POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4396
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, Waynesville, North Carolina
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/4/2026
End Date: 9/21/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 2,817.14 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: Acoustics, Night Skies, Soundscapes, Biology, Data Collection, Data Management, Data Entry
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This participant will be essential to the completion of Natural Sounds & Night Skies conservation projects within the Eastern regions. There is an excess of existing projects that have been delayed due to staffing gaps & capacity that this participant will be integral in progressing. This project will enhance our acoustic & photic resources in Service-protected lands as well as educate park-goers on the importance of the protection of all resources.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This position is assigned to the Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division supporting 75 parks across nine states & two territories within the Southeast Region as well as some project opportunities in the Northeast Region. They will be working with the NSNS Biologist located on projects that focus on the protection of acoustic & natural night sky resources. This position will support park units as they seek to increase scientific understanding & public appreciation of these resources. Responsibilities will include field collection of Acoustic & Night Sky data with the accompanying data management & reporting, developing & presenting educational materials, reviewing & reporting on NSNS standards, and working with appropriate staff & researchers to enhance the protection & monitoring activities related to these resources. This position may be extended to 26 weeks if funding is available.
DELIVERABLES
Expected products of this service opportunity are the co-creation of scientific reports, NSNSD internal guidance and educational materials as well as the contribution to Natural Sounds & Night Skies databases. Data collected from these projects will assist park staff in making informed decisions about natural and cultural resource management.
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 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Social Sciences, or a related field is REQUIRED. Resumes with expected completion dates will not be reviewed so please do not apply unless your graduation date is before the Start Date. Experience in the field that demonstrates an awareness of field safety & Leave No Trace principles is also required and can be from professional, academic or personal experiences. Experience with technical writing or reporting is preferred. Basic and/ or Wilderness First Aid is preferred.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Local Area Details: The Purchase is based on 535 acres in Haywood County, North Carolina and contiguous with the rest of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is at '5086 elevation and consists of a historic cabin, two buildings with offices, a laboratory, a classroom and temporary housing for up to eight visiting scientists. Waynesville is a town about 45 minutes west of Asheville.
Service Setting: Office tasks will take place at a shared working space with other NPS employees with teleservice options available if the applicant has adequate working conditions. field projects and travel will encompass 20-30% of the position's workplan. Field projects will be performed in mostly front country environments, with a possibility of some backcountry projects. Expect to be in the outdoors for long days through various conditions & terrain (off-trail, steep, rocky). The applicant is expected to projects in any of these conditions, while actively mitigating hazards & practicing field safety. For this reason, we seek applicants with strong decision-making skills in the field with basic first aid or higher. A bear safety orientation course is recommended and is periodically provided locally at the Smokies. There will be opportunities for travel to multiple parks within the Southeast and Northeast Regions. During these field collection trips overnight lodging will be utilized at hotels, camping and/ or park housing.
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 NOT available. The selected candidate will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
The position will offer a Duty Location based in Waynesville, NC with teleservice options available for a percentage of the position. NC lodging can be sought in Waynesville or adjacent locations such as Maggie Valley, Canton, Candler, & Asheville.
Average rental costs for these locations vary with fair market values [one-bedroom apartments/month] listed as: Haywood County, NC (1105), Buncombe County (1347).
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 Biology Assistant at Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division.
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!”
