Collections Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Collections Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys, Georgia

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 01/05/2026

End Date: 05/25/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.

BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14 upon successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $700.00 per week.
• Relocation Allowance of $450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
  • Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The position will close after receiving 60 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 12 October, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 12 October, 2025. Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, 12 October, 2025.

PURPOSE

This Collections Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This collection is hugely significant and represents the longest running baseline collection of biological objects from the park. The collection illustrates the biological variety of fauna on Cumberland Island and several T&E species are preserved therein. Natural science collections were not prepared according to fully professional standards and current housings do not support long term preservation of the objects. Lack of immediate care could result in data loss and significant impairment to the resources.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

In November of 2024, a large, unpermitted collection of natural science and archeological materials were transferred to Cumberland Island National Seashore. The items were collected from park property over several decades and include faunal skeletal material, animals preserved in liquid (wet specimens), archeological objects, and other miscellaneous biological specimens.

KEYWORDS: inventory, rehousing, assessment, biological, historical

DELIVERABLES

The project will result in a full inventory of all items in the collection, including conservation conditions; new housings to mitigate harm from potentially hazardous materials; new wet specimen storage; updated storage for dry skeletal material and archeological objects.

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 NPS site location.
• The applicant must be available to participate for 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
A bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required, and a master’s degree would be most welcomed. Two years of college level academic work may be considered. Preferred academic fields include but are not limited to natural resources management; collections management, curation or museum studies, natural, biological, physical, environmental sciences, political and social science. Preferred skills include technical writing, data management, and communications. A strong acumen in science, research, and zoological experience. The SIP participant's service will require close collaboration with interdisciplinary staff specialists at their assigned park/unit. Inter-personal communication and collaboration skills will enhance the SIP participant's ability to successfully achieve their deliverables. Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

There are two primary locations the SIP participant would be serving. The Mainland Museum in St. Marys, Georgia and the Dungeness Historic District on Cumberland Island. There is a Resource Office and a temporary storage room located within the district. Cumberland Island is only reachable by boat. St. Marys is a quaint coastal town located off the St. Marys River.

Typical 8 hour days with possibility of 10 hour days on occasion depending on project. SIP participant needs to lift/carry 35lbs regularly. Personal vehicle is recommended to enhance experience off-hours. Nearest stores are less than 10 minutes, 3-5 miles.

VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Cumberland Island National Seashore: On island housing is in historic structures. These buildings are pretty well maintained but not extravagant. All housing is furnished (beds, dressers, couches, kitchenware, etc). Residents have private bedrooms, and most have shared living spaces. Housing has electricity, pluming, HVAC, no cost laundry facilities. There is no SIP participantet or TV service to housing. Cell service can be spotty depending where at on island. Each building has a TV, DVD player, and HD antenna. Residents need to supply their own personal items, bedding, food, etc.

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 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 email 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/.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.

TIME REQUIREMENTS

• This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks 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

• Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service.
• Free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.

EVALUATION AND REPORTING

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of 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 and accomplishment tracking.

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 Cumberland Island National Seashore will host a Collections Assistant.

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 a 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!”