Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, New York

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: 05/04/2025

End Date: 09/21/2025

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 assist with work related to coastal marshes in national parks and elsewhere, which are priority habitats, cultural landscapes, and recreation destinations that provide essential ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits, including protection from flooding, erosion, and storm surge, carbon sequestration and essential habitat for imperiled fish and wildlife species. However, anthropogenic impacts have resulted in the loss of more than half of the original salt marsh habitat in the U.S. and much of the remaining coastal marshes in the Northeast are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The member will be involved in important aspects of implementing activities associated with marsh restoration and migration. Results of this work, from establishing baseline/pre-restoration conditions through vegetation, wildlife, hydrology and other on-site surveys, will be critical to assessing project success and informing adaptive management. Helping to communicate about this project and the work the member is doing is also important to informing the public’s understanding of the value of salt marshes, how they are impacted by climate change and other stressors, and what the NPS is doing to address these issues.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The salt marshes at Fire Island National Seashore have been degraded through historical anthropogenic activities (e.g., ditching) and are at further risk from a variety of anthropogenic threats, including climate change impacts. To proactively conserve these ecosystems and manage for climate change impacts, the NPS is implementing a variety of resilience strategies, including restoration of degraded marshes at Fire Island National Seashore and elsewhere and assessment of potential marsh migration. In support these activities, the member will participate in surveys and monitoring of coastal marshes (e.g., mapping; vegetation, hydrology, and wildlife surveys; photo plots, etc.) at Fire Island National seashore and possibly elsewhere; training will be provided. The member will also assist with developing communications and outreach associated with the project. Ancillary duties will include assisting with other ongoing park monitoring of shorebirds, small mammals, and forest vegetation and participating in other park-specific tasks as time allows


KEYWORDS: Saltmarsh, restoration, monitoring, climate change, at-risk species

DELIVERABLES

The member will assist with development and implementation of pre-restoration monitoring, including setting up sampling transects and plots, conducting marsh bird, vegetation and hydrological surveys, as well as other bio-physical monitoring. The member will also document results in databases, including mapping of sites and other spatial databases in AGOL. Work will also include assistance with other park monitoring and research efforts as time allows. The member will also assist in communication efforts related to the project and marsh ecosystem in general. Additional products may be included based on based on the member’s specific interests and skillsets, and as they engage with park personnel, researchers, and others throughout the position.


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.

Required: Ability to be self-directed and work independently, as well as part of a team; attention to detail; basic knowledge of coastal marshes; database, compass, GPS and GIS skills; ability to effectively communicate. Must be able to collect and manage data with great attention to detail and possess the scientific background to be able to adhere to scientific methods and report results of field studies.

Physical Requirements: Applicants must be in good physical shape, as work will be conducted in locations where temperatures and conditions can be extreme. Candidate must be comfortable with hazards typical of the environment (sharp vegetation, driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, sand, extreme heat and cold). Must be able to follow all safety protocols to ensure safe navigation throughout the day. Members are expected to use good judgment to stay safe and work efficiently. Successful candidates must be willing and able to spend most of the day walking over uneven terrain.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s Degree (or working up to one) in Natural Resources or a related field and experience and/or training in one or more of the following topics - salt marshes, wetland ecology, vegetation monitoring, hydrological monitoring, ornithology/wildlife biology.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Fire Island is a barrier island located off the coast of Long Island, New York. Fire Island National Seashore is also known for having high densities of ticks and mosquitoes. Park headquarters is located on the mainland of Long Island, in Patchogue, about a 45-minute drive from the Fire Island Lighthouse, and about a 30-minute boat ride from Watch Hill. The mainland of Long Island is a densely populated setting with access to a variety of amenities. Grocery stores, hospitals, restaurants, beaches, airports, and so much more are within a 45-minute drive.


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. Park housing is available, likely in dorms at the Fire Island lighthouse (with private rooms). Housing has general amenities, pots, pans, utensils, etc. Member should bring their own bedding, clothes for both hot and cold weather, cleaning supplies, and paper products.


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 Fire Island National Seashore 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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