POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4520
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: University of Rhode Island Bay Campus or Gateway National Recreation Area
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: salt marsh, wetlands, coastal, restoration, monitoring, GIS, vegetation
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. Coastal marshes in national parks are important natural, cultural, and recreational resources that provide essential ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits, including protection from flooding, erosion, and storm surge; carbon sequestration; and habitat for important fish and wildlife species. However, human impacts have resulted in the loss of more than half of salt marsh habitat in the United States.
Restoration and monitoring efforts are critical to understanding marsh condition, tracking change over time, and guiding effective management. Data collected through this project will help evaluate restoration outcomes and support informed decision-making across parks in the region.
This project also supports clear communication about the value of salt marshes and the actions the NPS is taking to conserve and manage these ecosystems.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Salt marshes in national parks have been degraded by past human activities (e.g., ditching) and face ongoing threats from erosion and water level change. To address this, the NPS is implementing marsh resilience and restoration projects across Northeast region parks.
This position will support these efforts through pre- and post-restoration monitoring and related activities across the region. Data collected will establish baseline conditions, evaluate restoration outcomes, and inform future management.
This position includes a mix of field projects and office-based projects. Field projects are focused on conducting salt marsh monitoring (e.g., mapping, elevation, vegetation, hydrology, and photo plots) at Assateague Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area, Fire Island National Seashore, and Colonial National Historical Park. Travel of up to approximately 5 weeks is required, primarily between July and September.
Office duties include supporting field logistics and project planning; managing and organizing data (including basic analysis); and contributing to communication and outreach related to marsh resilience and restoration.
In addition to salt marsh project, the position will support a range of coastal natural resource activities, which may include bird and wildlife surveys, coastal restoration and stewardship activities, invasive species management, habitat assessments, and other field or monitoring efforts as needed.
DELIVERABLES
The SIP will:
• Conduct pre- and post-restoration salt marsh monitoring following established protocols (e.g., vegetation, elevation, hydrology, and photo points) at multiple Northeast Region national parks. Support field planning and logistics and coordinate with park staff and partners.
• Collect, manage, and document field data, including maintaining datasets; conducting quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC); and supporting spatial data management and mapping in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. Perform basic data analysis.
• Support communication and outreach related to marsh resilience and restoration. This may include data dashboards, web articles, presentations, etc.
• Contribute to additional monitoring or research efforts, as needed.
• Specific products may vary based on individual skills and coordination with park staff, researchers, and partners.
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
Required Qualifications:
• Basic knowledge of coastal or wetland ecosystems
• Experience with data collection and management
• Familiarity with GPS, GIS, and ArcGIS Online
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to complete projects independently and as part of a team
Preferred Qualificaitons:
• Bachelor’s degree in natural resources or a related field
• Coursework or experience in one or more of the following: Salt marsh or wetland ecology; Vegetation or hydrological monitoring
• Experience with remote sensing data (e.g., satellite imagery) and change analysis
Physical Requirements:
• Ability to complete projects in coastal field conditions, including heat, cold, sun exposure, humidity, and insects
• Comfortable navigating uneven terrain, wetlands, and dense vegetation
• Ability to walk for extended periods and carry field equipment
• Ability to follow safety protocols and use sound judgment in the field
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
This position will involve a mix of field activities and office-based activities.
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Narragansett: The office is located at the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett, RI. which is set in a larger area locally known as “South County”. This scenic area is filled with wildlife preserves, protected parks, and forests that spill down to hundreds of miles of sandy beaches. There are also plenty of shopping spots, restaurants and cultural/arts venues in town and nearby. The annual temperature typically varies from ~25°F in February to the mid-80s in July. Summers are typically warm and sunny, with winders that are cold and windy.
Gateway National Recreation Area - Highlands, NJ/Staten Island, NY: Projects at Gateway will take place across coastal park units in both New Jersey and New York City, including Sandy Hook and Jamaica Bay. These areas feature a mix of beaches, salt marshes, and urban coastal habitats, providing opportunities to conduct projects in dynamic estuarine systems within a highly urbanized region. The weather includes hot, humid summers, cold winters, and variable coastal weather conditions year-round.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
This position will be located at University of Rhode Island Bay Campus or Gateway National Recreation Area.
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus - Narragansett, RI: During the academic year, Narragansett is a University town, with many students occupying the area. During the summer months, Narragansett is a popular tourist destination. There are a wide range of housing options, including apartments, houses, and in-home room rentals. Most housing options are shared living spaces. Rent costs start around $800 - $1200 per month and increase with size, furnishings, privacy, and amenities. It can be challenging to find a full calendar year rental (vs academic year), but there are many house-hunting resources available, and the URI Office of Commuter Housing has listings for both shared and vacant properties and allows you to search for potential housemates. There are also housing opportunities outside of Narragansett in nearby towns, such as North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Charlestown, and Warwick, that are more cost effective and could offer more privacy. We will do our best to help connect the selected candidate with housing options. If selected, we recommend the applicant pursue housing as soon as they accept the position.
Gateway National Recreation Area - Highlands, NJ/Staten Island, NY: Park housing may be available, particularly at Sandy Hook, but it cannot be guaranteed. If park housing is not available, selected candidate would need to secure housing in surrounding communities such as Highlands or Atlantic Highlands, NJ (near Sandy Hook), or neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, NY (near Jamaica Bay). Housing costs vary widely by location, but generally range from approximately $1,200–$2,000 per month for shared housing, with higher costs typical closer to New York City. Availability, cost, and commute times can vary significantly, and we recommend beginning the housing search early.
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 Ecology Assistant at Water Resources 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!”
