POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4503
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 02/01/2027
End Date: 04/26/2027
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: $ 1,956.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 675.00 per week, fixed rate (pre-tax)
- Relocation Allowance: $ 1,100.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck) (pre-tax)
- 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, June 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: bioacoustics, avian, data management, audio file processing
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This project substantially advances the objectives of the park's newly developed avian bioacoustics program. This will establish a robust bioacoustics framework that can be integrated into consistent, repeatable monitoring protocols. By building on the current plans and collaborative efforts, this bioacoustics project strengthens the park’s ability to monitor avian populations with greater efficiency, scientific rigor, and long‑term sustainability.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The SIP will assist the Kenai Fjords National Park Ecology team with an avian bioacoustics project. The fellow will collaborate closely with NPS biologists and collaborators on audio recording unit (ARU) data collected during the 2025 field season. The primary responsibilities will be ARU data organization and management, initial data processing, assisting with workflow development, and protocol documentation and development. The fellow will use BIRDNET and BIRDNET-Analyzer within R (or similar methods) to process and interpret ARU data. The fellow will implement established NPS workflows (or projects through new ones) for automated species detection and acoustic classification.
Projects may include a) running models to generate species detection outputs b) extracting, organizing, and validating detection results and c) conducting QA/QC on automated detections and preparing processed outputs for summary and downstream ecological analyses. There may be opportunities to deploy ARUs in the park and assist with other resource management projects as time and interest allows.
DELIVERABLES
• Develop a structured, repeatable data management system that ensures all project data are organized, version controlled, and easily attainable for long term use. This includes establishing directory architecture, metadata standards, and file naming conventions aligned with NPS best practices.
• Conduct initial processing and quality assurance of ARU acoustic datasets. This may include data ingestion, automated preprocessing, and preparation of files for downstream analysis. This will enable efficient review and interpretation by project collaborators.
• Create a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that documents all data processing steps, workflows, and decision points. The SOP will provide clear guidance for replicating methods, support continuity for future staff, and serve as a long term reference for the park’s bioacoustics program.
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
Applicants should be advanced undergraduate or graduate students whose educational background and career objectives are in ecological or biological studies or a similar field. Applicants should have completed basic undergraduate coursework in ecology, biology, or similar fields. Applicants should have scripting experience in R and/or Python, data management experience, and the enthusiasm and tenacity to tackle a large, potentially unwieldy dataset within an IT environment that is often constrained and challenging. Field experience with identifying birds by calls, avian point counts (or similar) would be advantageous, as the fellow will be identifying avian species based on sounds. Experience with cloud computing and cloud storage is not necessary but would be a bonus. Fellow will be focusing on a large audio dataset, therefore enthusiasm to problem solve and stay resilient amid setbacks is desired. The participant should be able to conduct projects well independently and in a collaborative team.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Physical/Natural Environment: Kenai Fjords National Park is located just outside the town of Seward in south-central Alaska, 126 miles south of Anchorage. The park was established in 1980, by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to preserve in perpetuity unique fjord and rainforest ecosystems, the vast Harding Icefield, rich and varied marine and terrestrial wildlife, and historical and archeological reminders of the native peoples of the Alaska coast.
Housing/office area is in Seward, Alaska. This is a coastal community on the edge of the Gulf of Alaska, and February through April is a transition period from deep winter into early spring. Conditions often include icy roads, high winds, rain, and snowfall. Despite the challenging weather, daylight increases rapidly through this period, and early spring brings brighter days. Expect a beautiful but rugged maritime environment, where rapid weather changes are common.
project environment: Majority of the service will be conducted in an office. There may be several one-day field opportunities in the park. field activities includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain and wild animals.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing is provided at no cost to the participant in a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment (with 1 person per room). Housing includes all amenities (stove, utensils, pots, pans, frig, washer and dryer, bathroom with shower, etc.). Depending on park staffing, apartments (but not rooms) may be shared with mixed sexes. Housing is in downtown Seward, an approximately 10-minute walk from the office.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant will not need to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is not required for this position.
OUR COMMITMENT
Stewards Individual Placements and Conservation Legacy are committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation 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!”
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 the host site throughout the 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, monthly accomplishment tracking, a mid-term report, and a final report.
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 (5) 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 Kenai Fjords 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!”
