POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4550
Position Title: Cave and Karst Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, El Malpais National Monument, Grants, New Mexico
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 01/04/2027
End Date: 01/03/2028
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: bat, white nose syndrome, acoustic monitoring, hibernacula, cave, lava tube
PURPOSE
This Cave and Karst Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. Join a dynamic, friendly team and see your service play an important role in how caves and wildlife are managed at El Malpais. This position will address a critical data need identified in the El Malpais NM Foundation Document. Information about bat population and distribution trends will inform urgent management decisions regarding cave closures and sites for potential guided cave tours. These measures will also be important for the Wilderness Management Plan and Cave Management Plan which are under development. On a larger scale, WNS has recently been detected in New Mexico, and the data collected at El Malpais and Carlsbad Caverns will help monitor impacts as the disease spreads. The project will also contribute to NABat - a continent-wide data set that is used by many researchers.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Go "batty" at El Malpais and Carlsbad Caverns! This position will focus on monitoring of bat populations through hibernacula counts in lava tubes throughout El Malpais NM (ELMA), mist-netting at Carlsbad Caverns NP, and acoustic monitoring at both parks. You will become familiar with the rugged volcanic landscape throughout ELMA's wilderness, while learning how to identify different bat species by key features, use environmental monitoring equipment, and record site data in FieldMaps. Leave-no-trace principles will be a strong focus, as minimize bat disturbance is key to successful monitoring. Additionally, you'll learn how to upload data to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) - a system used by bat researchers throughout the US. This position will be based at El Malpais, with trips to Carlsbad Caverns NP to assist with bat-related tasks. In addition to the main project, you will broaden your horizons through environmental monitoring, cave mapping, and cave inventory to assess conditions in the monument’s main bat habitats. There may also be opportunities to assist researchers with projects possibly including cave microbe sampling, dendrochronology, and ice coring.
DELIVERABLES
Project goals and materials to be produced will include a short report summarizing the results of the hibernacula monitoring, and an end-of-term presentation for the public. Additionally, hibernacula count data will be collated and uploaded to NABat. Preparation of abstracts and presentations for the New Mexico Bat Working Group meeting and/or other meeting such as the National Speleological Society Southwest Regional will be encouraged.
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 highly qualified applicant will have a strong interest in bats and caves. The applicant must be comfortable hiking cross-country over rugged, difficult terrain. Experience with horizontal caving is desired. A best-qualified applicant will have experience with vertical caving, although additional training will be provided on-site. The applicant should be able to perform well independently and as a team, both in the office and in the field. Computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel are required. The applicant should be able to communicate effectively in writing and orally. The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. Prior to starting this position a government security background clearance will be required. Online training for computers may also be required prior to starting this position.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
El Malpais National Monument is in western New Mexico along the Continental Divide with elevations up to 8066ft. The monument includes the rugged basalt landscape of the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field and unique habitats such as pygmy pine forest, short-grass prairies, and some of the oldest Douglas fir trees on the planet. Winters are cold with occasional snow and ice.
The town of Grants (pop. ~9.000) has a museum, library, and community college, and offers nearby opportunities for hiking, caving, climbing, mountain biking, and birding.
This position will include a combination of field days and office data processing. A desk and computer will be provided for office days. Field days will include caving and hiking in very rugged conditions. Potential hazards include weather and snakes. The schedule will be flexible to accommodate field days, with a max of 40 hours per week. Appropriate PPE will be used in the field, and the participant will receive extensive safety training. Operational leadership techniques will be used when evaluating safety.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
Park housing may be available but is not guaranteed. One-bedroom rental apartments in the Grants area cost $700-$900 a month.
If park housing is available, it will be in a spacious, modern house a 10-minute drive from park headquarters in nearby San Rafael. The participant will have a private room in the multiple occupancy, fully furnished 3 bedroom/2 bath house. Housing amenities include air conditioning, washer, dryer, and internet. The kitchen is fully equipped with appliances (refrigerator, freezer, oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher), pots and pans, dishes, and other utensils. TV and cable are not provided. No guests and no pets are allowed in this housing. Groceries and other goods and services are located in nearby Grants, NM, a 10-minute drive from housing.
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 Cave and Karst Assistant at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, El Malpais National Monument.
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!”
