Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant, 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: 01/05/2026

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 $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 Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The position will contribute toward the conservation, management, research, and interpretation of the fossil resources which define the purpose of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The participant will assist with a variety of ongoing museum collections, paleontology, and resources projects. Primary areas of emphasis for this position will be selected from some of the following projects based on the selected applicant's strengths, experience, and interests and the needs of the park: inventory of collections and database activities; organize, stabilize, and catalog specimens of fossils in delicate shale; develop a database and maps to document previous collecting sites and Inventory and Monitoring program; identify specimens of fossil plants and insects; prepare content and activities about the monument's paleontology collections for interpretative outreach and exhibits; give formal or informal interpretive programs; and writing social media content. Other projects may include the following: preparing maps and data in GIS; adding metadata to specimen and site photo libraries; specimen photography; vegetation survey activities; inventory and monitoring of fossil sites; fossil excavations; cleaning exhibits and other duties as assigned. Opportunities may also exist to apply the participant’s specialized skills to related projects that have potential to benefit the monument’s paleontology and resources program. Specialized projects may be available for those having self-sufficient experience in museum studies, fossil conservation, paleobotany, paleoentomology, paleoclimatology, or related fields. The participant may have an option to use a portion of their time for independent research if they have a research plan defined and approved beforehand.

KEYWORDS: Paleontology, Museum collections, Interpretation, Resource Management

DELIVERABLES

Specific projects, goals, and materials to be produced will be individualized for each participant and will be defined at the time applicants are interviewed and selected. Depending on specific projects, the materials will include cataloging, stabilizing, and organizing fossil collections; adding specimen labels to collections; developing novel frameworks for databases in FileMakerPro; preparing collection inventory records and database records; creating content for interactive exhibits, websites, and social media posts; creating interpretation, education, or outreach programs; creating digital imagery of fossils; and other products such as manuals, maps, or research reports as appropriate for specialized projects. Preparation of abstracts and presentations for the Geological Society of America (GSA) annual meeting will be encouraged for participants planning to attend.

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
Applicants should be advanced undergraduate or graduate student whose educational background and career objectives are in paleontology, geology, biology, resource management (especially botany, ecology) or museum studies. Applicants must have completed basic undergraduate course work toward a degree in geology or biology. Preference will be given to students having an excellent academic record and a demonstrated ambition to pursue paleontology, museums, or resource management as a career. Experience with collections management, FileMakerPro database, development of new database structures, graphic design software, and/or ArcGIS will be desired. Previous experience in cataloging collections, conservation of paleontological objects, plant identification, field work, developing content for outreach programs, and/or photography is also desirable for this position. Excellent communication skills and attention to detail are required. The participant should be able to work well as team and independently.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Beneath a grassy and forested mountain valley at 8,500 ft in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado lies one of the richest and most variability in fossil deposits in the world. The Florissant Formation preserves petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossil plants and insects in late Eocene (34 million-year-old) lake shales.

Projects will be done in the office, lab, museum collections area, and in the field. Hiking of up to 5 miles a day may be required. Potential need to lift up to 50 lbs or team lift.

The park is 2 miles from the small town of Florissant, 15 miles from the full-service community of Woodland Park, and 35 miles from the large city of Colorado Springs. Personal vehicle required for transportation to and from the park.

In the winter, cold temperatures and adverse winter weather events. Summer afternoon thunderstorms with lightning and hail occur almost daily.

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. Various options are available in the surrounding local areas (in order of closeness to the park: Florissant, Divide, Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs) depending on length of commute desired, type of housing arrangement/size (house vs. apartment vs. renting a room), roommates, etc. Rent will range from an average of $900 - $2,000/month.

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 Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 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!”