NPS - Environmental Stewardship AmeriCorps

NPS – Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve

Position Details

Stewards Individual Placements (SIP) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.

In partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), SIP seeks one (1) 12-week Environmental Stewards who will work with Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JELA) Resource Management (RM) staff to monitor environmental change, support invasive species management and contribute to natural resource planning. JELA's monitoring program focuses on the rapid rate of relative sea level rise in the Preserve’s predominantly freshwater Mississippi River deltaic wetlands. Working with the park’s ecologist, Stewards will maintain water quality and subsidence and hydrology monitoring stations, collect and analyze data, and measure coastal wetland responses to increasing flooding and salinity. In support of invasive species management, Stewards will work with the park’s Biological Technicians to help plan, implement and document RM invasive plant treatment and invasive mammal removal.

As members of the park’s RM team, the Environmental Stewards will learn and practice skills used in natural resource management including field safety and risk assessment, equipment maintenance, field data collection and data stewardship, use of geographical information system tools for planning, navigation and documentation, ensuring and documenting adherence to agency policies, and supporting other RM work priorities as needed. There will be opportunities to explore place-based stewardship and to learn more about work with the National Park Service.

Position Responsibilities will include:

• establishing and maintaining monitoring tools to learn about rapid environmental change at the Barataria Preserve,
• sustaining field data collection for the elevation and hydrology monitoring array (EHMA), and for other environmental and biological monitoring programs
• implementing data processing and data stewardship protocols for these monitoring programs,
• observing and documenting invasive species impacts and park management actions, including using GIS tool
• planning and implementing herbicide treatments and supporting feral pig control, and
• maintaining supplies and equipment used for all of this natural resource management work.

As time and interest allow, JELA RM will encourage Environmental Stewards to

• develop and support opportunities for involving volunteers in this work, and/or
• analyze data from one or more of these projects, highlighting new place-based understanding and addressing management-relevant concerns and decisions.

Benefits:

• living allowance will be $640/week (pre-tax)
• position includes basic health insurance and allows some personal time off (PTO)
• Upon successful completion of the program, the Steward will be eligible for an AmeriCorps education award; the award value ranges from $3,000 to $3,500 (pre-tax) depending on length of service.
• position provides informal hands-on training in a range of natural resource stewardship approaches, skills, tools and equipment
• formal training/certification opportunities are likely to include pesticide application and basic first aid and CPR.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, geology, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field
• prior experience with hands-on outdoor work, ideally in natural areas
• demonstrated ability to work both as a team member and independently
• valid US drivers license
• commitment to developing new skills
• strong interest in engaging natural resource stewardship
• computer skills, including use of spreadsheets and word pro

Preferred Qualifications:

• willingness to assist with euthanizing invasive mammals, handling carcasses, and collecting tissue samples
• experience working in wetland ecosystems, and/or comfort working outdoors in hot, humid and buggy conditions in terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems
• completion of semi-independent environmental or biological research or project

How to Apply

Apply online at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions. In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Stewards Individual Placements Program does not and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.