Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 01/12/2026

End Date: 04/06/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.

BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35 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).

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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. National Parks play a key role in the world for the conservation of birds because they are protected from human disturbances such as hunting, logging, and development. Bird data collected in GLAC could prove especially useful in better understanding some of the factors causing declines in bird populations.GLAC, like all national park units, uses research, inventory, and monitoring programs to fulfill our mandate to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein …unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations” (Organic Act, 1916). Most of our bird projects are designed to both inventory (what we have) and monitor (how numbers and presence is changing over time) birds considered SOC.The SIP participant will leave here with a unique set of skills focused on bird SOC, that potentially could lead to long-term employment. The need to understand bird species, their movements, distributions, population indicators, and overall health concerns is critically important in the face of emerging wildlife diseases such as Avian Influenza, habitat changes or loss due to environmental change, introduced pathogens, and/or human disturbances. The SIP participant will help bridge the communication gap between scientists and the public by assisting us in the preparation of reports and/or publications written in appropriate and easy-to-understand formats.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Glacier National Park (GLAC) includes 279 species on its bird list. Many of these species are common or accidentals, which refers to birds that show up in GLAC outside of their normal range. Some these birds, however, are classified as Species of Concern (SOC). SOC are “native taxa that are at-risk due to declining population trends, threats to their habitats, restricted distribution, and/or other factors” (Montana Natural Heritage Program). Several of these species are the focus of GLAC’s Bird Research, Inventory, and Monitoring Programs (Bird Programs). We collaborate with biologists from multiple agencies (federal, state, and tribal), states, and provinces, on several of these Bird Programs. Every fall, after the field season is completed, we focus on data compilation and analysis to summarize our findings in reports that we can then share with park staff, volunteers, collaborators, and the public. We also submit these reports to the National Park Service Integrated Resource Management Application (IRMA). We have an enormous amount of data generated from these Bird Programs. Our field season runs from the end of April through October, which progresses nearly non-stop in a National Park the size of GLAC with its habitats and species variety. Seasonal staff often leave in mid-October, making it difficult, if not impossible, to finalize reports for each project within the calendar year. In the winter months, GLAC’s bird biologist has no staff support to finish reports. Communication of scientific findings is one of the most important steps in wildlife research and management programs. Without it, people will never understand the why we do what we do, the importance of bird conservation, and some of the risks birds face that can adversely affect their populations, breeding success, and persistence over time. We would like to bring on a Scientists in Parks SIP participant (SIP participant) to assist in processing, compiling, analyzing, and summarizing data collected from an increasing number of various bird research, inventory, and monitoring programs: Clark’s Nutcrackers (main focus will be analyzing SwiftOne recorder data), Harlequin Ducks, Hawk Watch data, Bald and Golden Eagles, and songbirds. The SIP participant will help us tackle the growing need for support outside the nonstop field season when in-depth data analysis and writing is just not possible. The SIP participant will also download and analyze bat data using Sonobat and hand inspections of calls following a pre-written protocol. The SIP participant will serve with GLAC’s bird/bat biologist to process, compile, analyze, submit, and summarize data from various bird research, inventory, and monitoring projects. Each project is unique in its data collection techniques, so the SIP participant will be exposed to multiple approaches in data management. Together, the SIP participant and biologist will develop a service plan for data quality control, data entry, compilation, and analysis, scientific report writing, maps, graphs, and charts, interpretation of results, and how to write a clear and concise summary report. Each project varies in complexity and needs, so we are looking for an SIP participant who can manage large datasets, learn new software programs, has map-making skills, and strong writing skills.

KEYWORDS: Clark's nutcrackers, Whitebark pine, bats, Swift recorder analysis, bird species of concern.

DELIVERABLES

Download and analyze SwiftOne acoustic data for Clark’s nutcracker (CLNU) project. Create predictive or correlation models using CLNU and whitebark pinecone counts. Download and analyze bat acoustic data using Sonobat. Definitively hand identify bat calls using pre-existing protocol. Write reports summarizing data. Assist with entering data into existing database templates and writing summary reports for some of the following long-term monitoring programs: Harlequin Ducks, Golden and Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring, Grassland Songbirds, Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS), Hawk Watch. Submit reports described above in NPS IRMA

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 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with data processing, compilation, analysis, graph, and chart creation. Comfortable learning new bird (SwiftOne Recorders) and bat (Sonobat) data analysis procedure. Ability to serve independently, serve with others, follow instructions, and general attention to detail. GIS experience. Science writing experience. Ability to conduct moderately strenuous field projects.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The Science Center is located in Park Headquarters in the small town of West Glacier, MT. There are no facilities in town in the winter. Most people make the trip to Hungry Horse (12 miles) or Columbia Falls (18 miles) for groceries and supplies. The towns of Whitefish (27 miles) and Kalispell (35 miles) both are larger communities with every imaginable chain or box store, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and a wide variety of restaurants. There are ample opportunities for cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking in the winter. Glacier National Park is comprised of over one-million acres park that are characterized by dramatic, glacially-carved mountains with a multitude of habitat types, divided by the Continental Divide. Elevations range from just over 3,200 ft. (the elevation at Park Headquarters) to over 10,000 feet. It has an incredibly variable weather in the fall, winter, and early spring, requiring the SIP participant to be equipped for many conditions. December is the coldest month with high temperatures averaging around 27o F, and lows averaging around 14 o F. It is not uncommon to have temperatures dip into the minus 20’s in the winter with lots of snow. Sturdy boots and solid rain gear are a must.

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. May have own room or have to share at times.

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 Glacier National Park will host a Natural Resource Management 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!”