Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brecksville, Ohio

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: 02/01/2026

End Date: 01/31/2027

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. This position will contribute to the success of long-term monitoring protocols within the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN), which serves to monitor "vital signs" of network parks. We began the wetland monitoring program in 2007 and now have nearly 15 years of data that are documenting changes happening at CUVA wetlands over time. In addition to its long-term value, it has been immediately used for interpretive information and restoration planning. Our vegetation and invasive plant data has also been used to guide and monitor invasive plant management efforts across many network parks. The SIP participant will assist the network’s Wetland Biologist as we continue to improve the sustainability of our programs and update to new technologies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The SIP participant position will serve as a part of the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN) wetlands team and assist with a wide array of field and office tasks. The primary focus of the SIP will be to assist with botanical surveys and improve the scientific delivery of long-term monitoring data. However, service projects may encompass tasks associated with all HTLN monitoring projects, as needed. After gaining a full understanding of HTLN monitoring protocols, the SIP will serve towards developing strategies for communicating the data in various formats and may serve with other network staff (e.g. data manager, science communicator) to accomplish these goals.

Winter season projects will consist of database management (data entry / clean up, quality control), data analysis, field season preparation and planning (organizing field gear, reviewing protocols, updating maps, etc.), and other various tasks such a reviewing and contributing to reports and standard operating procedures.

The field season kicks off in March and stretches through September / October. Water level monitoring begins earlier in the season - then invasive plant and Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity (VIBI) surveys are the core focus during the summer. There will be other opportunities to participate in resource management projects at Cuyahoga Valley National Park as desired and as time allows. Most field projects will occur in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but some service may also occur in other Heartland Network parks, which would require some overnight travel.

KEYWORDS: Wetlands, Botany, Databases, Monitoring, Protocol

DELIVERABLES

In addition to the successful completion of field projects, major deliverables to be completed individually or as a part of the team include: All wetland and plant datasets entered to date, quality-assured, and ready for analysis; exploratory statistics and figures generated for each dataset; data forms optimized for all field projects; and standard operating procedures updated to reflect latest available technologies. The SIP will create a science communication piece with the goal of timely dissemination of monitoring data to a broad audience. The science communication project may serve as a template for future communications – and may be used as a future reporting tool.

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
A bachelor’s degree in physical, natural, or biology is encouraged. Demonstrated experience processing data and preparing charts and figures is a must. Botanical training, familiarity with R coding, and experience with biological statistics is strongly desired but not required. As a candidate, you will also have demonstrated attention to detail such as following standardized methods, ability to tolerate adverse weather conditions, serve in physically challenging environments, carry up to 20 lbs., and maintain a positive attitude. Excellent oral, electronic, and written communication skills are essential for success.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Cuyahoga Valley National Park encompasses 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron in northeast Ohio. The park’s mission is to preserve and protect the historic, scenic, natural, and recreational values of the Cuyahoga River Valley for public use and enjoyment. The park is dominated by deciduous forest but also supports meadows, wetlands, streams and agriculture. Summers are moderately warm with average temperatures in the 70’s. Winters are moderately cold with average temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s. Heavy snowfall is common during winter months.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park serves as the duty station park. Several nearby towns offer groceries and other amenities that can be accessed within 10-15 minutes. The larger cities of Akron and Cleveland are both within a half hour drive. Excellent recreational and educational opportunities are available in the area, including hiking and biking trails, numerous restaurants and theaters, nearby shopping, and a variety of universities and colleges.

The applicant will need a personal vehicle as mass transit does not access the duty station park. We anticipate around 10 days of travel supporting field projects at other national parks in the Midwest. Most days will involve field projects at the duty stationed park while the remainder of time will be supporting data entry and analysis projects over the course of the year.

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. Park housing is available, and the SIP participant would be given a private room in a shared house. Houses are charming and offer great opportunities to explore and recreate within the national park during off-hours. Houses are furnished with necessary utilities and appliances including a full kitchen, bathrooms, and washer/dryer. Single beds come with a mattress and the tenant will bring their own sheets.

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 Cuyahoga Valley 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!”