Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Oregon Caves National Monument, Cave Junction, Oregon

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/05/2025

End Date: 09/22/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.00 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 Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will be implementing a natural resource protocol to collect data on pollinator abundance and diversity, with a special focus on species of conservation concern (Bombus franklini, Bombus occidentalis, and Plebejus podarce klamathensis) and documenting plant-pollinator interactions to help the park make management decisions to support pollinators. This position will assist a small park staff of employees to meet park natural resource management needs in inventory and monitoring, as well as helping with habitat restoration activities in alpine meadows and along fuel breaks.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Pollinator Ecology SIP member’s primary responsibilities will be conducting an inventory of bumble bee and butterfly species in the park, and assisting vegetation restoration activities, and other natural resource projects as needed. They will collect data on pollinator species presence, abundance, diversity, and plant-pollinator interactions. The member will complete pollinator sampling design, protocol development, and species identification training, sample for pollinators using netting and macrophotography techniques, document bee and butterfly floral associations, enter and clean data, perform simple data analysis, and compile results. There also may be limited collection of specimens, as well as eDNA sample collection and native seed collection. The participant must be able to work in a back country setting to traverse varied terrain including slopes, uneven trails, cross-country areas, and wet areas. The work schedule will typically be M-F from 8 am – 5 pm, but may vary in response to weather conditions. The member will produce a report and other science communication items (e.g., story map, web articles, social media blogs, etc.) as a product of their position.


KEYWORDS: Pollinator ecology, threatened and endangered species, bees, butterflies, vegetation management and restoration

DELIVERABLES

The SIP member will be required to collect data on pollinators and vegetation, conduct a habitat assessment, analyze the data collected, and write a report detailing their findings. They will analyze their plant-pollinator interaction data and conduct a literature review to provide recommendations to support restoration and conservation activities. They will assist with planning and facilitating the annual butterfly bioblitz in the park, a long-term citizen science project led by a retired OSU professor. The member will be encouraged to create story maps, web articles, a social media blog, or other science communication deliverables as part of their requirements.


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 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
This position is ideally suited for a recent college graduate with an undergraduate or graduate degree in ecology, entomology, biology, zoology, botany, or related fields with coursework in GIS. Other levels of education will be considered. Qualifications include the ability to work with a team, lead projects independently, collaborate to solve problems, collect data following protocols, to analyze and translate scientific information, use Microsoft software products, and work in a rugged field setting. A strong disposition for outside work during summer months is a must. Candidates experienced in bumble bee and/or butterfly identification, native plant identification, and experimental design preferred. The candidate will live on-site in shared housing and is expected to respect park rules at all times, act in a civil manner, and help keep the living space clean.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

This position will be primarily field work in rugged conditions, with limited office work using a laptop. Oregon Caves is a mountain forest setting located at 4000' elevation, with a 3-mile-long cave toured by the public. The park housing, offices and visitor center are clustered together just outside the cave entrance creating a central, social atmosphere. The town of Cave Junction is 20 miles away with two grocery stores, dollar store, health clinic and numerous restaurants and activities. Grants Pass and Medford are large cities located one to 1-1/2 hours away with all amenities and the closest hospital. Redwood National and State Parks and beautiful beaches are within a 2-hour drive from the park. Weather will likely be mild with a mix of sun and rain. Heavy rain and snow are also possible depending on the time of year.


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. Park housing will be in a shared or private room, in a shared dorm or house. Park housing supplies full kitchen appliances, furnished living room, dishes, bathroom/shower, laundry, Wi-Fi (may be limited), food storage, closet, chest of drawers, and twin bed/mattress. SIP participant will need to bring clothing, personal items, outdoor gear, bedding, and food.


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 Inventory and Monitoring Division, Oregon Caves National Monument will host a Ecology 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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