Ecology Assistant (52 Weeks) - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy • Moab, UT

2d

About The Position

This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The Ecology assistant will contribute to the long-term monitoring of natural resource vital signs through field m monitoring at up to 16 national park units and projects involving data science, statistical analyses, and reporting and publications. The data produced by these efforts are vital for informing management decisions in the network parks.

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.
• The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of plant taxonomy and identifying plants to species in the field.
• Botanical skills in the western US is helpful, but not required.
• General knowledge of data science concepts, principles, methods, and practices.
• Comprehension of R and/or Python and the skill to apply these technologies effectively.
• Experience with Esri software packages for GIS (e.g. ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps, Survey123).
• Skills in extracting, wrangling, and publishing data in R, Python, or GIS; perform statistical and spatial analyses; and managing data and code repositories.
• Use knowledge of natural resources and data visualization to create reports, graphics and dashboards using supported technologies (e.g., Rmarkdown, ArcGIS, Power BI, etc.).
• Solid written and oral communication skills and the ability to be detail oriented and well organized are a must.
• Strong commitment to safety and NPS operational leadership principles.
• Skills related to successful teamwork (clear communication, situational awareness, reliability, respectfulness) and building successful relationships with colleagues.
• A keen interest in using science to help with management decisions.

Responsibilities

• Complete projects with the Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network scientists, data managers, field crews, and parks staff.
• Complete projects and support data science and quantitative ecology workflows associated with this network representing 16 National Park units in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Wyoming.
• Collect data on a wide variety of natural resource “vital signs” through field observation and will format and analyze these data.
• Spend approximately 50% of the time in the field helping to complete uplands, rivers, invasive plant, spring and seeps, and wadeable streams monitoring.
• Focus 50% of time on data science and data management projects.
• Complete projects independently and, in a team, setting; in the office and occasionally in the field; and in potentially 16 National Park units.
• Contribute to several projects based on their interest and skills. The projects could include developing scripts to automate a report, developing data visualization tools, analyzing datasets and preparing them for analysis and publication; and/or developing and implementing statistical models and synthesizing the results.
• Collaborate with network scientists, science communicators, and park resource managers applying project results.
• Produce a summary report (potential projects are invasive plant and upland monitoring), new datasets, a data visualization (e.g., dashboard or StoryMap), a standard operating procedure (SOP), a statistical model, data output solutions using ‘R’ and/or Python, and/or a code repository.

Benefits

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award : $ 7,395.00 upon successful completion of position
• Weekly Living Allowance: $ 700.00 per week, fixed rate
• Relocation Allowance: $ 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)
• Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
• Childcare Coverage (opt in)

What This Job Offers

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