POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4542
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Flight 93 National Memorial, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Gallitzin, Pennsylvania
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 03/22/2027
End Date: 09/20/2027
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: $ 3,697.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 675.00 per week, fixed rate (pre-tax)
- Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (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: stewardship, wildlife, restoration, mapping, plants
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The position helps address ongoing monitoring needs that current staffing levels cannot fully meet with one natural resource specialist currently covering five geographically distant parks.
This position supports WEPA’s capacity to track ecological conditions, monitor invasive species, support restoration, document abundant ecological variety, and monitor critical forest‑health issues. Several large multi-year projects will benefit from the position's projects, including the regional Resilient Forest Initiative, Grasslands Restoration, and Deer Management. The participant's datasets, maps, and reports provide essential information for management decisions, long‑term planning, compliance, and future funding proposals. Public programs and volunteer support strengthen community engagement and stewardship.
The participant will gain hands‑on experience in ecological fieldwork, data management, GIS, forest and wildlife monitoring, invasive species management, restoration ecology, and public engagement. They will develop project‑design, problem‑solving, and leadership skills through volunteer coordination and public programs. Cross‑divisional exposure and networking with specialists provide insight into natural resource career paths. The position offers practical skillbuilding in arboriculture, horticulture, and ecological monitoring across five unique park environments.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This position supports natural resource monitoring and stewardship across the five National Parks of Western Pennsylvania (ALPO, JOFL, FLNI, FONE, FRHI). The participant will assist with forest health monitoring (hemlock woolly adelgid and emerald ash borer), invasive species mapping, wildlife observation, species‑list updates, restoration monitoring, horticultural tasks, and deer‑exclosure maintenance.
The participant's projects will strengthen National Parks of Western Pennsylvania's (WEPA) ability to track ecological conditions, support habitat restoration, document abundant ecological variety, and inform management decisions. The project provides practical field experience, GIS skills, data management, public engagement opportunities, and interdisciplinary exposure across natural resources, interpretation, and cultural resources.
- Map eastern hemlocks for HWA monitoring; assess ash stands for EAB biological‑control indicators
- Conduct forest health assessments and assist with tree inventory, mapping, and basic arboriculture
- Map invasive species and evaluate contractor treatment effectiveness
- Monitor native plant restoration sites and assist with plant‑health‑care tasks
- Install and maintain deer exclosures; document vegetation response
- Update and verify park species lists using historic records and new detections
- Collect new species records via game cameras, bird monitoring, and bat acoustics
- Lead volunteer project days and assist with public programs (wildflower walks, outreach tables)
- Maintain all monitoring and restoration datasets; create GIS layers and summary products
DELIVERABLES
- Updated WEPA species lists with new verified records
- Forest health summary (HWA, EAB, tree‑condition data)
- Invasive species maps and treatment‑effectiveness report
- Wildlife monitoring summary (camera, bird, and bat data)
- Restoration monitoring report including deer‑exclosure analysis
- GIS package with all spatial layers created during the position
- Final presentation summarizing findings and recommendations
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 ideal candidate will have foundational knowledge in biology, ecology, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, or related fields, supported by coursework in field biology, botany, entomology, wildlife science, plant identification, forest ecology, or GIS.
Skills that will ensure success include: the ability to identify common native and invasive plants; basic insect and forest‑pest recognition; experience with GPS units, GIS software, and field data collection; comfort conducting projects outdoors in variable conditions; and strong attention to detail when recording or managing data. Additional beneficial abilities include familiarity with camera traps, acoustic monitoring, or wildlife‑survey techniques; basic knowledge of horticulture or restoration practices; and an interest in learning arboricultural skills.
A valid driver’s license, ability to hike across uneven terrain, and willingness to conduct projects independently and travel between parks are essential. Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—are important for leading volunteer groups, assisting with public walks or outreach, and serving across multiple WEPA divisions.
Strengths that support project success include reliability, curiosity, initiative, adaptability, professionalism, and the ability to problem‑solve in the field. A positive attitude, interest in stewardship and conservation, and enthusiasm for learning from specialists in wildlife, forests, entomology, and cultural resources will help the participant thrive in this multi‑faceted position.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The participant will conduct projects in a mixed office and field environment across the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania. Office-based activities occur primarily at Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS (ALPO) and Flight 93 National Memorial (FLNI), with occasional projects at Johnstown Flood NMEM, Fort Necessity NB, and Friendship Hill NHS.
Field projects include hiking on uneven terrain, conducting projects in dense vegetation, carrying field equipment, and spending full days outdoors in varied weather. Physical requirements include bending, standing, walking long distances, lifting up to 30–40 lbs, and navigating steep or rocky terrain.
Hazards may include ticks, stinging insects, poison ivy, dense understory, steep slopes, wet or muddy ground, and occasional encounters with wildlife. Standard safety protocols, PPE, and training will be provided.
The region is a rolling Appalachian landscape with elevations generally between 1,200–2,600 feet. Weather ranges from hot, humid summers to cold, snowy winters; conditions can change rapidly at higher elevations such as the ALPO Summit area. Parks are generally rural, with nearby small towns offering groceries, medical services, and amenities. The area is not remote by NPS standards but does require regular vehicle travel between park units, sometimes 45min to two hours apart in a government vehicle.
The park settings include forested ridges, headwater streams, meadows, and historic landscapes, providing a varied and rewarding field project experience.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
The dormitory is a ranch style house located in rural Allegheny Township, approximately 10 miles from ALPO Headquarters. The house has 1-2 car garage and offers a back porch.
Shared‑occupancy residence with private bedroom space but shared common areas such as kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. Laundry available onsite. Basic furnished rooms. Bring linens, towels.
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.
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 Natural Resource Management Assistant at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Flight 93 National Memorial, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial.
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!”
