POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4403
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, Fort Collins, Colorado
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/4/2026
End Date: 5/3/2027
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: Pollinators, Bumble Bee Atlas, Citizen Science, Natural Resource Inventory, Education and Outreach
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The Pollinator Ecology Assistant will implement a natural resource citizen science protocol to collect data on pollinator occurrence, wide variety of, and nest location (including species of conservation concern such as the rusty-patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis) to help parks make management decisions to support pollinators. They will also provide training for NPS staff and volunteers to enable them to collect data using a standardized citizen science protocol, increasing capacity for data collection across multiple park units. This position will assist the Inventory and Assessment Program (I&A) to meet park natural resource management needs in inventory and monitoring, increase collaboration with partners at the University of Minnesota and the Xerces Society, support science communication about I&A natural resource projects, and provide support for additional I&A natural resource inventory and database projects.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Pollinator Ecology Assistant’s primary responsibilities will be collecting bumble bee occurrence, nest location, and habitat data following Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas and Bumble Bee Nest Quest protocols on NPS and partner properties in Minnesota (30%), data entry and analysis (10%), participating in various outreach and science communication activities (20%), supporting NPS Inventory and Assessment pollinator inventory projects as needed (15%), assisting with ongoing pollinator database projects (15%), and additional tasks as assigned (10%). Part of their responsibilities will include traveling to select NPS units in the Midwest Region and training park staff and volunteers on Bumble Bee Atlas survey methods. There may also be opportunities to assist with data collection on other pollinator inventory projects during field season.
The participant must be able to serve in outdoor settings, including hiking up to 3-4 miles per day in hot, humid conditions, in wet areas, in areas with ticks and mosquitoes, and sometimes camping overnight for multiple days in a row. The schedule will typically be M-F from 8:30am – 5pm but may vary during field season. The participant will complete a writing project, a conference presentation (oral or poster), and generate other science communication items (e.g. web articles, social media posts, videos, interpretive programming for parks, etc.) as a product of their service opportunity. The participant will also assist with ongoing NPS pollinator database projects, which may include compiling and organizing datasets, developing R code to improve database function, and helping generate new ways to visualize NPS pollinator data. The participant will be expected to present about their project at the Entomological Society of America Meeting in November 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The participant will have opportunities to collaborate with staff from University of Minnesota Extension, the U of MN Native Bee Lab, and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation during portions of the position. Driving a personal vehicle to field sites is required and mileage will be reimbursed.
DELIVERABLES
The participant will complete a writing project, a conference presentation (oral or poster), and generate other science communication items (e.g. web articles, social media posts, videos, interpretive programming for parks, etc.) as products of their service opportunity. The participant will also assist with ongoing NPS pollinator database projects, which may include compiling and organizing datasets, developing R code to improve database function, and helping generate new ways to visualize NPS pollinator data. The participant will be expected to present about their project at the Entomological Society of America Meeting in November 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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
This position is ideally suited for a recent college graduate with an undergraduate or graduate degree in ecology, entomology, biology, zoology, botany, natural resource management, or related fields with coursework in insect and plant identification. Other levels of education will be considered. Required qualifications include the ability to projects with a team, collaborate to solve problems, collect data following protocols, to analyze and translate scientific information, and experience conducting fieldwork for projects, class, and/or independent research. Experience working outside during the summer months is a must. Preferred qualifications include experience with Midwestern bumble bee identification, Midwestern flora identification, education and outreach, graphic design, data management, Microsoft software products, and proficiency in R. Preference will be given to candidates with experience implementing Bumble Bee Atlas protocols (or similar) and rusty-patched bumble bee survey, handling, and/or ID experience. The selected candidate will be expected to move within commuting distance of the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus by their start date. Must be available November 8-11, 2026, for entomology meeting. A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable personal vehicle is required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
This position will projects with the Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD) within the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate (NRSS) of the National Park Service (NPS). The position will be based at the University of Minnesota Native Bee Lab on the St. Paul campus and will include a combination of fieldwork, outreach, and computer projects. The Pollinator Ecology Assistant will implement Bumble Bee Atlas and Minnesota Bumble Bee Nest Quest protocols on NPS and partner properties in Minnesota. They will also provide Bumble Bee Atlas training to park staff and volunteers within the NPS Midwest Region, including at park units in Michigan and Iowa. They may also assist with fieldwork on various NPS pollinator inventory projects as needed. Outreach may be conducted in various indoor and outdoor settings. The participant must have access to a reliable personal vehicle for travel to field sites and outreach events (mileage will be reimbursed). Weather will likely be hot and sunny, with a mix of rain and thunderstorms. Ticks and mosquitoes are prevalent. There is no free parking at the University of Minnesota although there are locations to park and walk or bike nearby. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) has a public transportation system with routes that serve the St. Paul Campus.
Minneapolis-St. Paul is a vibrant metropolitan center with a combined population of around 750,000. There are plenty of grocery stores, restaurants, health clinics and hospitals, pharmacies, shopping, and recreation options throughout the city. There is public transportation (bus, metro, rideshare), and many bike trails and lanes. Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes and there are numerous urban lakes with recreational opportunities, such as walking and bike paths, swimming beaches, and kayaks and paddle boards available for rent. The north shore (Lake Superior) is a 3-hour drive north of the Twin Cities and is a great destination for a weekend trip.
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.
The SIP participant will be expected to move within commuting distance of the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus by the position start date. There may be opportunities to find shared housing with other Scientists in Parks or University of Minnesota students to share the cost of housing. Rent in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area can range from $700-$1300/month depending on location, unit size, willingness to have a roommate, etc.
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 Ecology Assistant at Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science.
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!”
