POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4323
Position Title: Science Communication Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, California
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/17/2026
End Date: 08/09/2026
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: Interpretation, Science, Environmental Change, Visual Media
PURPOSE
This Science Communication Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The materials developed by the SIP participant will address the impacts and management challenges posed by extreme weather and how the park is responding. These resources will be used to educate the public in-person and/or online. Additionally, they will assist park staff in effectively informing visitors about these critical issues, as the park‘s web page and interpretive exhibits are a well-used source of information gathering for programs and general learning. Information that is consolidated by this position will also be used to tailor talking points for the park’s Public Affairs Team, who annually respond to 50+ interview requests from national and international media specifically on the park’s famous heat and weather.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Science Communication SIP participant will research and develop educational materials to emphasize the impacts of extreme weather on Death Valley National Park. Known as one of the hottest places on Earth, Death Valley recorded its hottest summer in history in 2024, with an average temperature of 104.5°F (day and night temperatures combined). Seven of the ten hottest summers have occurred in the last decade. Significant weather events, including multiple thousand-year rain events in recent years (2015, 2022, 2023), have impacted park resources. Extreme weather events are a significant part of Death Valley's recent history that is under highlighted on park interpretive materials. The extreme conditions of Death Valley mean plants and animals are already often living at the edge of habitability. Even slight increases extreme weather could displace certain species from the park. While Death Valley has made strides in sharing this information with the public, more products and education is needed to engage visitors. The primary focus will be tailored to the applicant’s strengths, experiences, and interests and will be chosen from one of the following projects: Developing a park's webpage on extreme weather. Creating a new extreme weather display for the park museum. Developing a standardized interpretive program on recent weather impacts to be used over this season and in future years. Each project will be designed with the goal of reaching broader audiences and should incorporate multilingual or approachable elements as appropriate. This project aims to educate both general public and park staff about the tangible impacts of recent extreme weather on the park's ecosystem.
DELIVERABLES
One project will be selected and completed within the 12 week position. Specific projects, goals, and materials to be produced will be tailored for each participant and will be defined at the time applicants are interviewed and selected. Specific projects include creating an extreme weather webpage, developing a standardized interpretive program on recent extreme weather events, creating an extreme weather interpretive exhibit, or creating an extreme weather wayside next to the thermometer at Furnace Creek. These projects were all chosen for their potential to provide lasting value well beyond the conclusion of the internship.
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
Experience in public speaking, education, environmental studies, environmental science, biology, botany, geology, communications, design.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Most service will take place predominately inside an office or visitor services setting at the Death Valley Headquarters/Visitor Center in Furnace Creek, CA. Due to extreme summer temperatures employees are required to adhere to the park’s heat safety policies when completing projects outdoors. Death Valley National Park stretches across the states of Nevada and California. The park is home to the hottest, driest, and lowest elevation in North America. During the summer months Death Valley is often one of the hottest places on Earth. Gift shops, gas, and convenient stores can be found within the park’s boundary. However, the closest amenities (major grocery stores, restaurants) are an hour outside of the park in the town of Pahrump, NV. Las Vegas, NV is two hours away, has a major airport and all the amenities and entertainment of a major city. Cell phone service is spotty with limited 3G but internet is available in park housing and at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
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 a shared dormitory with individual rooms, large, shared kitchen and living room space. Wifi and cable are provided. SIP participants will need to bring toiletries, pillows, and linens.
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 Death Valley 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!”
