Ecology Assistant AmeriCorps

Overview

POSITION DETAILS
Position (s): 4326
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - Ameri Corps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site

Location:

Southern Plains Network, Pecos, New Mexico
Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible

Start Date:

Yes
Start Date: 05/04/2026
End Date: 09/21/2026
Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 675 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.

BENEFITS

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award
  : $ 2,817.14 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 My Ameri Corps , directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through My Ameri Corps , directly)

APPLICATION TIMELINE

Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the Final date to receive applications passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications
, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15, 2026, whichever occurs first.

KEYWORDS: ecology, vegetation surveys, inventory, monitoring, long-term studies

PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an Ameri Corps position. The National Park Service invests heavily in monitoring the health of native vegetation communities and detecting the establishment and spread of exotic plants. These data are used by park managers to assess, plan, and develop natural resource protection activities and are essential for understanding the status and trends of park ecosystems and for informing management decisions.

This projects would help to make the data more available to park managers, researchers, and the public, and to raise awareness of the importance of ecological monitoring and conservation. Overall, the project data we collect and manage is analyzed and conveyed to park managers, providing them with the scientific information on resource condition that they need to make decisions and take actions to conserve park resources.

The gathered information is vital for assessing the health, ecological variety, and resilience of park ecosystems.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Ecology Assistant will service with the Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (SOPN) and participate in long-term, vital signs monitoring. This position will support the collection of vegetation community and invasive plant data in national park grasslands.

The Ecology Assistant will participate in vegetation sampling at our 10 network parks across the southern plains. Field projects will occur in small, 2-4-person teams. Sampling methods will include line-point intercept, recording plant species presence/absence in small plots and mapping of invasive plant infestations. Ideally, candidates will have a strong background or interest in botany and plant sciences. Assistants will learn to identify grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees of the Southern Plains using field guides and dichotomous keys.

Monitoring sites are off trail, and hiking and carrying equipment in a backpack for moderate distances is necessary.

The position will provide the Ecology Assistant with the chance to learn the flora of the Southern Plains ecoregion while gaining valuable field sampling experience. This position can serve as an excellent introduction to plant taxonomy and identification, or act as an opportunity to develop advanced skills such as the use of dichotomous keys and grass identification.

Office projects will consist mainly of data management, identification of unknown plant specimens, pressing of said specimens and providing general support to SOPN office staff.

DELIVERABLES

The Ecology Assistant will collect detailed vegetation community and invasive plant data from long-term grassland monitoring sites across 10 parks. These data will be synthesized into data packages, summary reports and visualizations to share with park managers and scientists. High quality data improve our agency’s understanding of grassland and invasive plant changes within and across SOPN parks.

• 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 Ameri Corps 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 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants…