Planning Assistant (52 Weeks) - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy • Fort Collins, CO

2d

About The Position

This Planning Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This opportunity is hosted by the National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate(NRSS). The NRSS helps advance park efforts in support of the servicewide resource management goals. The SIP participant will serve on several projects to advance both servicewide and park-level environmental change response efforts. The opportunity also will provide outstanding developmental opportunities to cultivate relevant knowledge, skills, and experience in related projects, and provide a possible pathway to future employment. The NRSS Environment Science & Adaptation Coordinator will serve as the SIP opportunity mentor. The selected SIP participant will serve alongside CCRP subject matter experts, communication specialists, and park leads on a series of key projects to advance CCRP efforts.

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

• Upper level undergraduate or graduate student with course service in the environmental sciences/engineering or public lands management; strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to serve independently and with a team; and working knowledge of national parks, environmental change impacts, adaptation, natural disasters, and related issues.
• Strong proficiency in writing for interdisciplinary audiences will be critical for success in this position.
• coursework and/or experience in environmental science and adaptation, science communications,
• Additional education or experience in indigenous knowledges, cultural resources, facility management, fire management, or recreation management is welcome!

Responsibilities

• Natural Disaster Planning and Recovery Project: The SIP participant will serve on one or more projects to advance the incorporation of shifting environment considerations into planning for and/or recovery from extreme events (hurricanes, floods, wildfires, droughts, etc.). The goal is to help parks improve planning for and recovering from natural disasters with a focus on adapting to changing conditions.
• Develop technical tool(s) to provide usable and relevant data (near-term or longer-term environmental/hydrologic projections) for parks facing and recovering from extreme events and their impacts.
• Develop case studies of disaster planning and/or recovery projects that incorporate environmental change adaptation.
• Serve directly with park(s) on adapted disaster preparation or recovery plans.
• Develop a guide to help parks incorporate considerations for a changing environment into disaster planning and recovery.
• Adaptation Case Studies: The SIP participant will serve with NPS staff to identify and document adaptation implementation projects in parks, which could include natural, cultural, facility, fire, or visitor management and safety. The SIP participant will develop original content that interprets the environmental change impact(s) to parks and planned, ongoing or completed adaptation activities and their intended or actual outcomes.
• Journal Publication: The SIP participant will collaborate with their mentors to write an article, which incorporates content from at least one the above projects, for the journal Park Science.
• NPS Data Store: The selected SIP participant will serve alongside CCRP staff to make existing and forthcoming products usable through the NPS Data Store application. The SIP participant will create new records, set permissions and metadata, and upload products for publication. The SIP participant will serve to organize resources for optimal access by target audiences.
• Professional Growth and Development: The SIP participant will be encouraged to identify learning opportunities as they are made available, for which service time will be reserved to participate. The SIP participant also will be afforded opportunities to participate in this applied service.
• CCRP Support: On an as-needed basis, the selected SIP participant will assist on miscellaneous CCRP projects as education, skills, and experience allow.
• Produce one or more NPS-focused products (to be negotiated) about adapted disaster planning and recovery
• Produce at least 10 new park environmental change adaptation case studies
• Produce a journal article submitted to Park Science
• Produce at least 10 new Data Store collections of park-specific environmental science
• Produce well-organized files carefully documenting the development of all deliverables.

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