Individual Placement - Natural Resources Assistant

Student Conservation Association • Poughkeepsie, NY

14h • Onsite

About The Position

The Natural Resources Assistant supports Scenic Hudson’s Science and Stewardship Team with stewardship of parks and preserves throughout the Hudson Valley. The role helps carry out natural resource projects, including habitat restoration, invasive plant control, ecological monitoring and assessments, and data management. It also includes regular visits to Scenic Hudson parks, interacting with visitors, explaining park rules and projects, and collaborating with other SCA members and Scenic Hudson staff.

The position is based in Poughkeepsie, New York, and involves primarily front-country work as well as possible backcountry work. The member serves approximately 40 hours per week for about 10 months, with a usual Monday–Friday schedule of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; some early starts, evenings, and weekend work are required. A personal vehicle is required for personal and professional travel. The member is responsible for arranging housing within reasonable commuting distance; a $1,000 monthly housing allowance is provided for positions outside New York City.

This is a full-time SCA AmeriCorps member position. Compensation includes a $500 weekly living allowance and, upon successful completion, a $7,395 education award. Members are eligible for free health insurance and may qualify for AmeriCorps childcare assistance and student-loan forbearance and interest-payment deferment. SCA provides training in areas including risk management, wilderness first aid and CPR, environmental education, ecology, leadership, and professional development.

Requirements

• Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national; be at least 18 years old; have a high school diploma or equivalent or be actively working toward one; and be willing to undergo a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Associate degree in natural resource management, environmental science, ecology, biology, or a related field.
• Valid driver’s license and personal transportation; driving is required for the position.
• Ability to perform outdoor physical work independently and as part of a group in semi-remote locations and varying weather conditions.
• Ability to walk more than 4 miles per day over varied terrain and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Experience with pesticide application or willingness to learn.
• Availability for approximately 40 hours per week, including some early starts, evenings, and weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with ArcGIS software and GPS mapping.
• Experience identifying native and invasive plants, particularly in the Northeastern United States.
• Experience operating power and hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, loppers, cordless drills, brush-cutters, and weed-whackers.
• Enjoyment of working and interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds, a positive attitude, and a desire to enhance the natural world.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Natural Resource Manager with stewardship of Scenic Hudson lands, including habitat restoration, tree planting, invasive plant control, ecological inventories and monitoring, forestry and botanical surveys, and related natural-resource tasks.
• Document fieldwork and manage natural-resource databases and GIS data.
• Organize and lead volunteer workdays and produce public outreach materials as needed.
• Collaborate with other Scenic Hudson SCA members on work throughout Scenic Hudson parks and preserves.
• Participate in SCA Corps-wide training and service projects, project evaluation, and reporting.
• Assist with park events, including non-natural-resource volunteer workdays and recreational activities.
• Assist with park infrastructure projects as needed, including trail building and creating or replacing trail improvements and park structures.
• Interact with park visitors, communicate park rules, and introduce and explain park projects.
• Submit required timesheets and weekly output reports, and contribute to monthly narrative reporting.

Benefits

• $1,000 per month housing allowance for positions outside New York City; member secures their own housing within reasonable commuting distance of Poughkeepsie.
• $500 weekly living allowance.
• AmeriCorps education award of $7,395 upon successful program completion.
• Eligible for free health insurance.
• Eligible for childcare assistance through AmeriCorps.
• Eligible for federal student-loan forbearance and interest-payment deferment for qualifying loans.
• Training opportunities, including wilderness first aid and CPR, mental health first aid, environmental education, leadership, and professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree