amount of rain with average rainfall ranging between 5 and 5.5. inches. The park is within the karst topography of the Inner Bluegrass with sinkholes, springs, and vertical cave entrances found throughout the park. Much of the park is agricultural field with little shade or windbreak, while a small portion is wooded with steeper terrain closer to Hickman Creek. Work environment: Most of the work will be completed in the field. The member should be prepared to work outdoors (i.e. wear proper hot weather clothing and bring water) in spring and summer weather, as described under “Physical Setting.” Footwear appropriate for hiking should be worn while in the field. The individual selected for this position should possess the physical ability to hike in potentially slick, steep terrain in some areas. The member will be provided a desk and computer in the shared resource/facilities office space.


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. Danville, Nicholasville, and Lexington are all within a 20-45 minute drive from the park. Housing costs range anywhere from $950-1400/month for rent.


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 Camp Nelson National Monument will host a Paleontology 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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