POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4534
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Biological Resource Division, Greater Yellowstone Network, Klamath Network, Northeast Temperate Network, Rocky Mountain Network, Sierra Nevada Network, Upper Columbia Basin Network, Bozeman, Montana
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 36 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 10/12/2026
End Date: 06/21/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 5,176.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 775.00 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: monitoring, organization structure, whitebark pine, ecosystem services and functions, coordination
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Many recent advancements in technology and understanding of variables that impact whitebark pine are making it practical and more efficient to meet the NPS mission in the face of continuous environmental change. Collaboration with scientists and resource stewards across the range of whitebark pine has resulted in increased efficacy in achieving conservation goals. Ensuring and maintaining strong communications targeting resource allocation (i.e., funding) and partnership opportunities increases NPS’s ability to continue high value conservation activities and achieve success of maintaining whitebark pine on the landscape. This project will support existing landscape-scale initiatives for whitebark pine by coordinating practitioners in multi-regional collaborative discussions and utilizing, new monitoring techniques, data collection and analyses, and by sharing updated methodologies. The SIP will develop organization and communication skills applied to large groups of practitioners, practice field data collection and analyses, and present results in written and oral formats. This is critical for this threatened species and can be applied to other five needle pine species that are experience similar threats.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Whitebark pine is a federally-protected threatened tree (USFWS, 2023) as well as an important keystone species in high elevation montane systems. Whitebark pine often grows in places inhospitable to other vegetation, but once established, it creates habitat favorable to other species enabling forest succession to occur and stimulates subalpine variety. Whitebark pine trees have been declining in recent years across most of the species range, primarily due to non-native white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle outbreaks, increased severity and frequency of fire, and indirect effects from a changing environment. Extensive efforts are underway to restore whitebark pine across its range primarily focused on planting rust-resistant seeds and seedlings. This Scientist-in-Parks project will primarily help to advance collaboration amongst scientists and restoration practitioners within the National Park Service, organize and lead collaborating group communications and activities (e.g., development of best restoration practices, briefing documents, etc), and keep track of the status of activities occurring across the range of whitebark pine. This will improve the NPS’ ability to conserve whitebark pine within the parks. This SIP will assist parks by capitalizing on existing data and also participate in data collection, data management, and data analyses to inform managers. Outcomes from this project will be shared with others across the whitebark pine community.
DELIVERABLES
This project will require the SIP to demonstrate advanced coordination and communications skills to effectively lead a group of restoration practitioners and ecologists, collection of data from field sites, analyses of data, evaluation of monitoring protocols, and presentation of results. This project will collaborate with 10 Intermountain and Pacific West Regional park complexes affecting 15 park units. The individual will ensure continuity of a long-standing; geographically dispersed team focused on whitebark pine and other five needle pine conservation across National Parks.
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 36 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred: a completed M.S. or PhD in ecology, geography, hydrology, natural resource management or related field. Strong writing and oral communication skills. A keen interest in ecosystem adaptation in addition to computer modeling and experience in ArcGIS. The SIP candidate should be interested and capable of field activities, and able to operate independently and as part of team. Backcountry hiking and camping experience is desired but not required. The candidate needs to be interested in organizational systems management – learning how to influence the application of science to management recommendations and decision making across a broad spectrum of ecosystems and management styles.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
This a combined computer-based and field activities opportunity that is focused on coordination, leadership, data management, potential analyses and reporting, and collaboration across multiple parks and regions. It will be predominantly office based with scientist and professionals with the National Park Service and opportunities to collaborate with other Bureaus. If timing and the season allows, field projects will entail implementing established protocols to collect data for long-term whitebark pine health monitoring or at restoration sites. It could include other vital signs monitoring as well, but the focus will be whitebark pine. field projects requires hiking in a variety of high elevation terrain on steep rocky slopes in forests with variable weather conditions, in wilderness and remote areas. Projects may include travel to several national parks.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
The SIP will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area if they chose to move to the project site. There are numerous options in Bozeman Montana and surrounding area although can be expensive. We do not recommend living out of one's vehicle for the duration of this position.
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.
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 Biological Resource Division, Greater Yellowstone Network, Klamath Network, Northeast Temperate Network, Rocky Mountain Network, Sierra Nevada Network, Upper Columbia Basin 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!”
