POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4395
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Nageezi, New Mexico
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/4/2026
End Date: 7/27/2026
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: $ 600.00 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: Resource protection, wildland fire management, GIS, Natural Resources, planning, interdisciplinary
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. In a wildland fire emergency, national park staff need to be able to rapidly tell responders the location, importance, and protection measures for its most critical treasures. This project will directly support the preparedness of the park for responding to emerging wildland fires and other hazardous events while safeguarding the historical, natural, and cultural resources that are central to the NPS mission. By developing Local Unit Resource Advisor Guide (LURG) and accompanying READ Atlas, the project will produce actionable tools that help ensure resource protection measures are clearly communicated and effectively implemented. These products will provide critical guidance to incident responders to help them avoid or reduce damage to sensitive park resources. The READ Atlas will organize essential geospatial data into a format designed for rapid deployment, allowing responders to quickly identify and protect high-value areas. This projects will strengthen park readiness and resilience, while promoting consistent, data-informed resource protection across the Intermountain Region.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
SIP participant will develop Local Unit Resource Advisor Guide (LURG) and associated Resource Advisor (READ) Atlas for wildland fire preparedness in the park. This role includes compiling resource information, gathering data, creating documents, tracking progress, meeting deadlines, and maintaining communication with park staff and stakeholders. The participants will assist park unit specialists by gathering and validating geospatial and resource data, developing local protection measures, and creating content using standardized templates, examples, and job aids. They will independently but collaboratively produce READ Atlases and map products that support resource protection, applying NPS geospatial standards and helping parks determine appropriate handling of sensitive data. The participant will also support the writing, editing, and formatting of LURG content, ensuring compliance with Section 508 standards and NPS formatting requirements, and may suggest improvements to national templates and job aids. Professional development is a key component of the position, with opportunities to gain training in wildland fire planning, GIS, and resource management, working alongside NPS staff across disciplines.
DELIVERABLES
The primary deliverables from these opportunities will be a CHCU Local Unit READ Guide (LURG) and/or READ atlas produced in collaboration with park staff. Workflow process descriptions and tools for LURG/READ atlas development will be documented. Presentation products to educate CHCU park staff on the LURG and Atlas will be developed.
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
Candidates must have experience in written and oral communication, and the ability to projects in a collaborative team environment. Candidates should have a degree in the biological, physical, social or cultural sciences and/or career experience in resource management and/or Geographic information Systems (GIS). Experience working in wildland fire planning, operations, or preparedness is desired but not required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is located in the northwest corner of New Mexico. The area is high desert, 6000 feet in elevation, with average summer temperatures in the 80F-100F range, and lows in the 50s. Summer days tend to be hot and sunny but nights cool off. Monsoon season can bring epic rainstorms and flooding. The nearest cities are Bloomfield, Farmington, Aztec, and Cuba, New Mexico. There is a gas station and a post office in the small town of Nageezi, NM, approximately 16 miles from the park, but all other services are about a 90-minute drive from Chaco. Service Environment: Much of the projects will be conducted in an office setting. The office is a 5-minute walk from the housing area. Some projects will be conducted in the field, where hiking several miles over difficult terrain may be necessary, as well as working at night to conduct sky quality monitoring. field projects will be scheduled to avoid extreme weather conditions (early mornings!), but participants can expect field projects in hot dry and rugged conditions.
The access roads to Chaco can become impassible in wet weather, such as during summer monsoons. The north road is graded regularly but is often washboarded and it is definitely hard on vehicles. A high clearance, 4wd personal vehicle is recommended and participants should be aware that their vehicle will sustain more wear and tear than normal.
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 available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing is provided at no cost to the participant in either a 4-bedroom house furnished as a dormitory (with 2-4 other roommates) or a 1-br apartment, depending on seasonal availability. Housing includes all amenities (stove, utensils, pots, pans, refrigerator, washer and dryer, bathroom with shower, etc.). Housing has evaporative coolers. Washer and dryer are communal and currently require quarters to operate. Housing is in the housing area at Chaco Culture National Historical Park (Nageezi, NM) so SIP participants will be in the community of volunteers, participants, permanent staff, and seasonal staff. House is located 150 yards from the Chaco Visitor Center and offices. Housing does not have cell phone service or internet, but wifi is available a short walk from housing at the volunteer campground.
Because Chaco is so remote, water and electrical service occasionally go out. Tenants are encouraged to keep an emergency supply of drinking water on hand and also a backup power unit of some kind (powerbank, solar charger) for powering essentials.
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 Chaco Culture National Historical 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!”
