Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps na Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Within the Intermountain Region (Lakewood, Colorado, Bandelier National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Saguaro National Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park) to be negotiated upon hire.

Can this position be fully remote: No - Must be within commuting distance to one of the listed office locations.

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 01/12/2026

End Date: 01/11/2027

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.

BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $700.00 per week.
• Relocation Allowance of $450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
• 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 (opt in)
  • Childcare Coverage (opt in)

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The position will close after receiving 60 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 12 October, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 12 October, 2025. Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, 12 October, 2025.

PURPOSE

This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will assist in improving wildland fire management planning and decision-making in parks in the Intermountain West by helping to deliver fire-focused data and information to managers. The outcomes from the projects will help parks achieve management goals and objectives of protecting natural ecosystem integrity and function for the enjoyment of future generations. The projects will also provide the SIP with experience at the interface of science and land management which is important for future efforts in the field of fire ecology and management.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The proposed position will provide data and information on future fire regime conditions to National Park Service (NPS) managers to improve fire management planning and implementation for a number of groups of parks. Data and information products and tools used will be guided by regional fire ecologists and fire planners. The SIP participant will serve with the regional staff to determine the most effective way to communicate the resulting information for direct use by practitioners. SIP participants will then serve directly with staff at multiple parks to present and discuss various resources and information that can assist managers. Products will be designed to be directly incorporated into park fire management plans, help prioritize and locate strategic fuels treatments, and inform preparedness, response, and recovery decisions in parks.

KEYWORDS: fire management, ecological data, planning, communication

DELIVERABLES

The primary project deliverables from these positions will include fire and environmental data compilation and communication and training tools/guides for disseminating fire regime information to park managers. These products may include presentations, workshops, data visualizations, communication plans, job aids, training classes, reports, and resource briefs.

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
Candidates must have experience in written and oral communication. Candidates must also have the ability to work in a collaborative team environment where communication between scientists and land managers is the focus. Candidates should have experience with, or a strong interest in, environmental-data, fire management processes, and ecological effects of fire. The ability to quickly become familiar with multiple types of information systems including databases, GIS, decision support and budget tools, as well as previous work with ecological data, are also preferred.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The proposed position will be involved in a project to provide future fire regime conditions information products to managers to improve fire management planning and implementation for a number of groups of parks. The SIP will serve directly with regional fire ecologists and fire planners to determine the most effective way to communicate the resulting information products for direct use by practitioners. Products will be designed to be directly incorporated into updated fire management plans, help prioritize and locate strategic fuels treatments, and inform preparedness, response, and recovery decisions in parks.

A majority of the service is performed in an office setting with adequate light, heat, and ventilation. Occasional field work and site visits to other park units may create exposure to a variety of physical settings including extreme climatic conditions and rugged terrain. Local area details will vary based on negotiated office location. Applicants must be willing to move within commuting distance to one of the following locations - Lakewood, Colorado, Bandelier National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Saguaro National Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park. 

VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant will not need to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is not required for this position but may be desired to commute to the negotiated office location.

HOUSING

Park housing is NOT available. The SIP participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. 

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.
• Free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.

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 Intermountain Region Office will host an Ecology Assistant.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal 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!”