Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 01/05/2026

End Date: 01/04/2027

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.

BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $600.00 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).
• For 52-week-long positions only:
  • Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
  • Childcare Coverage (opt in)

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 Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. Coastal marshes in national parks and elsewhere are priority habitats, cultural landscapes, and recreation destinations that provide essential ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits, including protection from flooding, erosion, and storm surge, carbon sequestration and essential habitat for imperiled fish and wildlife species. However, anthropogenic impacts have resulted in the loss of more than half of the original salt marsh habitat in the U.S. The SIP will be involved in important aspects of implementing activities associated with marsh restoration and migration. Results of these projects, from establishing baseline/pre-restoration conditions through vegetation, wildlife, hydrology and other on-site surveys, will be critical to assessing project success and informing adaptive management. Helping to communicate about this project and projects the SIP is contributing to is also important to informing the public’s understanding of the value of salt marshes, how they are impacted by changing environmental vulnerabilities and other stressors, and what the NPS is doing to address these issues.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The salt marshes in Northeast national parks have been degraded through historical anthropogenic activities (e.g., ditching) and are at further risk from a variety of anthropogenic threats. To proactively conserve these ecosystems and manage for future impacts, the NPS is implementing a variety of resilience strategies, including restoration of degraded marshes at six Northeast national and assessment of potential marsh migration. In support these activities, the SIP participant will participate in surveys and monitoring of coastal marshes (e.g., mapping; vegetation, hydrology, and wildlife surveys; photo plots, etc.) at multiple parks; training will be provided. The SIP participant will also assist with developing communications and outreach associated with the project.

Ancillary duties will include assisting with other ongoing natural resource monitoring and management projects at Assateague Island National Seashore such as 1) federal and state-listed bird species monitoring (Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers and Least Terns), 2) SIP participantational Shorebird Surveys, 3) rare plant surveys, 4) water quality monitoring, and 5) shoreline and beach topographic monitoring.

KEYWORDS: Saltmarsh, coastal, restoration, monitoring, at-risk species, science communication

DELIVERABLES

The SIP will assist with development and implementation of pre-restoration monitoring, including setting up sampling transects and plots, conducting marsh bird, vegetation and hydrological surveys, as well as other bio-physical monitoring. The SIP participant will also document results in databases, including mapping of sites and other spatial databases in ArcPro and ArcGIS Online. Projects will also include assistance with other monitoring and research efforts as time allows. The SIP will also assist in communication efforts related to the project and marsh ecosystem in general. Additional products may be included based on based on the SIP participant’s specific interests and skillsets, and as they engage with park personnel, researchers, and others throughout the position duration.

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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Required: Ability to be self-directed and work independently, as well as part of a team; attention to detail; basic knowledge of coastal marshes; database, compass, GPS and GIS skills; ability to effectively communicate. Must be able to collect and manage data with great attention to detail and possess the scientific background to be able to adhere to scientific methods and report results of field studies.

Preferred qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree (or working up to one) in Natural Resources or a related field and experience and/or training in one or more of the following topics - salt marshes, wetland ecology, vegetation monitoring, hydrological monitoring, ornithology/wildlife biology. Experience using online databases to access satellite imagery and other remote sensing data and conducting change analysis over time either manually/visually or using automated approaches.

Physical Requirements: Applicants must be in good physical shape, as work will be conducted in locations where temperatures and conditions can be extreme. Candidate must be comfortable with hazards typical of the environment (sharp vegetation, driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, sand, extreme heat and cold). Must be able to follow all safety protocols to ensure safe navigation throughout the day. SIP participants are expected to use good judgment to stay safe and work efficiently. Successful candidates must be willing and able to spend most of the day walking over uneven terrain.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Local Area Details: Assateague Island is a barrier island situated along the Atlantic coast of the mostly rural Delmarva Peninsula. Grocery stores and general shopping is available 5-10 miles away in Berlin or West Ocean City, MD. Overall landscape is flat (at sea level) and mostly farmland except for the beach resort town of Ocean City. Three major cities are approximately 2.5 hours’ drive from the park (Washington DC, Baltimore MD, and Philadelphia PA).

Position Setting: Park headquarters is located within walking distance of the housing area. The applicant should be able to work well independently both in the office and in the field with little supervision, must be able to sit at a computer for periods of up to 6 hours at times, and must be comfortable walking across a variety of terrain (beach, dune, marsh, mudflats, water) in a variety of conditions (humidity, heat, cold, buggy). The participant will participate alongside other SIPs, cooperating scientists, and alongside NPS staff within the Resource Management Division.

VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

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

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. The housing area is located within walking distance to park headquarters and the beach. The SIP will share a bedroom and share common living areas. Amenities include: full kitchen, microwaves, pots, pans, plates, utensils, air conditioning, washer/dryers and WiFi. The housing area also has screened-in porches, BBQ grills and a well-equipped fitness room. Smoking is prohibited inside housing, and pets are not allowed.

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 Assateague Island National Seashore will host a Ecology 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!”