POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4428
Position Title: Collections Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys, Georgia
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/4/2026
End Date: 11/2/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 3,697.50 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: inventory, rehousing, assessment, biological, historical
PURPOSE
This Collections Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This collection is hugely significant and represents the longest running baseline collection of biological objects from the park. The collection illustrates the biological wide variety of fauna on Cumberland Island and several T&E species are preserved therein. Natural science collections were not prepared according to fully professional standards and current housings do not support long term preservation of the objects. Lack of immediate care could result in data loss and significant impairment to the resources.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
In November of 2024, a large, unpermitted collection of natural science and archeological materials were transferred to Cumberland Island National Seashore. The items were collected from park property over several decades and include faunal skeletal material, animals preserved in liquid (wet specimens), archeological objects, and other miscellaneous biological specimens.
DELIVERABLES
The project will result in a full inventory of all items in the collection, including conservation conditions; new housings to mitigate harm from potentially hazardous materials; new wet specimen storage; updated storage for dry skeletal material and archeological objects.
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 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
A bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required, and a master’s degree would be most welcomed. Two years of college level academic projects may be considered. Preferred academic fields include but are not limited to natural resources management; collections management, curation or museum studies, natural, biological, physical, environmental sciences, political and social science. Preferred skills include technical writing, data management, and communications. A strong acumen in science, research, and zoological experience. The participant's projects will require close collaboration with interdisciplinary staff specialists at their assigned park/unit. Inter-personal communication and collaboration skills will enhance the participant's ability to successfully achieve their deliverables. Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
There are two primary locations the participant would be working. The Mainland Museum in St. Marys, Georgia and the Dungeness Historic District on Cumberland Island. There is a Resource Office and a temporary storage room located within the district. Cumberland Island is only accessible by boat. St. Marys is a quaint coastal town located off the St. Marys River. Typical 8 hour days with possibility of 10 hour days on occasion depending on workload/project. participant needs to lift/carry 35lbs regularly. Personal vehicle is recommended to enhance experience off-hours. Nearest stores are less than 10 minutes, 3-5 miles
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.
Average rental prices range from $1200 - $1800 dollars. There are some short term rentals. Nearby cities are Yulee, FL, St. Marys, GA, Kingsland, GA, and Woodbine, GA. A little further is Brunswick, GA.
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 Collections Assistant at Cumberland Island National Seashore.
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!”
