POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4340
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: North Coast and Cascades Network, Port Angeles, Washington
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/03/2026
End Date: 05/02/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 7,395.00 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)
- For 52-week positions only:
- Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
- Childcare Coverage (opt in)
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: Aquatic Ecology, Intertidal, Subalpine Vegetation, Glaciers, Data Management, Data Visualizations, Applied Science
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The National Park Service invests heavily in monitoring the health of ecosystems such as rocky intertidal habitats, rivers, streams, mountain lakes, glaciers, and forests. As these datasets accumulate year after year, the need grows to synthesize and evaluate how and why key indicators—such as biological community species richness, dissolved oxygen and pH levels, thermal profiles, and the distribution of vital signs—are changing over time. To that end, NCCN is looking for a candidate with considerable field experience, a strong safety record, data management (including experience with Microsoft Access, AQUARIUS, SQL server) skills, and statistical methods used to summarize biological and physicochemical trends. We will leverage these skills to evaluate NPS datasets from some of the most iconic parks of the Pacific Northwest. Results from this project will be shared with park managers charged with protecting park ecosystems into the future.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This project will support efforts to expand our understanding of the status and ecological health trends of mountain lakes, rocky intertidal habitats, representative streams, subalpine habitats, and alpine glaciers in the Pacific Northwest national parks using a variety of ecological and physical indicators. The project leverages the use of extensive long-term monitoring data sets to produce results for improved management of these complex ecological systems for aesthetic and recreational purposes, and to provide insights on environmental changes. Outcomes of this project will include scientific reports and resource briefs that will serve as the basis for developing interpretation and outreach materials for the public.
Major duties include field projects that support annual monitoring of vital signs in habitats that range from the rocky intertidal to alpine glaciers. Supporting tasks for field duties include calibrating and maintaining field equipment, downloading data and troubleshooting deployed instruments, and recording field observations using standard operating procedures. This position will also use data management, data science, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills to collaborate with the data management team. Data may relate to high-elevation forests, birds, hydrology, and environment among others. SIP duties will be focused on all aspects of data management, including entry, processing, quality review and preparing data for analysis or publication. Data includes both field observations generated and spatial derived data.
DELIVERABLES
The candidate will perform field projects, data management, spatial and statistical analyses, and prepare summary reports on long-term monitoring sites across Pacific Northwest parks. Project products will include field data collection logs, photographic summaries, QA/QC reports, and map products for reports or presentations and contribute to the development of standard operating procedures, resource briefs, web articles, and other science communication products. Beyond the contributions outlined above, there will be opportunities for the participant to conduct an individual project based upon their specific qualifications, demonstrated interests, and network needs. Once a participant is selected, we will collaborate to define an appropriate project. This may take the form of a technical report with data summaries, geospatial products, or another suitable method of science communication. Results of this position will be shared with park managers and scientists to improve their understanding of the status of key park resources and how they may be changing through time and coincident with changes in primary environmental drivers (e.g., snowpack and temperature).
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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The candidate should be a recent graduate or working on a graduate degree at an accredited institution in environmental science, geology, biology, ecology, or hydrology (or a related field) with experience in data management, GIS, and coding. The individual may also have experience using coding languages such as R and Python as well as data management systems like Microsoft Access, SQL, and AQUARIUS. Strong leadership, technical writing, and communication skills are also desired. Individuals that have experience working as part of a team and are flexible, collegial, and have a strong service ethic are sought. Candidates with backcountry experience are encouraged to apply.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Projects may occur in both an office setting and/or in the field.
Olympic National Park spans almost 1,000,000 acres on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The park encompasses varied landscapes, including coastal ecosystems, streams and rivers in glacially-carved valleys, forests, as well as high-elevation alpine and subalpine landscapes dominated by glaciers, snow, meadows, and mountain lakes. While parts of the Olympics are within a 2-hour drive from either Seattle, WA, backcountry locations are remote. Weather varies throughout the year, from abundant rain and snowfall in the winter to hotter, drier conditions in the summer.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS 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 NOT available. The selected candidate will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
Nearby housing is available in Clallam County (Port Angeles, Sequim, and Joyce). Rental housing prices range from approximately $600+ per month in a shared house or $1,000+ per month for single occupancy. Nearby housing is within 30 minutes of duty station.
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 North Coast and Cascades Network.
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!”
