Natural Resource Management Assistant AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

• Position (s): 4531
• Position Title:
  Natural Resource Management Assistant - Ameri Corps
• Conservation Legacy Program:
  Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
• Site
  
  Location:
  
  Buffalo National River, Harrison, Arkansas
• Number of positions available: 1

• Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)
• Flexible
  
  Start Date:
  
  Yes
• Start Date: 01/11/2027
• End Date: 05/31/2027
• Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 675 hours – this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award: $2,817.00 upon successful completion of position (pre‑tax)
• Weekly Living Allowance: $675.00 per week, fixed rate (pre‑tax)
• Relocation Allowance: $450.00 (distributed as a one‑time lump sum with first paycheck) (pre‑tax)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by My Ameri Corps , directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through My Ameri Corps , directly)

Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, June 14, 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. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.

This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an Ameri Corps position. BUFF contains extensive scenic landscapes, including sweeping river views, rugged bluffs, forested slopes, historic sites, and rural agricultural landscapes that are central to visitor experience. Protecting this scenery is fundamental to the NPS mission, as established in the Organic Act, and is emphasized in park‑specific enabling legislation. This position contributes to the implementation of the NPS Visual Resources Inventory (VRI) by documenting and evaluating scenic quality and view importance across the park.

As the first phase of a two‑part effort, this effort focuses on land‑based viewpoints and establishes a consistent, defensible baseline of visual resource data. A future phase will build on this foundation by inventorying views from the river corridor, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the park’s viewsheds. Because many scenic views extend beyond park boundaries, this inventory provides important information to help the park understand how external development—such as wind energy facilities, transmission lines, and telecommunications infrastructure—may be visible within the landscape and influence scenic integrity.

The resulting data support planning, compliance, and communication efforts by identifying important views, scenic inventory values, and their sensitivities. This information helps inform environmental and cultural resource review processes, including those conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act Section 106. It also enables more informed coordination with Tribal partners, neighboring landowners, agencies, and developers, and contributes to the long‑term protection of the park’s scenic resources and visitor experience.

Buffalo National River (BUFF) is searching for a well‑rounded individual who is interested in being part of an interdisciplinary team of natural resource professionals collaborating to manage the scenic vistas of America’s first National River. The primary duties of the Natural Resource Management Assistant will be coordinating with natural resource and administrative staff to initiate a Visual Resources Inventory (VRI) of the park.

The SIP will identify and ground truth viewpoints, collect field data, take standardized photographs, complete inventory forms, and enter data into the NPS VRI database. Duties will also include GIS mapping of viewpoints and view extents, compiling reports and summaries, and supporting the application of VRI results for resource management and planning. In addition, the SIP will assist with other natural resource projects such as water quality sampling, and will have opportunities for cross‑training such as introduction to NEPA and regulatory compliance.

This position provides hands‑on experience in…