Ecology Assistant AmeriCorps

Ecology Assistant (52 Weeks) - Ameri Corps POSITION DETAILS

Position (s): 4400

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - Ameri Corps

Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements

Site

Location:

Heartland Network, Brecksville, Ohio

Number of positions available: 1

Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible

Start Date:

Yes

Start Date: 5/4/2026

End Date: 5/3/2027

Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award: $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position
• Weekly Living Allowance: $600.00 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)
• For 52-week positions only:
  • Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
  • Childcare Coverage (opt in)

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.

Wetlands, Hydrology, Water Chemistry, Botany, Invasive Species

This Ecology Assistant is an Ameri Corps position. This position will contribute to the success of long-term monitoring protocols within the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN), which serves to monitor 'vital signs' of network parks. We began the wetland monitoring program in 2007 and now have nearly 15 years of data that are documenting changes happening at CUVA wetlands over time.

In addition to its long-term value, it has been immediately used for interpretive information and restoration planning. Our vegetation and invasive plant data has also been used to guide and monitor invasive plant management efforts across many network parks. The participant will assist the network’s Wetland Biologist as we continue to improve the sustainability of our programs and update to new technologies.

The SIP participant will serve as a part of the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN) wetlands team and assist with a wide array of field and office tasks. Planned surveys include invasive plant transects at multiple parks, water level/chemistry monitoring at groundwater wells, Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity (VIBI) surveys, and stream mapping. The participant would be expected to hike long distances regularly and often independently for of these projects, so comfort working alone using a compass, GPS, and maps is essential.

We also seek to improve the scientific delivery of our long-term monitoring data (nearly 15 years) and the participant will assist with organizing, analyzing, reporting and communicating these data. Focused attention will be on the water level/chemistry data. The participant may assist other HTLN staff and CUVA resource managers with other projects as well.

The field season kicks off in March and stretches through September/October. Water level monitoring begins earlier in the season – then invasive plant and VIBI surveys are the core focus during the summer. HTLN surveys will require approximately 2 weeks of overnight travel.

Late fall and winter season projects will consist of database management (data entry/clean up, quality control), data analysis, reporting, and communication product development, with field time dedicated to a stream mapping project.

The participant will be crucial to team success in achieving several important goals related to the wetland monitoring and invasive species monitoring protocols of network parks. In addition to the successful completion of field projects, major deliverables to be completed individually or as a part of the team include:
Water chemistry data collected, quality‑assured, and ready for analysis; exploratory statistics and figures generated for multiple datasets;
Su…