POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4432
Position Title: GIS Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, Michigan
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/18/2026
End Date: 11/16/2026
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: $ 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: GIS, trails, cartography, natural resource planning, ecology
PURPOSE
This GIS Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The participant will fill spatial data gaps, allowing park managers to incorporate GIS products for multiple planning efforts to conserve and restore natural and cultural resources and guide infrastructure development at one of the most-visited attractions in PIRO. Long-term benefits include increased accuracy and efficiency in fulfilling NEPA requirements and natural resource monitoring objectives including enhancements to track change.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The SIP participant will support a major visitor use management project at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PIRO), the Mosquito Beach and River Area Site Plan. The participant will utilize GIS and GPS tools and software to map social trails, trail reroutes, natural resource damage, restoration areas, and trail assets to inform management decisions to meet desired conditions for natural resource sustainability and visitor use. The participant will also support PIRO trail map consolidation, design of digital data collection tools, organization of a framework of base layers in NPS Portal, and mapping unauthorized access roads in the Beaver Basin Wilderness.
DELIVERABLES
Several deliverables will support the Mosquito Beach and River Area Site Plan and objectives in the Resource Stewardship Strategy for PIRO. These include: 1) trail and asset geodatabases 2) digital data collection products for long-term natural resource programs 3) rectified legacy aerial photos 4) NPS Portal natural resource framework. A presentation to demonstrate and summarize GIS deliverables will be developed.
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
The applicant should demonstrate career objectives in geographic information systems or natural resource planning and management. Previous experience with GIS data collection and software applications (e.g. ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps) and adherence to metadata documentation is required. The ability to independently navigate long trail systems on uneven terrain under inclement conditions (e.g. biting insects, humidity) while wearing a backpack and carrying equipment is essential. The participant should be a self-starter, well- organized, and an effective team player.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a lineal park stretching along 42 miles of south Lake Superior shoreline from Munising to Grand Marais in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Within the lakeshore boundary is a variety array of natural and cultural resources ranging from 15 miles of sandstone cliffs on the west end to the massive Grand Sable Banks and Dunes on the east. Mixed conifer-hardwood forest interspersed with lakes, waterfalls, and streams characterize the inland, including the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The population in Munising was 1,986 in 2020 and park visitation is viewed as a critical component of the local and regional tourism economy, frequently topping 1,000,000 annual visitors. Marquette and Escanaba are an hour’s drive from Munising and among the largest cities in the Upper Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula, influenced by the Great Lakes, has a humid continental weather. July is the warmest month in Munising, with an average high of 74 F with over 15 inches of precipitation typically accruing May through September (U.S. weather Data). Science personnel are based in the historic Munising Range Light, a former U.S. Coast Guard Station in Munising.
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 available in Grand Marais, 50 miles from the primary duty station in Munising. Local phone service and wi-fi is provided. The participant will need to bring personal items including bedding, laundry soap, and toiletries. Residences are within walking distance to groceries, restaurants, local shops, and Lake Superior. Carpooling options may be possible.
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 GIS Assistant at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
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!”
