POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4370
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Northern Great Plains Network, Rapid City, South Dakota
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/04/2026
End Date: 11/02/2026
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: Field-survey, data collection, plant-ID, resource management, restoration biology
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The Invasive Plant Management Team (IPMT) program, and Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN), document status and trends of resource conditions in NPS units—this project is being implemented to find efficient and ecologically sustainable methods of control for the aggressive noxious weed Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle). Areas have been selected to assist park units with their resource management goals and in hopes to expand this protocol of noxious weed treatments across the northern Great Plains region. Participants’ efforts will help establish and proliferate the biocontrol in their time with the network, as well as establish standard operating procedures and protocols for future implementation in the region based on data collected during their term.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Participants will become part of a restoration biology research project with duties split between our office in Rapid City, and field trips to collect data on biocontrol efforts at 4-5 NPS units. Travel will be a mixture of daytrips and overnights depending on distance to different park units. Core activities will include learning local plant species by name and code, learning and using specific sampling protocols, traveling to field locations and supporting the collection of data, transferring data from paper forms into a shared database with quality control and oversight, assisting with data analysis. Participants will be given the opportunity to present findings of the biocontrol program to regional natural resource staff, as well as experience different roles in an inventory and monitoring network. A typical field day will consist of walking to a site and plot set up, data collection on various environmental and biological factors, photography, and serene snack breaks in the region’s most beautiful sceneries.
DELIVERABLES
The key products of your participation will be creation, entry and maintenance of data for NGPN – these activities will occur throughout the duration of the position. In addition, we expect participants to develop an individual product or presentation focused on application and/or value of the collected data for parks, management and/or society. Some examples of “applied” topics include refining protocols and standard operating procedures, invasive plant mapping for treatment and control, association of vegetation composition with wildlife habitats, response of ecosystem after management action, and communication of these topics to park staff and the general public. In support of the SIP role, we support and encourage a personal project that relates to our duties and feeds your interests and abilities as a product of your time with us. We support individual ingenuity and interests that fit with NPS and NGPN purposes in these projects.
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
Interest and ability in plant and insect identification and vegetation management is necessary, but level of skill and experience can vary. Coursework and/or job experience in Ecology, Botany, field-identification of plants, grass systematics, grassland or forest ecology, rangeland management, dichotomous keys, GIS data and GPS navigation, data management, will be useful and relevant; more experience in these areas will make you better qualified for this position.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
In Rapid City, we have a small office with less than 20 people. You will have assigned space with a computer and typical office supplies. In the office, we manage data and equipment, enter data (later in the season), maintain time and projects records, maintain communications, conduct training and education, collaborate with invasive management and restoration teams, and other important support and administrative tasks. This position will assist restoration biologists with the implementation and monitoring of a novel biocontrol agent to the northern Great Plains region. During the projects establishment and monitoring the candidate will travel to 4-5 parks in Nebraska (Scottsbluff NM), Wyoming (Devils Tower NM), and South Dakota (Wind and Jewel Cave NPs). Time will be split between field data collection activities and data management and analysis in the office Most projects during this time is in the field, and therefore, walking over uneven terrain on and off trails while carrying a backpack (40lbs) is necessary. The projects will be conducted outdoors in hot-dry and cool-wet conditions, and everything in-between, so being resilient to environmental conditions is necessary. Gear for the position will be provided, but you will need good boots and suitable clothing. Carrying personal food and water each day is necessary. Projects will be in open grasslands and badlands with almost no thermal cover, and in mountainous areas with rocks, gravel, cliffs, dead & down logs, and trees – these are challenging environments, we help you remain safe, but you must be prepared for weather, terrain and variety wildland conditions.
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.
We recommend renting a room or apartment in, or near, Rapid City. Currently, an online service indicates Studio apt. available for $500-800/mo; there is a university in town, summer rentals and sub-leases might be available. Rapid City is a bustling town with many shops and restaurants, parks and hiking around in and near town, the Black Hills are minutes to the west and Badlands NP (and Wall Drug) are an hour east. This is a good place to live and explore! During field-season we will stay in local motels some weeks; lodging and a daily food allowance will be provided to match Federal “per diem” rates for those days.
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 Natural Resource Management Assistant at Northern Great Plains 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!”
