POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4299
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Biscayne National Park, Homestead, Florida
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 06/08/2026
End Date: 08/31/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 1,956.35 upon successful completion of position
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 700.00 per week, fixed rate
- Relocation Allowance: $ 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)
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: fisheries, creel surveys, sea turtles, threatened and endangered species,
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. Fishing is one of the most common recreational activities at Biscayne. The NPS collaborates with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to manage the park's fisheries resources. In 2020, the FWC implemented a new suite of park-specific fishing regulations which included more stringent bag and size limits for many species compared to other areas under Florida regulations. Ongoing monitoring, such as the recreational creel surveys, are critical to assess any changes in the fisheries that are resulting from these new implementations. FWC and the NPS continue to collaborate together to assess the status of the resources and determine if the regulations have been effective in increasing the size and abundance of targeted fish species. With limited staffing, the NPS is unable to consistently complete the creel surveys; the SIP participant will be completing critical projects that existing staffing cannot do.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The selected candidate will be responsible for completing creel surveys of recreational fishers during peak activity days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). This will entail approaching boaters as they return to nearby marinas, engaging them in a short survey and counting/measuring their catch. The opportunity for outreach and education may arise if the SIP encounters park visitors who are unclear on the fishing regulations. By engaging in these surveys, the SIP will serve as a park representative to a wide variety of park users. (Note that there is no law enforcement being done as part of these surveys, this is strictly data collection with the potential for education/outreach).
These creel surveys will be the main task for three of the five days per week. On the other two days, the SIP will assist resource management staff with other activities, primarily patrolling offshore beaches for sea turtle nests. Other activities may include conducting marine debris removals on beaches and shallow reefs, assisting in response to wildlife strandings, completing surveys and/or removals of invasive animals and several other natural resource management issues. These other two days of the week will give the SIP exposure to a broad array of other issues in the park.
DELIVERABLES
The SIP participant will complete recreational fishing surveys on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The SIP can expect to complete anywhere from 12 to 30 interviews per day, depending on weather, day of the week, and other factors.
The SIP will enter all data into the park's existing Access database.
If the SIP is interested, we can explore additional products/deliverables such as data analyses and/or outreach materials.
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 host site.
- The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The selected candidate should have a degree in biology, fisheries, natural resources, environmental science, zoology, interdisciplinary science, or other similar subjects.
Individuals who are familiar with fish, fishing and fishing terminology are well-suited for this duties.
Due to the outdoor nature of this position, the selected candidate must be hearty and willing to conduct projects in heat, humidity, and possibly in the presence of biting/stinging organisms.
Due to the frequent interactions with park visitors to complete the creel surveys, the SIP must be outgoing and willing to talk with people.
Miami is a multi-cultural city, so being bilingual (English and Spanish) is highly preferred, although not required.
Some of the projects will be completed individually, so the SIP must be able to conduct projects independently and be trustworthy.
Selected candidate must possess a valid driver's license so they can operate park vehicles to access the adjacent marinas where creel surveys occur.
Other field activities will require being a passenger on vessels in varying sea states. Individuals who are prone to seasickness should NOT apply for this position.
Being a competent swimmer and snorkeler will also allow for maximum opportunities to be experienced during the position.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Biscayne is located in southern Miami-Dade, a rapidly growing suburb of Miami. The park is mostly marine, with just the mainland shoreline and islands comprising the terrestrial portion of the park. The park is about 7 to 8 miles from Homestead, which has a hospital, movie theater, restaurants, shopping etc.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS 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 selected candidate will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
Due to the high cost of living and the potential difficulty of securing a rental for a few months, priority may given individuals who already live in the area.
Rental units (apartments, townhomes etc.) are available in the area. One-bedroom units are quite pricy (about $1800 per month or more). A larger 2- or 3-bedroom unit shared among two or three roommates looks to be much more affordable, with advertised prices suggesting that each person would be responsible for $ 600 to $800 per month.
OUR COMMITMENT
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 based on project needs. Lunch breaks and days off 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
- Member will receive pertinent project and site training from host site throughout term
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff
EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of minimum AmeriCorps 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.
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 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/.
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 Scientists in Parks program will host the Natural Resource Management Assistant at Biscayne National Park.
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 reasonable accommodations 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!”
