Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, Rocky Mountain National Park, Fort Collins, Colorado

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: 01/12/2026

End Date: 01/11/2027

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 $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).
• 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. The participant will be implementing a natural resource protocol to collect data on pollinator occurrence, abundance and variety, including species of conservation concern such as the western bumble bee and monarch butterfly, and documenting plant-pollinator interactions to help parks make management decisions to support pollinators. This position will assist the Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD) to meet park natural resource management needs in inventory and monitoring, increase collaboration with partners at Colorado State University, and provide support for an IMD inventory project.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Pollinator Ecology SIP’s primary responsibilities will be collecting bumble bee, monarch, and vegetation data to support a pollinator inventory at Rocky Mountain National Park, creating science communication products for the Inventory and Monitoring Division, and assisting with natural resource database projects. They will collect data on pollinator species presence, abundance, variety, and plant-pollinator interactions in collaboration with NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division staff and the Mola Bee Lab at Colorado State University. The participant will complete training in sampling design, species occurrence, field protocols, bumble bee and monarch identification, and field safety. They will sample for bumble bees and butterflies using non-lethal methods, document bee and butterfly floral associations, take photographs of pollinators for the NPS photo gallery, enter and clean data, perform data analysis, and compile results. The participant will also assist with ongoing NPS pollinator database projects. The participant must be able to participate in outdoor settings, including hiking up to 3-4 miles per day in sunny conditions at elevations of 2000 ft or more. The schedule will typically be M-F from 8:30am – 5pm but may vary during field season. The participant will produce a report, a conference presentation (oral or poster), and other science communication items (e.g., story map, web articles, social media blogs, etc.) as a product of their position. The participant will be expected to present about their project at the Entomological Society of America Meeting in November 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

KEYWORDS: Pollinators, Bees, Monarchs, Inventory and Monitoring Division, Rocky Mountain National Park

DELIVERABLES

The SIP will be required to collect data on pollinators and plant-pollinator interactions, photograph pollinators using macrophotography, enter and analyze the data collected, and write a report detailing their findings. They will present their findings at a professional entomology conference. The SIP participant will create story maps, web articles, a Park Science article, a social media blog, or other science communication deliverables as part of their requirements.

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
This position is ideally suited for a recent college graduate with an undergraduate or graduate degree in ecology, entomology, biology, zoology, botany, natural resource management, or related fields with coursework in statistics, entomology, and plant identification. Other levels of education will be considered. Required qualifications include the ability to work with a team, collaborate to solve problems, work independently with minimal supervision, collect data following protocols, to analyze and translate scientific information, and work in a rugged field setting. Experience working outside during the summer months is a must. Preferred qualifications include experience in bumble bee identification, native plant identification, monarch surveys, statistical analysis, data management, Microsoft software products, and proficiency in R. The selected candidate will be expected to move to Fort Collins by May 1, 2026.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

This position will serve with the Inventory and Monitoring Division within the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate of the NPS. The position will be based at the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Division office based in Fort Collins, Colorado. The position will be a combination of fieldserve and office serve on a laptop. Fieldserve will be primarily conducted at Rocky Mountain National Park along park roads and in meadows at elevations less than 2,000 ft. Hiking up to 1 mile to access field sites may be required. Summer temperatures typically range between 65-75 F and rarely exceed 85 F. Weather in the park is typically sunny with occasional rain showers. There may be opportunities to assist with fieldserve on other projects in the region. The SIP participant will be provided with office space for computer serve, which will be shared with other NPS staff. A government vehicle will typically be used for travel to field sites; however, it is not guaranteed that it will always be available, so a personal vehicle is required for this position (mileage reimbursed for serve travel).

Fort Collins is nestled along the front range of the Rocky Mountains, located approximately an hour and a half drive from the Denver airport. Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University, as well as offices for several state and federal government agencies. There are several grocery stores and multiple medical clinics and hospitals in town. Fort Collins is very bike-friendly, though a car is recommended for trips to the grocery store and other errands as public transportation is limited. There are mountain hiking trails within a 30-minute drive and Rocky Mountain National Park is a short 45-minute drive from town.

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 NOT available. The SIP participant will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. The candidate is encouraged to seek shared housing with local Colorado State University students or other Scientist in Parks participants. One-bedroom apartments in Fort Collins typically range from $1,400-$1,800/mo. Supervisors can help coordinate housing with other SIP participants.

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 Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, Rocky Mountain National Park 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!”