POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4499
Position Title: Acoustic Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Great Lakes Network, Ashland, Wisconsin
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 01/25/2027
End Date: 01/24/2028
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: Bioacoustics, Study design, Adaptive management, Wildlife monitoring, Vocalizing wildlife
PURPOSE
This Acoustic Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will contribute to the management and conservation of endemic fauna and other natural resources in the Great Lakes region. Special emphasis will be placed on the assessment of vocalizing amphibians—important indicators of changes in environment, hydrology, and aquatic chemistry—and cryptic or uncommon bird and bat species. It is expected that the SIP will not only have the opportunity to design a management assessment protocol in collaboration with GLKN scientists but also collect and analyze pilot data in the field using their protocol and share their results with park resource managers.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Great Lakes Network (GLKN) is a subunit of the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program and is responsible for monitoring ecological ‘vital signs’ in nine National Parks located in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Vital signs are environmental indicators that help us determine if the ecosystems within our National Parks are healthy. For more than a decade, GLKN has been monitoring landbirds as a vital sign using point count survey methods and bats and vocalizing amphibians as two additional vital signs using passive acoustic recording devices (i.e., bioacoustics methods). Recently, natural resource management staff at multiple Network parks have requested assistance with integrating these two monitoring modalities (manual surveys and autonomous recording) and in designing shorter-term projects targeted at assessing the impact of various restoration activities using bioacoustics methods. Our goal is to design a multi-purpose “management assessment protocol” (MAP) that can be rapidly deployed to parks upon request and adapted to meet specific needs (e.g., differing target taxa and habitat types, variable sampling design complexity, fluctuating management timelines). This will require that a SIP either (1) apply existing knowledge of bioacoustics methods or (2) learn about bioacoustics during their SIP term within the context of applying their existing knowledge of sample design and adaptive management. In other words, familiarity with bioacoustics is desired but not required for this project. Bioacoustics is a relatively young field, so this project will involve applying cutting edge methods in exciting and novel ways to address emerging management needs. Designing the MAP will entail pilot testing, troubleshooting of both field logistics and bioacoustics hardware, and creating user guides to assist park staff during both future deployment and post-processing analytical steps. By hiring a SIP, we hope to leverage the knowledge and skills of an ecologist, wildlife biologist, or sound engineer who is familiar with bioacoustics applications to aid in the development of a set of publishable standard operating procedures (see Deliverables and Position Products section) detailing a MAP and meeting an immediate and highly requested need of park units within the Great Lakes region. This experience will help the successful candidate further develop their research and project management skills, specifically as they relate to wildlife and natural resource management. The SIP will collaborate closely with GLKN scientists to accomplish these goals. Ultimately, this will serve as an opportunity to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to natural resource management in Great Lakes parks while also increasing attainability to data and creating a MAP of potential broader scientific interest.
DELIVERABLES
The SIP will be expected to collaborate with GLKN scientists to design and write a collection of documents that will describe a standardized, repeatable, and scalable method of using passive acoustic monitoring devices to assess variety and abundance of assemblages of vocalizing fauna using bioacoustics methods prior to and following habitat restoration activities at GLKN parks. The primary document will be a protocol narrative component, which will be supported by several separate standard operating procedure documents and brief how-to guides to be used in the field by park staff during deployment of acoustic devices. At the end of their term, the SIP will present their new protocol to park staff in a format of their choosing (e.g., short webinar presentation, brief newsletter). Opportunities for an ambitious SIP may include analyzing data collected during the pilot field season; developing custom scripts for processing, analyzing, and visualizing bioacoustics data; or collaborating with Network scientists to co-author a scientific publication using existing bioacoustics data.
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
A successful candidate will have demonstrated evidence of an ability to conduct independent research and think critically, particularly within a field activities context. They must also possess excellent oral, electronic, and written communication skills commensurate with a scientific professional. A bachelor’s degree in physical, natural, or computer science is encouraged, but any candidate with the requisite field biology or ecology background and communication skills will be considered. An interest and/or knowledge of amphibians, birds, or bats is preferred but not required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The SIP is expected to support a variety of ecological monitoring and data science operations in the Great Lakes Network, particularly those relating to our landbird and amphibian monitoring programs. This will require completing projects in both field and office conditions. Field projects will include hiking to and servicing acoustic monitoring devices at nearby parks, as well as supporting other Network programs (e.g., water quality sampling, wetland characterization) as needed. Most tasks, however, will take place in the office (e.g., scientific literature review, protocol writing, and data management and visualization). Space will be provided at the Great Lakes Network offices, located in Ashland, Wisconsin. Ashland is a community of about 9,000 people located in northern Wisconsin, approximately 75 miles east of Duluth, Minnesota. Temperatures range from the mid-80’s in the summer to sub-zero in the winter. Recreation activities such as skiing, biking, and fishing abound in the nearby Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Chequamegon National Forest.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
The Network is located in a rural area of northern Wisconsin, which means that the SIP may have to spend more time finding acceptable lodging than in other parts of the country. That said, prior SIPs and temporary staff have all successfully done so, either within Ashland or one of the nearby communities (e.g., Bayfield, Hurley, Iron River, Washburn). Rooms, apartments, and houses are available for rent, with costs ranging from $700 - $1200, depending on housing type and area. Should the SIP locate housing within Ashland, good pedestrian paths exist in the town such that biking or walking to the office could be an option.
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 Acoustic Assistant at Great Lakes 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!”
