Biology Assistant (52 Weeks) - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy • Kingston, RI

9d • $775 • Onsite

About The Position

This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that directly supports the mission of the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program. The role contributes to the collection, management, and delivery of high-quality ecological data to inform science-based management decisions. The position involves primary involvement in field-based monitoring to ensure the generation of reliable, long-term data for understanding and protecting coastal ecosystems. Additionally, the role supports the transformation of monitoring data into actionable information through data management, science communication, and data delivery efforts, making information readily available to park managers, staff, and the public. By helping develop and organize data products and visualizations, this position translates scientific findings into formats usable for planning and resource management, ultimately aiding in the preservation of coastal resources.

Requirements

• 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 host site.
• Must be available to participate for the entire 52 Weeks.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
• Strong willingness to learn is essential.

Nice To Haves

• BS degree in biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Prior field experience collecting natural resource data.
• Ability to participate effectively both independently and as part of a team in field and office settings.
• Ability to swim, snorkel, and complete projects comfortably in and around water, including from boats and small watercraft (e.g., motorboats, kayaks or canoes).
• Boating experience.
• Ability to accurately record and enter data.
• Strong writing skills.
• Solid understanding of scientific concepts and terminology.
• Experience with metadata, GIS, databases, data visualization, or scripting (e.g., R or Python).

Responsibilities

• Preparing for and conducting field sampling efforts
• Collecting water quality and seagrass data using standard monitoring methods
• Assisting with underwater seagrass surveys via snorkeling and video applications
• Assisting with shoreline surveys via ATV and foot
• Assisting with salt marsh surface elevation monitoring
• Operating and maintaining field equipment including, multi-parameter water quality sondes, water level loggers, and GNSS survey equipment
• Data entry, quality assurance/quality control, and metadata documentation
• Assisting with data organization, database documentation, and SOP development
• Archiving photos, datasets, and reports in NPS systems (e.g., DataStore, NPGallery)
• Supporting basic data visualization and website updates

Benefits

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position
• Weekly Living Allowance: $775.00 per week
• Relocation Allowance: $450.00 (one-time lump sum)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable
• Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in for 52-week positions)
• Childcare Coverage (opt in for 52-week positions)
• Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED