POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4375
Position Title: Science Communication Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/11/2026
End Date: 05/10/2027
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: $ 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)
- 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: communications, digital media, storytelling, partnerships, tribal affairs, community engagement
PURPOSE
This Science Communication Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This SIP position is directly tied to the National Park Service (NPS) mission by offering communication and interpretation services that provide for the “enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” The position will have a significant impact on visitor experience and appreciation of Grand Canyon National Park through the design and delivery of high-quality communication products, interpretive content, and public engagement strategies.
Working within the Grand Canyon National Park Office of Communications, Partnerships, and External Affairs, this role supports a broad scope of responsibilities that include stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and partnership development. The position contributes to the park’s efforts to foster meaningful connections with a range of audiences, enhance public understanding of park resources and values, and promote stewardship through available public messaging.
By collaborating with internal divisions and external partners, the SIP participant will help amplify the park’s voice across multiple platforms (digital, print, and in-person) ensuring consistent, mission-aligned communication that reflects the cultural, historical, and ecological significance of Grand Canyon. This service not only enhances the visitor experience but also strengthens the park’s relationships with tribal communities, gateway communities, nonprofit partners, and the broader public.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Scientist in Parks (SIP) Participant will support Grand Canyon National Park in sharing the park’s stories with the public in engaging and available ways. This position is ideal for someone with a passion for public lands, storytelling, and community engagement.
The SIP will assist in developing and distributing content that highlights the park’s natural and cultural significance. This includes writing interpretive articles, supporting outreach initiatives, and helping to create materials for both digital and print platforms. The SIP will also collaborate with park staff on projects that reflect multiple perspectives and help deepen public understanding of the park’s many layered histories and ongoing stewardship efforts.
This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in public communication, project coordination, and community engagement within an iconic national park. The SIP will be mentored by experienced staff, participate in cross-divisional collaboration, and have access to professional development opportunities throughout the year.
DELIVERABLES
Science Communication Materials: Develop and produce high-quality written and visual content for park publications, news releases, community newsletters, and digital platforms. Create interpretive and educational materials that align with NPS messaging and ADA standards.
Digital Media Content: Assist with social media campaigns to promote park programs, events, and initiatives. Help park staff maintain and update the park’s website and digital storytelling platforms.
Public Engagement Support: Assist with outreach events, community programs, and stakeholder meetings. Assist park staff in the development of materials and presentations for use in public forums and partner engagements.
Partnership and Stakeholder Communications: Draft communications to partners and gateway communities. Assist in the development of partnership reports and collaborative project summaries.
Internal Collaboration Tools: Create templates, toolkits, and style guides to support consistent science communication across the park. Contribute to park newsletters and staff updates to enhance parkwide awareness of science and resource management projects.
Evaluation and Reporting: Track and analyze communication metrics (e.g., social media engagement, website traffic). Prepare a year-end summary report highlighting accomplishments, lessons learned, and recommendations.
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
We are looking for a Scientist in Park (SIP) who is eager to grow their skills and contribute meaningfully to the mission of the National Park Service. A combination of the following qualifications is desired:
Education and/or Experience: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications, journalism, public affairs, graphic design, digital media, or a related field.
Interest in Public Service and Storytelling: A strong interest in digital communications, science communication, public engagement, community partnerships, and/or tribal affairs.
Willingness to Learn and Adapt: Demonstrated ability to learn new tools and concepts on the job, conduct research, and interview subject matter experts. Curiosity and adaptability are highly valued.
Collaborative and Independent Service Style: Ability to conduct projects independently with minimal supervision while also contributing positively to a team environment.
Digital Media Skills: Familiarity with web design, social media platforms, photography, videography, and basic post-production techniques. Experience with digital photo editing is a plus.
Software Proficiency: Basic to intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Adobe Creative Cloud tools such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, and Premiere. Willingness to build skills in these areas is welcome.
Strong Communication Skills: Clear and effective writing skills for a variety of audiences and formats. Public speaking or presentation experience is a plus.
Event Support Experience: Interest or experience in helping plan and support public events, outreach activities, or community programs.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Natural Environment: The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is the world's greatest example of arid land erosion and one of the most spectacular exposures of stratified rocks. The vastness of its landscape has an average depth of 5,000 feet, width of 10 miles, and a length of ~280 river miles - containing a seemingly infinite system of colorfully sculptured plateaus, mesas, buttes, cliffs, slopes, ridgelines, and side canyons. The South Rim is at 7,000 feet elevation with ponderosa and pinyon-juniper forests. Weather in Grand Canyon National Park is relatively mild. However, low humidity allows large temperature differences between day and night. Summer months are characterized by warm temperatures and monsoon storms. Winter months can include multi-day storms with significant snow accumulation. Periods of reduced air quality and smoke impacts resulting from local or regional wildfires and fire management activities can be expected throughout the year.
Local Area Information: Grand Canyon Village offers a wide array of services, but they are still limited. There are several restaurants within the park and in the local gateway community of Tusayan. The Grand Canyon Village has a small grocery store and a Post Office. Flagstaff, AZ, located 90 minutes away, is the nearest town offering a full range of services. Williams, AZ, is located 60 minutes away and offers a grocery store and some restaurants. A personal vehicle is required for this position.
Position Environment, Setting and Physical Demands: Projects are conducted in a close-knit community at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This position will be stationed primarily in a shared office at park Headquarters. There will be opportunities to travel to other districts of the park and gateway communities over the course of the position. The schedule requires long periods of sitting, standing, and walking at over 7,000 feet elevation. Projects are performed in and out of doors in a variety of temperature extremes including heat, wind, rain, and snow.
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.
Housing is located in the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Housing is furnished in a shared government cabin, house, or apartment with potential for a shared kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Ability to live and collaborate closely with others is essential. Bring cooking utensils, linens and personal items. Family members and pets are not allowed in shared housing. This is a remote location and depending on your provider, cell phone reception in shared housing may be poor or non-existent. There is limited access to wifi. Wifi is not available in shared housing. Housing accommodations do not include air-conditioning.
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 Science Communication Assistant at Grand Canyon 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!”
