POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4344
Position Title: Ecology 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: bats, acoustic surveys, mist netting, field data collection, applied ecology
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position supports a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to quantify the spread and impact of WNS over time in NCCN parks, to understand seasonal patterns in bat activity in those parks, and to vaccinate bats at select colonies on the gradient of disease spread across the NCCN. Outcomes of this service will inform local to national efforts to understand impacts of WNS on bat populations as well as the efficacy of new vaccines to slow the spread and impact of the disease. The participant will gain hands-on experience with bat capture and handling techniques while contributing to field data collection and long-term biological monitoring. The participant will also gain experience in managing and summarizing ecological data and preparing technical reports, public-facing information, and presentations. Ultimately the project will inform the potential for large-scale treatment strategies across national parks and other managed lands in Washington state. Results of this project will leverage more than a decade of monitoring at these same sites and inform management strategies aimed at reducing spread/impact of WNS.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The bat monitoring position supports a long-term research initiative aimed at understanding bat distribution and activity, and documenting and mitigating the impacts of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bat populations across North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) parks. Participants will assist in field-based surveillance to determine the presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the pathogenic fungus responsible for WNS, by collecting wing-swab and guano samples from bat colonies. SIPs will also assist with bat acoustic monitoring and other bat research projects, including planned bat vaccination efforts at multiple parks. Responsibilities include assisting with bat monitoring and capture in the field, maintaining detailed field records, and contributing to new WNS vaccination strategies. This position offers hands-on experience in wildlife disease ecology, conservation biology, and applied field research.
Major duties include nocturnal field projects to capture bats using mist nets, funnel traps, and other capture methods across multiple NCCN park sites, as well as daytime fieldwork to maintain bat acoustic detectors and assist with other bat research activities. Duties include collecting wing-swab and guano samples for Pd detection, recording biometric data, and safely handling bats in accordance with animal care protocols. Additional responsibilities include assisting with the administration and monitoring of experimental WNS vaccines, maintaining detailed field and lab records, maintaining bat acoustic detectors, managing data entry and quality control, and contributing to reports and presentations. The position will involve hiking at night in rough terrain, working in remote areas, and adhering to strict decontamination and biosafety procedures.
DELIVERABLES
The candidate will perform field projects, data management, spatial and statistical analyses, and help prepare summary reports on long-term monitoring sites across Pacific Northwest parks. Projects products will include field data collection logs, photographic summaries, QA/QC reports, and map products for reports or presentations. The participant will contribute to the development of 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 will be shared with park managers and scientists to improve their understanding of WNS spread in NCCN parks, and the potential for bat vaccines to treat bat colonies. Results of this position will be shared with park managers and cooperating agencies.
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 in the middle of obtaining a graduate degree at an accredited institution in ecology, wildlife biology, environmental science, or a related field. Desired experience includes familiarity using bat acoustic detectors, familiarity with bat capture and handling or mist netting techniques, and comfort completing projects at night and in remote areas. Strong leadership, technical writing, and communication skills are also desired. We are looking for applicants that have experience interacting and collaborating as part of a team and are flexible, collegial, and have a strong commitment to completing projects. Candidates with backcountry experience are encouraged to apply.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Projects will occur in both an office setting and in the field. Field projects take place during the day and at night.
The North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) includes seven park units in Washington and Oregon situated east of the Cascade Range between the Columbia River to the south and the Canadian border to the north. These park units encompass an extraordinary range of habitats shaped by elevation, environment, and coastal influences. These include temperate rainforests, alpine meadows, glacial peaks, coastal dunes, wetlands, prairies, and old-growth forests, each supporting unique biological communities. Together, they represent one of the most ecologically rich and varied regions in the U.S. Bat population monitoring and white-nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance in NCCN parks is designed to understand bat distribution, activity, and disease dynamics on the leading edge of WNS spread in Washington state. Data are collected in each park in the spring to track disease presence, prevalence, and spread in the NCCN at known roosts. Bat acoustic data are collected year-round, with additional seasonal deployments, to track bat phenology, activity, and distribution over time. Finally, bat vaccination efforts at known summer roosts will take place later in the summer to prevent and/or slow the spread of WNS in the NCCN.
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 smaller neighboring communities). 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 Ecology 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!”
