POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4521
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Intermountain Region Office, Flagstaff, Arizona
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 11/02/2026
End Date: 11/01/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 7,395.00 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)
- For 52-week positions only:
- Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
- Childcare Coverage (opt in)
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: fire management, ecological data, fire environment, planning, communication
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will support wildland fire management planning and decision-making in parks in the Intermountain West by helping to deliver relevant future fire conditions data and information to managers. The outcomes from the effort will help parks achieve management goals and objectives of reducing risk to irreplaceable resources and protecting natural ecosystem integrity and function for the enjoyment of future generations. The will also provide professional development experience being at the interface of science and land management which is important for future operate in the field of fire ecology and management.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This position will support wildland fire management planning and decision-making in parks in the Intermountain West by helping to deliver relevant future fire conditions data and information to National Park Service (NPS) and wildland fire managers. The outcomes from the effort will help parks achieve management goals and objectives of reducing risk to irreplaceable resources and protecting natural ecosystem integrity and function for the enjoyment of future generations. The projects will also provide professional development experience collaborating at the interface of science and land management.
Project products will be designed to be directly incorporated into fire management plans, help prioritize and locate strategic fuels treatments, and inform preparedness, response, and recovery decisions in parks. Data and information products and tools used will be guided by regional or geographic area fire ecologists and fire planners. The SIP will collaborate with the regional and geographic area staff to determine the most effective way to communicate the resulting information for direct use by practitioners. The SIP will then projects directly with staff at multiple parks to present and discuss various resources and information that can assist managers.
DELIVERABLES
The primary products from this position will include fire regime and environmental data compilation and communication and training tools/guides for disseminating future fire conditions information to park and wildland fire managers. These products may include presentations, workshops, data visualizations, communication plans, job aids, training classes, reports, and resource briefs.
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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must have experience in written and oral communication. Candidates must also have the ability to participate in a collaborative team environment where communication between scientists and land managers is the focus. Candidates should have experience with, or a strong interest in, environment information, fire management processes, and ecological effects of fire. The ability to quickly become familiar with multiple types of information systems including databases, GIS, decision support tools, as well as previous collaborate with ecological and/or environment data, are also preferred.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
A majority of the project is performed in an office setting with adequate light, heat, and ventilation in a negotiated NPS office space. Occasional site visits to park units may create exposure to a variety of physical settings including extreme climatic conditions and rugged terrain. Local area details will vary based on office location.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
Preferred station is the NPS office in Flagstaff, AZ. Other NPS locations near Intermountain Region parks or the Lakewood, CO or Santa Fe, NM regional offices may be considered upon negotiation with the chosen candidate. All locations with have options for rental housing - prices and conditions will vary based on location.
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 Intermountain Region Office.
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!”
